HUNTER CHASE FINALS EVENING RACING AT CHELTENHAM 27-4-16

Seven races for the amateurs at the home of national hunt racing. 

Point to point and hunter chase finals night saw the end of the 2015-16 racing season at the Prestbury racecourse.

A lot of dreams were fulfilled and fairy tales written, throughout the evening racing.

The first race a two mile Hunter chase saw fourteen go to post. Well regarded trainer of the pointers Alan Hill sending his talented eight year old Broken Eagle off at 15/8 favourite.

The horse that has been dominant over his last handful of wins on the East Anglian pointing tracks had a little more competition as he came to two fences out.

Making the running for most of the way the favourite was soon headed by last years winner of the race Sam Cavallaro, ridden by Rob Jarrett. Both horses finishing very tired, seven lengths between first and third.

The winner falling in the Aintree foxhunters, but winning at the course and distance in April, showed his class and stayed on well.

The second race of the evening the Red Mills Intermediate final, saw qualifiers from the lengths and breadth of the point to point community come together for the showdown at Cheltenham.

Another horse that has been seen right from the beginning of the pointing season winning at Cottenham in November Lilbitluso ridden by John Mathias and trained by John O’shea made his mark by three lengths beating Doctor Braveheart ridden out and staying on well up the Cheltenham hill. 

Lilbitluso ridden by John Mathias

The jockey mentioned that his grip on the reins was not the best due to baby oil from his turn out and the slight rain shower made for a tricky grip on the eight year old.

‘He settled well, the plan was to make the running anyway, he jumped well enough, making his usual few mistakes but he won well, we had a gear in hand all the way, so I'm please with him.’

The horse now heading for the Subaru Finals at Stratford in a few weeks time, and  is hoping to make a classy six timer from it, and would certainly back up his position as one of the top five pointers we have seen out this season.

John Mathias

Cousin Pete won the United Hunts cup, with a patient and well timed ride from amateur Nick Phillips.

 The 4/1 shot beating High Hatton and Midnight king, who both had every chance coming over the last. The favourite Templebraden back in fourth.

The eight year old qualified with the V.W.H hunt, was a popular win getting a true Cheltenham festival style cheer as he came into the winner enclosure.

Near the end of his season now the pointer will be a good horse to watch as he works on the new season from November.

Cousin Pete,Nick Phillips

The feature race of the evening the £6000 champions hunters chase, thirteen went to post.

Champion Point to point jockey Will Biddick on the favourite Current event could show no form as the horse swept around the bend leaving Gunmoney from the Gerald Bailey yard in front, the winner Pearly steps ridden by Jane Williams staying on very well in second.

Pearly steps ridden by Jane Williams, winner of the £6000 feature race

A mistake by Gunmoney over the last left the 3/1 shot thirteen year old to jump and run on up the hill to take the race by three lengths, Gunmoney finding the pressure allowing Barrel of laughs to take second spot. 

Again as in previous races all horses were finding the going on the grade one course tough, true staying horses were to the fore.

Pearly steps  Jane Williams

The mares finals was a true all girl affair.

Popaway ridden by Immy Robinson beating the favourite The flying Doc ridden by the champion amateur Will Biddick unlucky on the evening by seven lengths.

The eleven year old mare seventh of fourteen in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, waited in behind a main bunch of runners coming up to the last to jump and slingshot herself to the front, running on gamely up the hill.

Popaway ridden by Immy Robinson

‘We have won over two miles here so we had a few concerns if she’d stay, but she surprised me how much she ran on over the last, i think it played into my hands the front horses taking each other on so early on.’ 

The jockey with the broadest of smiles mentioned how great it was to ride, let alone ride a winner at the home of national hunt racing. And was grateful a dedicated evening was put aside for the amateurs. 

‘This mare is a real hardened battler and loves the rough and tumble, so I’m delighted for all the connections and the mare they deserve it.’

The distance race of the evening the four mile open hunters chase, was won in very fine style by 5/1 shot Vasco Du Mee. Ridden by Josephine Banks and trained by M. Weston.

Vasco Du Mee. Ridden by Josephine Banks

The seven year old versatile horse seemed to show what others could not throughout the evening and come up the hill going well beating Join Together by nine lengths with impressive dominance.

Well versed in the Hunter chase field, the gelding winning at Fakenham, and finishing second to the earlier winner Pearlysteps at Towcester last time out.

This class distance running horse showed that if he could maintain the form would be a true contender for any long distance races next season, and has surly made his stamp on the division the next time he comes out.

The final race of the evening was a two and a half mile event. Ten runners to post and was taken to the wire as 6/1 veteran Big Fella Thanks beat Foynes Island by a neck.

Young Jockey fresh out from school Noel George on board to bring the fourteen year old home, a horse with more experience on the racecourse than the jockey himself.

‘It was a dream ride for me today, riding here for the first time and a win, on an absolute legend was a dream.’ The jockey who was picked up from school at 3.30pm where he completes his A/S levels in the next few weeks.

 No stranger to race riding though as the youngster competed in pony racing as a ten year old, gaining a host of winners.

Big Fella Thanks, Noel George

‘Every fence he got it right for me, short or long all I had to do was to stay on, he has a big engine, but doesn’t really get the pointing three miles,his class gets him through. 

The hunter chase at Wincanton he came up against Pacha Du Polder, be but came good at Exeter. Two and a half miles around here would be his optimum distance.’

Big Fella Thanks beat Foynes Island by a neck.

A young man with a big future in his first season riding under rules, and all he has to say is thanks to the Big Fella.

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Windsor evening meeting 25-4-16

Six races for the second evening meeting from the Royal Windsor racecourse in the new flat turf season.

A vast selection of maidens and two year olds sent out by their masters to find out a little more of what makes them tick.

And with that in mind the evening started with a five furlong dash for two year olds in a class 4 novices stakes.

Richard Hannon, who is the master at Windsor with his maiden horses taking a gamble won the race with Legendary Lunch, a Dragon Pulse colt ridden by Pat Dobbs.

Legendary Lunch (left) second placed Copper Knight (right)

In a close fought finish the 2/1 shot beat the 5/4 favourite Hugo Palmers Copper Knight who seemed still a bit green wandering to the centre of the course about four furlongs out. Dobbs maintaining a straight path with his colt.

‘He was still a bit green in the last two furlongs,’ mentioned the jockey. ‘He would still have a lot of improving to do. He’d be a  also a horse that would like the ground a little quicker.’

Richard Hannon mentioned that the two year old was one of the nicest two year olds he has run this season so far, and was delighted that he had beaten horses that have already run and been successful in the early season. 

Time will tell if this is a Hannon Royal Ascot runner, but the owners. The Rat Pack Partnership are no strangers to big race wins, owning Paco Boy in the past.

Legendary Lunch

The three year olds had a bit further to go for their maiden event, Just over one mile. 

The two Jamie’s. Jamie Spencer riding for Jamie Osborne on Defrocked won the quite open marketed event by a length and a quarter from William Haggas’s Wave Reviews.

The gelding by Lope De Vega, owned by Michael Buckley and Michael Watt was a 10/1 chance from the rails and led the race in the last few yards, winning going away from the rest.

Defrocked

The trainer, who already tasting success through the day elsewhere, mentioned he didn’t really fancy the horses chances.,knew he would run well but is a quirky type at home, not really telling much on the gallops.

Jamie Spencer mentioned,’ the owners were confident about the day really, as they have always liked him, but he’ll come on from that to see where we go from here,’

The third race, another one mile maiden, this time for three year olds and upwards was taken by Newmarket trained Choreographer from the Roger Varian yard.

The 4/1 shot beating Rex Bell by two lengths took a keen hold in behind, but was soon produced by Andrea Atzeni from two furlongs out. 

By Sea the Stars the chestnut colt was described by the jockey as very straight forward and saw his race out well. 

‘He isn’t a very easy horse to ride at home, so its great credit to Sean Longland who rides him at home and has done a good job on him.’ 

The colt would look to get a longer trip on better ground as his racing career progresses and would certainly be one for the form books.

Choreographer

Andrea Atzeni

Clive Cox won the first handicap of the evening with his four year old filly by High Chaparral Weetles.

Jockey Adam Kirby, suffering with a spring cold, rode a well timed race  producing the four year old a furlong out to beat Ed Dunlop’s Dutch uncle.

 ‘She travelled really nicely in the race, and when asked reacted well. On that feel she should be a nice staying horse in time as she has improved well from a two year old.’

The owners Bugley Stud partnership sold the filly as a yearling, buying her back later on at a higher price, and have been duly rewarded for their patience.

Weetles.

The last two races for the day both run over the full distance of the Royal Berkshire course,one mile three furlongs.

Zambeasy and Stockhill Diva split from the rest of the field

The four year olds and upwards handicap was taken by Phillip Hides Zambeasy, owned by the group more comfortable  at the south east’s national Hunt tracks Heart of the South racing.

The five year old ridden by the jockey already with a win in the evening, Jamie Spencer made a tight finish of the event getting over the line by a short head from Stockhill Diva from the Brendan Powell yard.

‘The race worked out well for him. We went a good pace, but pestered a bit by the second placed horse, but he rallied well and took the race on the line.’

The horses split across the whole of the track, and narrowly missed by two wandering swans veering onto the course the Zamindar gelding did well to stick to his task.

The final race of the day, same distance this time for three year olds only five went to post.

Ed Dunlop’s Michaels Mount ridden by Pat Cosgrove gave favourite backers something to shout about as the Mount Nelson gelding took the race by a length and a half from Mark Ushers Marmajuke Bay. 

The three year old in his first handicap race and stepping up in distance held on well and looks like a horse that know could come into his own.

Michaels Mount ridden by Pat Cosgrove

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PARHAM POINT TO POINT WITH THE CHIDDINGFOLD, LECONFIELD AND COWDRAYHUNT 23-4-16

Six races lay before a well attended point top point meet at the Parham point to point course.

Horses now desperate to find the better ground declared to run. 

Also runners diverted by other failed meetings around the country over the past weeks.

Racing kicked off with an intermediate race.

 James Young’s Marlpit Oak battling with placed horses Merrydown Vintage and Only Time’ll tell to win by a small margin. Ridden by Daniel Sansom the eleven year old battled bravely and was appreciative of the good jumping ground.

The plans know, Bratton Down towards the end of the year.

 James Young’s Marlpit Oak

Tabitha Worsley on board Crazy Eyes, made a surprising win for the Brenda Ansell’s yard when taking the ladies open. 

Two fancied runners that failed to complete the course were Wor Rom and Conkies Lad, leaving the door open for the eleven year old gelding that had lost interest in racing over the past few runs to stay and jump well in the good ground. 

Crannaghmore Boy coming home in second. Carlswayback in third.

Crazy Eyes,

  Tabitha Worsley

James Young was back in the winner’s enclosure in the conditions race. Swallowshide, this time ridden by Ben Hicks beating the veteran pair of Phil York and Tim Underwood with Carnglave Cat by one and a half lengths.

Swallowshide

The race was delayed by over an hour due to the fact of emergency cover for the meet was off course attending injured jockeys from the ladies open, this did not deter the Seven year old  who from the home bend took a command over the race, despite not having his usual  head gear on to prevent him wandering . 

Always in the mind of Hicks, he gave him a commanding ride from the last to take the race well.

Swallowshide, Ben Hicks

Jockey Shane Roche came to Parham with a good book of rides. Out of them, The Ferbane man in the men’s open, and Minmore Present in the open maiden,the last race. Made the winners enclosure for the young Irishman’s first ever brace of wins.

The Ferbane man

Minmore Present

Both mounts were an added bonuses to the jockey who works hard at his craft, and as the ground throughout the country’s vast array of pointing courses becomes a little less boggy, both these horses should see more wins under their belts soon.

The twelve year old The Ferbane Man under new ownership for Petra New, and was the trainers first ever winner. 

Nick Pearce in charge of the five year old maiden, who usually secures the services of Sam Davies-Thomas who was elsewhere in the country trying to cement his second place spot in the jockey’s championship.

 As the ground throughout the country’s vast array of pointing courses becomes a little less boggy, both these horses should see more wins under their belts soon.

The Subaru Restricted race was split into two divisions, which made racing a little later than the planned to finish.As families started to leave the East Sussex course. David Phelan’s Forrest Blue, ridden by Neil Mulholland’s amateur Martin McIntyre took division one of the race. 
The jockey with a two and a half hour trip back to the West Country, made that journey ever sweeter, knowing also his governor had trained the winner of the big race of the day at Sandown.

Forrest Blue, ridden by Martin McIntyre

Division two was taken by the team of trainer Tim Underwood, and rider Phil York on Rescue Glory.

  The horse that has had back problems saw off fierce opposition on the run in from Letskeepitsimple and the fancied Lickety Split.  

 Tim Underwood trainer,  rider by Phil York on Rescue Glory.

 Again both horse will see a run again before the seasons out, and would hope to progress a grade from their win.

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Opening Night at Windsor racecourse 2016

The first evening meeting at the Royal Berkshire racecourse saw a bumper crowd supporting a generous gesture by the management to open the gates for free to pre booked racegoers.

Eight early season races went on offer to the enthusiastic crowd. Top trainers entering their new intakes to find out more about them.

The first race a novice maiden filly’s stake over the five furlongs. 

Windsor regular David Evans sent his top weighted filly Fastest Spin to post, Cathy Gannon on board. 

By fastest Rock out of a good mare by Pivotal the filly held onto her race well and showed her form on paper that she could improve was spot on.

Fastest Spin

The jockey mentioned that she though the race was not the greatest for the filly,’ she really wants seven furlongs, I struggled a bit early on.’ The filly showing still she is a little green. With a longer trip she would be one to improve.

Fastest Spin, C Gannon

The next race also went to the top weight. A five furlong handicap contest for four year olds and upwards.

 Robert Winston riding the dean Ivory mount Stake Acclaim. 

The mud loving gelding by Acclamation backing up his handicap win on the Newmarket turf last season, running in between time on all weather tracks.

‘The horse has so much natural speed, and in these conditions I had the field beat half way.’ Mentioned Winston, showing that the horse had developed well from a two year old. And  has shown constancy, and would be one to improve again, and be one for the future.

Stake Acclaim winning the five furlong handicap at Royal Windsor.

Newmarket based Charlie Fellows saddle the winner of the third, a one mile two furlong maiden. Baadi off the weight of ten stone gave champion jockey hopeful Andrea Atzeni and early winner at the Berkshire course. 

The four year old out of the Roger Charlton yard last season. Has been well traveled throughout his career, winning a maiden contest in June at Ripon. 

In his first run for his new yard the gelding showed that he had to be pressured by Atzeni from a long way out, grinding the opposition into submission before the winning line.

The front runner looked from the off a winner of this contest the jockey mentioning that he would of been the best horse in the race.

Baadi, Andrea Atzeni

Atzeni not shying away from his intentions into challenging for the champion jockeys crown over the coming months, especially when riding horses such as Postponed trained by Roger Varian aimed for Royal Ascots Coronation Cup.

The feature race of the evening was the six furlongs 5 star handicap stakes, a class three event for four year olds and upwards.

Veteran trainer Milton Bradley sent his six year old by Royal Applause over the Severn Bridge to take on the race. Aptly called Englishman the gelding ridden by Franny Norton broke well from the stalls.

Englishman

The favourite for the race David Evans’ Flowers of Venus never got into the contest to allow the 7/1 shot to take the spoils.

‘This is the second time round for this fella, and I'm really happy for the boss, we have a few nice ones in at the moment so it’s all looking good.’ The horse that on previous runs has not shown his form he had in earlier years used to be trained by Charlie hills, and it is hoped by connections that he has now settled in his new environment and will regain winning ways.

Englishman,Franny Norton win the  5 star Gallop handicap stakes

David Evans in the next race answered any doubters though when he saddled Moojaned in the next, a one mile three furlongs handicap.

Again a beaten favourite in Dean Ivory’s Goldslinger, the Raven’s Pass five year old made all ridden by 3 lbs claimer Phillip prince, who flesh from his win over hurdles in Jersey, rode a confident race  to beat Allnecessaryforce in second and his bosses Andrew Balding’s Brandon Castle in third.

The young jockey mentioned, ‘this fella is a relentless galloper and stays all day, in soft ground the plan was to make all and see how it goes.’ The jockey still committed to the flat despite his hurdles victory mentioned the ride in Jersey was a ‘bit of fun’

Trainer David Evans, who often sends horses from his Abergavenny yard to Windsor on a double for the evening, and is one to watch throughout the season on the Berkshire course.

Moojaned

The distance race of the evening was taken for Newmarket in the shape of Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Cat Royale. Ridden by another three pound claimer Danny Brock.

Cat Royale, Danny Brock.

Again at the submission of another favourite in Mick Channon’s October Storm, the three year old colt by Lilbourn Lad who has not run on the turf for a fair while seemed to go on the softened ground to take the race. 

‘He’s won on the dirt at Kempton over a mile and half, turned up here and liked the ground and done the business.’

 Brock disappointed on not having a double for his evenings work when his fancied ride Dolphin Village in the previous race failed to place. ‘Dolphin just tied up with me a bit today which was disappointing, but there will be another day for him to be sure.’

Cat Royale, Danny Brock beats Argyle in the one mile three furlong Handicap

The final race of the evening in failing light was another sharp six furlongs event. Mick Channon again sending off the favourite in Potternello.

But it was an outsider Secret Look, ridden by Martin Dwyer and trained in Lichfield by Ed McMahon who took the race. 

The six year old Shakee’s Secret gelding that’s form had not been too great previous seemed to have lost his confidence over his last runs.

Secret Look, Martin Dwyer

 Dwyer who had never ridden the gelding before mentioned ‘Ed mentioned to me to try to get him to enjoy his racing, as he knew he would finish.’ 

Finish he did beating some progressive, handy types left in behind.

More flat racing drama at Windsor to come this season.
See that and other meeting at
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VISIT TO ROWDOWN STABLE HOME OF MARK USHER

Training since 1983, and with over 400 winners to his credit Mark Ushers small but quality string of charges resides in a new establishment in Upper Lambourn.
Nestled off the main road just out of Lambourn lies Rowdown Stables.

A contingent from the West Berkshire racing club were invited to meet and greet the Usher team, with a cheerful smile and a friendly handshake.
A small meet and greet in the yard before the master of Rowdown  took his followers up to the mandown gallops to watch his string and a few two year olds go through their paces.

Plenty of other stings about, including the'new boy' as they call him Richard Hughes's string used the Jockey Club owned gallops beforehand.

Horses from R,Hughes Yard

Mark's open house policy to arranged visits and owners is very much his ethos. A good location and business like attitude is shown as his team works with no fuss or noise around the yard.

Not a massive string by far, but enough that each horse can easily get the attention it needs.

Rowdown Stables

Mark also took time to take his visitors on a little tour of the gallops, showing then through a whole in the hedge.

To a view to treasure.

Not only the schooling grounds, where every Thursday throughout the National Hunt season, vast amounts of jumpers and jockeys are put through their paces.

The Guvnor also gave a horse by horse show and tell session throughout his yard. Feeding the mind of the ever hungry racing enthusiast.

Mark Usher

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