Jockey Will Gordon Secures Grand National Hurdle Victory at Sandown

(Sandown, [Publication Date]) – Jockey Will Gordon has finally etched his name into the history books of horse racing, claiming a long-awaited victory in the prestigious Grand National Hurdle at Sandown Racecourse.

Gordon, who has established himself as a rising star in the jumps racing scene since making the move from Ireland, had previously tasted success in various feature races. However, the elusive Grand National Hurdle had evaded him until now.

Riding the $1.95 favorite Affluential, Gordon displayed exemplary skill as the horse overcame a tough battle, pulling hard for more than half the 4200m race. Despite the challenges, Affluential managed to prevail by 1-¾ lengths from The Good Fight ($16), with Leaderboard ($12) finishing a further 2-¼ lengths behind in third place.

“I had won a few features, but not one of the real big ones, and I was lacking that off my record a touch,” Gordon reflected. “To pull it off, it’s pretty good.”

The victory marked the second time trainer John Leek and his wife Andrea had tasted success in the Grand National Hurdle, having previously won the event in 2004 with Team Heritage.

An emotional Leek expressed his satisfaction with the triumph, despite initial concerns about Affluential’s over-racing tendencies. “When that other horse came to him, I thought, ‘Oh God’, but he seemed to kick and had something there in the locker, so that was exciting,” Leek said.

Gordon was quick to acknowledge the hard work of the Leek stable, thanking the team for their meticulous preparation of Affluential. “They ran him in exactly the right races to prepare him for this race, and the preparation has been faultless,” Gordon remarked.

With this milestone victory under his belt, jockey Will Gordon has firmly cemented his place among the rising stars of the jumps racing scene. Fans and industry enthusiasts alike eagerly await his next trailblazing performance on the track.

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