ANY CURRENCY came as close as any English runner has to winning the world's longest steeplechase yesterday.
The 12-year-old trained by Martin Keighley at Condicote in the Cotswolds was given a perfect ride by Aidan Coleman in the 4m 4f 110yds Prix Anjou-Loire at Le Lion d'Angers but lost out to Kapville in a photo for second, eight lengths behind the French cross-country champion Kick On.
The richest race of its kind in France, England or Ireland (€112,000) attracted a field of 10 with Any Currency the sole English runner, in the absence of last year's favourite Balthazar King, who was injured in the Crabbie's Grand National.
In another couple of strides Any Currency would have finished second without ever threatening Kick On, who has now won six of his eight cross-country races for champion jockey David Cottin.
Any Currency will continue to be aimed at the races in the Crystal Cup Cross Country series. Yesterday's race was the fourth in the 11-race series, with the feature contests at Craon, Pardubice and Compiegne to come in the autumn before the series concludes at Cheltenham on December 11.
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