Givemefive promoted celebrations across in America from two of the biggest names in the world of golf after setting up a potential tilt at the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March when maintaining his unbeaten record over hurdles with an emphatic success at Warwick today.
The Holy Roman Emperor gelding, who is part owned by 2017 and 2018 U.S Open winner and 2018, 2019 and 2023 PGA Championship hero Brooks Koepka and 2010 U.S Open winner Graeme McDowell made it two from two since joining trainer Harry Derham in the opening Hazelton Mountford Insurance Brokers Juvenile Hurdle.
Having taken time to warm to the task before making a winning debut for the Boxford handler at Market Rasen 46 days ago the 2-1 chance put in an assured round of jumping from the front under Paul O’Brien when turning the two-mile contest into a procession.
Holding a healthy advantage turning for home the former Johnny Murtagh-trained four-year-old, who run behind multiple Group One scorer Paddington during his early days, galloped on relentlessly before passing the post 18 lengths clear of runner-up, and 5-4 Favourite, Orchestra.
Derham said: “I thought he had improved, but I was not expecting that. Paul (O’Brien) said not much will make the running and I said you ride a lot of winners from the front so go do that.
“At four out he was more confident than I was as he was carrying a penalty against smart horses, but he is obviously a smart horse.
“He got a fright at the first at Market Rasen, but his schooling all the way along has been great. It just took him four hurdles to get going last time.
“He has schooled once between runs, but you can see he has got the hang of it.
“He is a real professional little horse. Well done has to go to my cousin Megan (Nicholls) who found him.
“Graeme (McDowell), Brooks (Koepka) and Daniel Gambill (other part owner) are great guys and they were all watching the race in Florida. My WhatsApp has been going mad with messages after that.”
Following the race Derham hinted he could now switch Givemefive’s Festival target from the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (registered as the Fred Winter), to the JCB Triumph Hurdle which he was quoted at 25-1 for by Paddy Power.
He added: “We were hoping he might go and run in the Fred Winter and you could go for the Adonis (Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton Park) before that.
“Entries close for the Triumph Hurdle tomorrow and I’m going to enter him after winning like that carrying a penalty.
“I need to think about. To run in the Fred Winter he needs to have another run. If he didn’t need to have another run then I would almost certainly run him in the Fred Winter.
“He took two weeks to get over the last run, and I can’t imagine he has had an easy race there, even though he has won.
“I’m not going to commit to anything now, but it is a nice problem to have.”
