\n<\/p>\n
Gemirande held on strongly to deny favourite Madara and win the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.<\/b><\/p>\n
The pair pulled away from the rest of the field on the approach to the second-last and came together briefly while jumping it.<\/p>\n
They were still together at the last before the 11-2 shot, ridden by Charlie Deutsch and trained by Venetia Williams, edged ahead of the 11-4 favourite and stayed on to win by a length.<\/p>\n
Madara, ridden by Harry Skelton and trained by brother Dan, was well clear of third-placed Fugitif (6-1), who won last year’s race.<\/p>\n
Gemirande, an impressive winner last time out at Ascot, was well placed throughout and Deutsch was delighted to have landed another big race victory on the eight-year-old.<\/p>\n
“His jumping was electric and I’m chuffed for him to get his head in front. He loves racing,” he told ITV Racing.<\/p>\n
“He’s a real character – the more you pull the faster he goes but he is really game.<\/p>\n
“Venetia is a magician with what she does with her horses.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n