We learned on Monday Ken Cunningham Brown died aged 93. He trained for over forty years on the flat and over jumps. RIP Also we heard Pat Murphy had announced his retirement at the age of 67 from the training ranks. Carlisle staged an eight race card which attracted plenty of runners. The first two races went to Sam Thomas and Dylan Johnson both owned by Dai Walters. C’est Different won eased down in the Conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle. The other winner named Shomen Uchi was defying a long layoff of nearly two years from the track to take the novice chase. Brian Hughes and Donald McCain also had a double while the finale was taken by Irish raider Portnacoo trained by Ross O’Sullivan and ridden by Darragh O’Keefe. At Wolverhampton’s evening fixture apprentice Warren Fentiman rode his first career double. His winners were Paradoxical for Jennie Candlish and the unraced Maaz for Dr Newland and Jamie Insole. This young jockey will be in great demand this summer.
Tuesday saw the funeral of John Hales RIP The headline from the track was George Wood rode four winners for four different trainers again at the evening Wolverhampton meeting. I think we saw a nice bumper winner at Market Rasen for the Twiston-Davies team when Un Sens A La Vie won three lengths on debut. Worth a mention was the first race at Taunton where Holeshot trained by Tim Vaughan and ridden by Alan Johns won easily by seven lengths. This was quite heavily backed and it’s fair to say this yard do not leave their money behind often.
At midday on Wednesday the funeral took place of young jockey Michael O’Sullivan at John The Baptist church in Glantane county Cork and was laid to rest in St Johns Cemetery RIP
Not much to report from the track except Nicky Henderson and James Bowen teamed up for a double at Doncaster. Most impressive performance was the Charlie Longsdon trained Imperial Jade who took the two and a half mile handicap hurdle under David Bass by 13 lengths. At Ludlow Ben Pauling bagged another double, his yard is on fire!
More bad news Thursday morning, old favourite of many Delta Work died aged 12 after suffering an attack of colic. He won five Grade 1s and the X Country Chase twice. Irish racing returned at Punchestown with some informative races for the future. The Grand National Trial went to Gordon Elliott’s Fortunedefortunata and Elliott trained the runner up and third for good measure. The Listed Novice Hurdle went to the Barry Connell owned and trained William Munny under Sean Flanagan. He now heads for the Supreme Novice and has been quoted 16/1 best for the Festival opener. The Grade 3 Quevega Mares Hurdle was picked up by Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with Jade De Grugy. The bumper was also a Willie Mullins trained winner called Gameofinches who impressed the bookies as they have now installed him 4/1 favourite for the Champion Bumper! At Huntingdon trainer Harry Derham and jockey Paul O’Brien combined for a double with Dramatic Encore and Teddy Blue. Christian Williams and Jack Tudor repeated the feat at Lingfield with You Say Nothing and Last Rodeo both being strong in the market. On the all-weather at Newcastle Ruth Carr trained two winners while jockey Jonny Peate rode two.
Friday’s Exeter card included a Listed Mares Chase which was won by the Polly Grundy trained Don’t Rightly Know ridden by Harry Cobden who outstayed Irish challenger Malina Girl. Cobden rode two other winners on the card for good measure. At Warwick Bryan Carver rode two winners over hurdles but was out done by Ben Jones who rode the last three winners on the card. Two were for his boss Ben Pauling and the other Fashions Model for trainer Sheila Lewis who was supported in the betting. At Meydan Azteca won the UAE Oaks as expected at prohibitive odds. Nine year old Dubai Future rolled back the years to take the staying event under Silvestre De Sousa. Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor should be applauded for persevering with this horse that could run in Cup races this summer.
On to Saturday and lots to mention here. Starting at Kempton the Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle went to 450,000 Euro purchase Mambonumberfive on his second UK racecourse appearance. He was impressive having being held up last, he won readily under Ben Jones for Ben Pauling. The Dovecote Novice Hurdle, also Grade 3 was won impressively by Tripoli Flyer for Fergal O’Brien and Johnny Burke. The winning distance was 7 lengths back to the favourite Miami Magic in second and this could be a Supreme Novice Hurdle possible next month and would appreciate spring ground more than today’s going description. Finally, the Grade 2 Pendil Novice Chase went to the Paul Nicholls trained Rubaud fought hard to beat Boombawn by a length. Aintree next stop for the winner according to post race quotes. At Newcastle the Eider Handicap Chase was the feature and this was taken in a procession by Knockanore who came home 16 lengths clear for trainer Ryan Potter. This was a high profile winner for the yard and was well ridden by young Freddie Mitchell. Congratulations from the Major
The valuable Winter Derby was run at Southwell and Karl Burke’s Royal Champion hosed up under Clifford Lee. Over the water the Bobbyjoe Chase was the highlight. The Thyestes Chase winner Nick Rocket took the honours and Grand National dreams are alive. Also to mention the first race, the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle. The winner, Great Attitude won over five lengths at 8/1 but the story was the fact this horse was supported at 100/1 on the track and some availed themselves of bigger on Saturday morning. The term “had it right off” springs to mind…Finally the Saudi Cup provided racing fans a real treat. In the most valuable race in the world Japan’s Forever Young fought back to beat the Hong Kong trained Romantic Warrior in the straight.
On Sunday the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle took place at Fontwell. We saw a really good finish here too as Nemean Lion made up over two lengths on the run in to “chin” Steel Ally a neck. The winner trained by Kerry Lee and ridden by Richard Patrick is a credit to them both. At Naas the two Graded Hurdles were won by Bacchanalian for Declan Queally and Jacobs Ladder for Gordon Elliott.