Monday and St Patricks Day has arrived. Two jump’s cards over the water at Wexford and north of the border Down Royal. At the former Gordon Elliott and Paul Flynn trained two winners each. At Down Royal Elliot also managed to have four winners all ridden by Danny Gilligan. In the UK Gary and Josh Moore enjoyed two winners on the card at Fontwell. Paradoxical trained by Jenny Candlish brought up four wins on the bounce at Wolverhampton under the promising Warren Fentiman. Sir Mark Prescott looks to have another nice prospect on his hands by the name of Warrior Mode. The debutant took the seven – furlong novice race under Luke Morris. Rossa Ryan rode a treble just to keep his eye in.
Exeter saw Johnny Burke ride two winners. One for Hughie Morrison named Star Artist and the other for his boss Fergal O’Brien called Night Duty. Perhaps the best performance on the card was that of Time To Bite who set out In front, was clear two from home and won the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase. Well done to trainer Chris Honour and rider Bryan Carver. Up at Wetherby there were two winners worth mentioning. Jukebox Fury took the staying handicap hurdle for Nicky Henderson and James Bowen. The other was the bumper winner White Riot who was well supported in the betting and won readily for Fergal O’Brien and jockey Kielan Woods. The first race at Wolverhampton saw a nice debut winner for the Crisford training partnership called Opera Score ridden by Harry Davies. This four- length winner maybe one to follow? In the other novice race, the Archie Watson trained Aurora Majesty followed up its Newcastle debut victory by three and a half lengths under Hollie Doyle. Finley March and Adrian Wintle teamed up for two winners on the card too.
On Wednesday the seven – race card at Haydock saw just 30 runners participate including the first race being a walkover. The official going was described as Good but my suspicion was it was faster as ten runners withdrew on the day. Not great! The racing that took place doesn’t need a mention. At Huntingdon there were a few more runners but not too many. Jamie Snowden and Gavin Sheehan had a first and last race double. Both Datsalrightcharlie and Ride Like A Girl both made every yard in their respective races. At Southwell under the lights Ollie Sangster unleashed a newcomer called Bijoux who stuck on really well to win the novice stakes over a mile under Trevor Whelan.
Sedgefield on Thursday saw Brian Hughes ride Klitscko to victory who was trained by his wife Lucinda. In the staying handicap chase won by Old Gold for David Thomson and jockey William Maggs there was bad news to report. Derek Fox aboard Bally Disco was unseated at the fifteenth fence and the injuries sustained means he misses Aintree. Newcastle saw Paddys Day deliver a few days late in the five-furlong handicap but brought up his fourth consecutive victory in good style under Alex Jary for trainer Nigel Tinkler.
Ffos Las on Friday saw Evan Williams have a double courtesy of Princess Keri under Adam Wedge and Mount Washington under Conor Ring. Up at Musselburgh it was Series Final Day and the racing was very competitive as you would expect. Lucinda Russell took one of the finals with Kingston James and bookended the card by taking the maiden hurdle and the bumper too for a treble on the day! The nicest performance at Newbury was The Boola Boss taking the two miles six-furlong handicap chase for Rebecca Curtis. Sean Bowen made all and stayed on bravely up the run in to take the prize. Zain Night repeated last years win in the staying handicap hurdle under Tom Cannon for trainer Lucy Wadham.
The feature race at Newbury on Saturday was the Grade 2 Mares Novice Hurdle, a Limited Handicap over two and a half miles. The winner Siog Geal outstayed the opposition to win half a length. This winner was one of 4 on the day up and down the country and helped the trainer pass the £1m prize money mark for the season. Well done indeed. The bumper winner Kadastral looked a nice type for the Skeltons too.
At Kelso the Listed Mares Hurdle registered as the Beeswing Hurdle was taken by Lavida Adiva for trainer Ruth Jefferson and jockey Brian Hughes. This card also had Series Final races similar to yesterday at Musselburgh. The three races were won by locals Lucinda Russell, Stuart Coltherd and that man again Fergal O’Brien. He also won the bumper with Is This For Real who was bought by Paddy Brennan and runs in the colours of Tony Bloom. At Bangor the training duo of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero had three winners for three different jockeys. Congratulations to all connections.
At Navan Jim Bolger trained the winner of the first division of the maiden hurdle with Eastern Legend who was the first winner for Bolger under National Hunt rules for over twelve years. The Listed Handicap Chase was taken readily by Canal End for Peter Fahey the trainer and jockey Mark Walsh.
On the All-Weather Kieron Shoemark rode a double at Newcastle, while Rossa Ryan won the maiden fillies stakes with a nice performance on Magna Grecia Star trained by James Tate by five lengths.
Exeter had 26 runners today – 26!!! Where the official going was Good to Firm. Sam Twiston-Davies rode the winner Minniermum of the Mares Chase for Henry Daly, and brought up winner number 100 for the season. Congratulations to Sam. The Carlisle meeting had three more Northern Series Finals and all three winners were northern trained horses. Raffles Wonder for Rebecca Menzies, Red Happy for George Bewley and Hello Judge for Ann Hamilton.
At Limerick the Grade 3 Novice Chase was won nicely by Fun Fun Fun for the “Double Green Team”. This winner contributed to a treble for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. At Naas the David Marnane trained East Hampton took the seven-furlong handicap really well. The trainer thinks he’s better than a handicapper. Finally, Sunchart won the Listed Devoy Stakes for the second time for the Slattery’s and this eight-year-old really is a credit to them.
Enjoy what is left of Sunday. Next week the Falt starts proper!!