BALTHAZAR KING retained his undisputed crown as the top racehorse on the cross country scene when staying on doggedly up the hill to win the Glenfarclas-sponsored chase at Cheltenham.
The Philip Hobbs-trained 10-year-old has won four of these unique races at Cheltenham and recently came back from a lucrative away-day in a similar race at Craon in France.
But he is not a one-trick pony, having won four other mainstream races at Cheltenham, as well as finishing runner-up in the Grand National last spring.
After his 4-7 favourite had completed a stable treble, Hobbs enthused: “My other two winners today were great but he is phenomenal. I’ve just been told he is one off the record for the number of races won at Cheltenham (nine) by any horse.”
Hobbs won’t be tempted to let Balthazar King defend his title in the Glenfarclas Cross Country race at the Festival, preferring instead to keep him fresh for the Crabbies Grand National in which he was runner-up to Pineau De Re earlier this year.
Even the trainer of third-placed Sire Collonges, Paul Nicholls, is a big admirer. “This winner is a legend,” he said.
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