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Andreas Wohler: German trainer enjoyed his second victory in Britain

  PICTURE: Getty Images  

THEY say British prize-money is among the worst in the world, but for Andreas Wohler the £1,437 – and 24p – on offer to the winner of thebumper at Fontwell was seemingly worth sending Il Presidente the 470 miles from his base in Gutersloh, north-west Germany.

Considering the prize, it was probably just as well he won.

Il Presidente, a five-year-old, was sent off at 11-4 under Alain Cawley and coasted home for a 19-length victory.

Assistant trainer Crista Geman said he would likely return for another bumper in a few weeks.

“In Germany there are not many races at this distance,” she said. “He looks like a steeplechaser but there are only ten races over jumps so we came here.

“We think he will be good over hurdles and fences but we have no schooling riders, so he will probably come back to England for another bumper.”

Wohler’s only previous jumps runner in Britain came in 2006 when Laertes Cause finished second (when favourite) at Stratford. Wohler sold the gelding before his next start eight days later and Geman said Il Presidente could also be for sale.

For Wohler – and his wife Susie – it was a day of celebration. “It was a  nice birthday present for Susie,” he said. “We really did not know what to expect, but now that he has won so easily, we shall probably send him back to England for another bumper.”

Wohler, who won the German Flat trainers’ championship for the second time last year, has had eight runners on the Flat in Britain since 1994, registering one winner.

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