Carlisle, Sunday 8th April 2018
Good evening all,
Last week we attended our first accredited meeting of the year, at a new course for us as well, which is always lovely! The racecourse in question was Carlisle, meaning a long but simple trip up the M6 was in order. Many, many thanks to Oliver Greenall, his team and owners and the Racecourse General Manager Molly Dingwall for the opportunity, it is hugely and gratefully appreciated!
Here is a brief, but hopefully interesting review of the meeting last Sunday. Enjoy!
Race 1 - Enhanced place odds at 188Bet Mobile Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle ( Div 1 )
Skywards Reward took the opening race of the day at Carlisle with a very comfortable 17 length victory under Hugo Thompson-Brown. Micky Hammonds charge had looked a little flat footed for pace between 3 and 2 out, with Donald McCain's Hit And Run sneaking a charmed run up the inside of the long time leader Frightened Rabbit, who started to fade at the bottom of the hill just before the second last. Skywards Reward found plenty for pressure however, and joined Hit And Run to lead on landing at the second last. He quickly opened up by 6 lengths approaching the last, and whilst he dived at the last, he got away with the blunder as he ended up 10 lengths in front of Hit And Run, and powered away to win by 17 lengths at the finish. Hit And Run took second from Astaroland, who had made progress round the final turn but couldn't find much compared to the comfortable winner. Fort Jefferson stayed on into fourth place, picking off several runners who had given their all, suggesting encouragingly that he will be better for a trip.
Race 2 - Enhanced place odds at 188Bet Mobile Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle ( Div 2 ) Micky Hammond quickly came up a double at Carlisle when Dakota Grey scored in the second division of the Enhanced place odds at 188Bet Mobile Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle. Young riding sensation James Bowen had positioned the gelding in third as Saint Freule set a tear away pace in front, going 12 lengths clear before 3 out, with many of his rivals off the bridle at this point, conditions and the pace evidently taking a toll on them. James brought Dakota Grey stealthily into the contest before 2 out as Saint Freule's lead was reduced down to 5 lengths at the penultimate hurdle, and cruised up confidently approaching the last. He joined the long time leader at the last, who to his credit found plenty for pressure, but Dakota Grey was always holding him on the run to the finish, scoring by 1 1/2 lengths and bringing up 50 winners for the season for the leading conditional.
Race 3 - Grand National Betting at 188Bet Chase ( Novices Limited Handicap )
A stalwart of Northern Jump Racing was represented in the winners enclosure at Carlisle, when Sue Smith was responsible for sending out Cracking Find to win the Grand National Betting at 188Bet Chase ( Novices Limited Handicap ) under Danny Cook. Cracking Find went on at the first down the side and led by 4 over the fifth as the pace began to lift. The Donald McCain trained Midnight Walk was the first to feel the pinch as the pace increased leaving the back, as it was left to Cracking Find and the other of McCain's runners Derrintoher Yank to duel it out heading towards the last three. The leader was 3 lengths up at the last ditch four out, but shortened into three out, which allowed Derrintoher Yank a chance to come alongside at two out, where they jumped it together. Brian Hughes switched Derrintoher Yank from the rail to the middle of the track in an effort to get past Cracking Find, but approaching the last it became clear that his effort was about to peter out, as Skipping On looked poised to play a part in the finish instead. Danny Cook booted Cracking Find into the last and came up 2 lengths ahead of Skipping On, but Skipping On would not go down so easily and served it up all the way to the line to Cracking Find, who prevailed by a length, the two pulling well clear of the McCain pair of Derrintoher Yank and Midnight Walk.
Race 4 - Pauline Phizacklea Memorial Novices Hurdle
Kelpies Myth made sure that it wasn't going to be a luckless day for the queen of Scottish jump racing in Lucinda Russell as he took the Pauline Phizacklea Memorial Novices Hurdle under Blair Campbell. He was at the head of affairs from flagfall, sticking close to the rail alongside Rob Royal in the early stages. Mcgowan's Pass took a very keen hold throughout in a very well bunched field where several took keen holds as the race went on, whilst Rob Royal was pulled up in the back straight having disputed the early lead. Lingarno Felice and Ross Chapman were the first to have a crack at the leader approaching the second last, where both bunny-hopped it. Cornerstone Lad and Mcgowan's Pass came snapping at their heels approaching the last, and at one stage it looked like a split finish between 4. Kelpies Myth landed over first, while Lingarno Felice ended up in a bit of a heap, which allowed Cornerstone Lad another bite of the cherry in an attempt to overturn the long time leader. Despite Henry Brooke's urges up the straight and inside the final furlong it was Kelpies Myth who prevailed at the line for Lucinda Russell and Blair Campbell, and in the process denied Micky Hammond a treble on the day.
Race 5 - Premier League Betting at 188Bet Handicap Chase
Doktor Glaz took the fifth race on the card, the Premier League Betting at 188Bet Handicap Chase in tidy fashion. Ridden by Lorcan Murtagh and trained by Rose Dobbin, he led practically from flag fall to score by 4 1/2 lengths from Swing Hard and Justforjames. Presenting Junior's race barely got started, as having jumped the first he went lame and was quickly pulled up by jockey Henry Brooke. Having been assessed by the vets, he walked into the horse ambulance, and we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery, and hope to see him on course again very soon. Over the fifth it became apparent that Doktor Glaz was enjoying bowling along in front, absolutely flying the fence, coming up really well for Lorcan. Compare that to Swing Hard, who had to be given reminders from Danny Cook after the field had jumped the sixth. Cash Again had to be stoked along by Richie Mclernon heading down the back as he threatened to lose touch, but by the time the field swung out of the back straight he, Calivigny and Justforjames were all losing touch with the front runners as the pace started to increase. Doktor Glaz flew the last ditch and went 4 lengths clear of Grove Silver and Zayfire Aramis, who produced a very disconcerting, if not awkward landing into his rival. It became clear that the rest of the field may not catch the leader, and whilst he made a slight dive at the second last, he put in a more measured jump over the last. He was starting to tire however, with Swing Hard and the formerly outpaced Justforjames threatening to close in, but he was always doing enough in front to score.
Race 6 - Read Noel Fehily at 188Bet Handicap Hurdle
Two-time winning pointer My Old Gold relished a step up in trip to 3 miles when taking the Read Noel Fehily at 188Bet Handicap Hurdle for Nicky Richards and Craig Nichol. The consistent mare had finished 3rd, 2nd and 2nd in her first 3 runs since moving from Declan Queally to Nicky Richards' yard after winning two points in Ireland last year, and the move to 3 miles paid dividends for the 8 year old. Two Many Chiefs and winning hunter chaser Carlton Ryan took the field along, with My Old Gold sat on the outside just in behind. The order didn't change much throughout the first circuit, with Catchermat happy to sit at the back and view things from there, if a few lengths adrift entering the straight. Heading down the hill on the side for the final time the pace began to lift, with Carlton Ryan being shaken up before the fifth last, with Top Billing and Apollo Creed also beginning to feel the pinch and coming under a drive. A guess at the third last made Carlton Ryan lose some ground, and jockey Harry Bannister had to give some reminders to him heading towards the end of the back straight, but it came to no avail as he rapidly began to lose places. Too Many Chiefs was the first to drop away at the bottom of the hill in the home straight, with Aengus, My Old Gold and Knock House settling down to fight out the finish. All three jumped the second last together. Between the last two Aengus began to tire, whilst Brian Hughes switched Knock House off the rail to get a better run on My Old Gold. My Old Gold produced an untidy leap at the last, but found plenty for Craig Nichols urgings to score by 3 lengths from Knock House and Aengus.
Race 7 - US Masters Betting at 188Bet Novices Handicap Chase Asking Questions remains unbeaten over fences as he made it two from two in the US Masters Betting at 188Bet Novices Handicap Chase under Harry Skelton, and in the process gave trainer Oliver Greenall's second winner of the weekend in as many days, following up from Lord County the day before at Uttoxeter under Ed Glassonbury. The top weight, running off 12-2 jumped with aplomb, apart from one slight error at the first open ditch where he reached for it a little, but he learned from that mistake and made his jumping count where it mattered.
Bill D’Aron chanced the fourth fence, making a notable blunder which forced Will Kennedy to resort to sitting tight for a stride or two. Court Baloo was also one to see lagging a little at the second in the home straight, backing off at the fence for a moment.
Going down the back straight the field bar Court Baloo was well bunched, and at the first down that part of the course Bill D’Aron made yet another serious blunder, getting into the roots of it and losing several places as a result. Over the ditch Podili Road made a blunder as up front Harry Skelton was started to nudge away on Asking Questions, trying to get him to lift the pace and open up on his rivals with a raise in the tempo. He was booted into the last down the back as his rivals Heritage Way, Fit For Fifty and the grey Romulus Du Donjon queued up behind for a shot at him, snapping his heels as they went round the home turn.
A great leap at the last ditch four out saw off all but the grey, who closed in at three out and had a slight lead going over 2 out. Heritage Way was a faller there but appears to be none the worst for it.
Coming to the last it looked like Romulus Du Donjon was going to prevail over the long time leader, but he didn’t get very high at the last, sending the spruce and birch flying. It allowed Asking Questions another bite of the cherry. He responded to Harry’s urgings, grabbing the bit and edging ahead of Romulus Du Donjon, with the pair a good thirty lengths ahead of Mr Whitmore. Romulus Du Donjon wouldn’t give up, and battled back up the run in, but Asking Questions was doing just enough to prevail, scoring by a short head, whilst giving away a stone to the runner up, proving the Oliver Greenall horse is full of heart and grit to knuckle down in the conditions to get up in the end. Connections were overjoyed with his performance, and there were smiles all round in the winner’s enclosure for the gallant winner. Josh Guerrero, assistant trainer to Oliver Greenall, noted after his win that this trip is a little short of what he wants. "He is crying out for 3 miles", he stated to the very happy connections post race. A trip to Aintree for the Becher Chase in December may be on the cards, as connections wish to explore if they have a potential horse for the Grand National on their hands. Only time will tell, but he certainly is a promising individual! Where next for this gutsy, determined hero?
Race 8 - Play Blackjack at 188Bet Casino Standard Open NH Flat Race
Large Glory took the final race of the card, the Play Blackjack at 188Bet Casino Standard Open NH Flat Race, on what was her first ever start for trainer S R B Crawford. The 4 year old Fame And Glory filly was sat in mid division for the majority of the race, behind early leaders Doctor Hooves and Glentrool as they set a steady pace. Favourite Finley's Eyes was sat at the rear by Harry Skelton. Spirit Of Waterloo was racing a little keenly in the home straight first time round in the hands of David England. Turning for home there was five in line, with Copper Coin being sent on first on the run for home up the Carlisle hill. Largy Glory and Just Call Me Al went with him, quickly establishing a gap between the rest of the field. A furlong and a half from Home, Brian Hughes and Largy Glory grabbed the lead and put a length and a half on them and Copper Coin, and it was to remain that distance all the way to the line, in what was. A gutsy performance for such an inexperienced horse. Spirit Of Waterloo came home in sixth, and the assistant trainer Josh noted that it was a good performance for a horse they expect to do better in time and over further.
Thanks very much for reading this, I hope you enjoyed it even a percentage of how we feel about producing this. Once again, our eternal and grateful thanks to Molly Dingwall and the team of owners and staff at Oliver Greenall for the opportunity, it really does mean the world to be able to do this, and we feel extremely privileged to be able to do it.
Warmest Regards,
Tom Williams
JTW Equine Images
