A RACEHORSE owned by entrepreneur Anthony Cooper-Barney, owner of one of Wales’ leading country house hotels and estates, stormed to victory in the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
Jango Baie, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico de Boinville, has now put himself in the frame for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
Having won the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in March, six-year-old Jango Baie, the 9-4 favourite, raced away from Gidleigh Park for an impressive win by nine lengths. Bookmakers immediately made him 4-1 for Kempton’s feature race on Boxing Day.
Jango Baieis one of four racehorses owned by Mr Cooper-Barney and trained by Henderson, who told Sky Racing Post that he was delighted by the performance of the horse ahead of the King George VI Chase.
He said: “Nico gave him a beautiful ride. He was blatantly going the best from a long way out and he quickened too, which was something I did like.“
Mr Cooper-Barney and his wife, Donna, whose passions include horseracing, luxury cars and art collecting, purchased Palé Hall last year after falling in love with the country house hotel and surrounding area.
Palé Hall became one of the first hotels in the UK to receive a Michelin Key Award, which recognises the property as “a special place to stay”.
The luxury hotel, situated in the Dee Valley, on the edge of the beautiful Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, is also anAA Five Red Star, Relais & Chateaux destination luxury country house hotel, with an acclaimed AA three-rosette and Michelin Green Star fine dining restaurant.
Luke Selby, former executive chef at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, is set to join Palé Hall as chef partner in January.
