Irish Race Evening, Worcester Racecourse - Tuesday 17th July 2018
Good afternoon all,
After an entire week at the world’s biggest military airshow, the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, we attended the Irish Race Evening at Worcester Racecourse. A very special thanks to Katherine at the racecourse for allowing us such privileged access once again. Here is a report of the meeting;
Race 1 – Mazak & PP Together Success Novices Handicap Chase
Dark Invader justified favouritism with victory in the opening race of the evening, the Mazak & PP Together Success Novices Handicap Chase.
The 9/4f favourite was receiving nearly 1 stone from the runner up Comanche Chieftain, getting up close home to score by ½ a length for trainer Evan Williams and jockey Adam Wedge.
Comanche Chieftain and Golden Vision led the field along from the drop of the tapes, quickly putting 4 or 5 lengths between them and the remainder, who were led by Take A Break. Heading down the back Golden Vision attempted to force the issue under Harry Skelton, going clear from the field, a total of 15 lengths from backmarker King Muro.
Booted into the last down the back by Harry, Golden Vision attempted to set off from the field rounding the home turn, whilst at the rear of the field Take A Break made a bad blunder that caused the jockey Sean Bowen to get lower in the saddle to try and get him to regain his momentum.
Coming round the home turn, Golden Vision’s lead was down to 1 length as Comanche Chieftain and Dark Invader arrived to take aim at her. She led over 4 out by 2 lengths, the trio pulling away from the remainder of the field.
Over 3 out Golden Vision was joined by Comanche Chieftain, but Adam Wedge was only nudging away on Dark Invader slightly as they navigated it only a length from the front pair. However, the jump was untidy, and Adam had to get more serious as the trio approached 2 out. Golden Vision and Comanche Chieftain were once again together at the last, and slogged it out in the last furlong.
With ½ a furlong to run Comanche Chieftain edged ahead, only for Dark Invader to come with a flying run up the inside to snatch victory from them in the last 5 strides. Golden Vision faded close home for third, and they were 22 lengths ahead of Take A Break and the rest of the field.
Race 2 – Mazak & PP Going Forward Together Novices Chase
Souriyan followed up his win at Cartmel the previous month with victory in the Mazak & PP Going Forward Together Novices Chase for the trainer and jockey combination of Peter and Sean Bowen.
In a race of only three runners, the outsider of the trio took them along from flagfall, and was simply not for catching, scoring by 4 lengths from the JP McManus owned and Richard Johnson ridden Scoop The Pot.
In a steady run race, Souriyan extended his lead down the back to around 5 to 6 lengths, in an attempt to put his rivals under pressure from a long way out. Increasing the tempo didn’t seem to work however, as rounding the turn for home all three in the race could have been covered by a blanket.
Over two out Jack’s Last Hope became his namesake as he faded from contention, leaving Scoop The Pot to try and tackle Souriyan. Despite his and Dickie’s best efforts, it was Souriyan who found more at the end to prevail by 3 lengths, a further 19 back to Jack’s Last Hope.
Race 3 – PP Control & Automotion Handicap Hurdle
Beneagles landed the PP Control & Automotion Handicap Hurdle under Wayne Hutchinson after coming out on top during a pulsating finish with Ennistown.
Eureu Du Boulay and Sky Pirate set off disputing the early lead over the first, with Beneagles and Wayne Huntchinson keen to sit patiently behind them.
There was no real change until heading down the back Sky Pirate and Aidan Coleman took the initiative and upped the tempo. Going over 4 out Mr McGuinness and Charlie Poste were hampered and the rider briefly lost his irons. Unfortunately this was enough to scupper any chance he had of winning.
Going over 2 out Sky Pirate was joined by Ennistown, and with BenEagles just behind, he led by only ½ a length over the last as Ennistown threw down his challenge to the pair. All three knuckled down to fight out the finish, with Sky Pirate being collared by Ennistown with ½ a furlong to run. Beneagles delivered a late flourish to just prevail on the line however, in what was a hard fought battle to the line.
Race 4 – Northern Water Services Selling Handicap Hurdle
Ruaraidh Hugh broke an almost two year winless run by taking the Northern Water Services Selling Handicap Hurdle under jockey John Kingston. After disputing the early lead, he was sent on from the sixth and was simply not for catching.
Royal Beekeeper took the field along in the early stages, during what was a very strong pace. All seemed content until halfway down the back Ruaraidh Hugh, Ladies Dancing and Franz Klammer forced the gallop to increase even more. This began to tell very quickly, as many of their rivals began to immediately feel the pinch and started toiling in their blistering wake.
Turning in, it became apparent that Ruaraidh Hugh was travelling the best, with everyone else getting hard at work in an attempt to just keep tabs on his tail. Della Sun made an attempt to join into the fray, but Ruaraidh Hugh was booted into the 3rd last, and from there it was one way traffic.
He kept up the relentless gallop all the way to the line, drawing away from the opposition to win by 5 lengths. It seemed that the further the race went on, the further he went from the field. Della Sun stayed on for second after trying to go with the gallant victor, with Ladies Dancing back in third, though they were 15 lengths between them and the second place horse, which goes to show again the relentless pace of the contest.
Race 5 – Lighting And Living Worcester’s Home Furnishing Mares Maiden Hurdle
Passing Call ( 9/4F ) not only broke her maiden in the Lighting And Living Worcester’s Home Furnishing Mares Maiden Hurdle, but also brought up a double on the day for trainer Alan King and jockey Wayne Hutchinson.
Always the perennial bridesmaid, having been second 7 times and third once in her last eight runs, it was finally her time to shine as she scored by 7 lengths from Green Or Black.
Right Royale’s Day led at the start, but dived at the first hurdle, jockey Josh Wall doing well to stay aboard. Passing Call was sat just behind, with Far Cry pulling very hard, owing to the slow pace.
Admiral’s Sunset went on going into the back straight, as there was hardly any change in the order and pace. This continued leaving the back straight and rounding the home turn, in what was shaping up to be a typically French style of racing, which is a steady pace and then a mad sprint for the line.
At 3 out Passing Call was sent on by Wayne Hutchinson, and it was evidently clear that his mount was travelling the best, and all the other riders were beginning to shove away at their partnerships, perhaps except for Green Or Black, who had managed to keep a close eye on her and was making good progress approaching two out.
Passing Call led by half a length over two out, while Green Or Black , together with Port Royale and Admiral’s Sunset jumped it all as one in behind as they tried to close in on the leader. However, once Wayne Hutchinson shook up the favourite in between the last two flights it was all a forlorn gesture from her rivals to try and catch her.
She pulled clear after jumping the last, and careered away to score by 6 lengths, going away all the time in what was an impressive run, with Green Or Black winning the battle for second place.
Sadly, the race had a very tragic postscript, as Port Royale, who finished third, collapsed afterward and before entering the parade ring. Despite all the hard work from the vets, his handler and racecourse staff, he could not be saved, and passed away. Our thoughts are with his trainer Anthony Honeyball, all his connections, and with his handler, who looked after, adored him, and gave him the best care anyone could hope for and imagine.
Race 6 – Amodil Group Stainless Steel Novices Hurdle
11/8F The Devils Drop brought up a treble on the day for trainer Alan King and jockey Wayne Hutchinson with a comprehensive demolition job of his rivals in the Amodil Group Stainless Steel Novices Hurdle.
Sent off favourite after an easy 24 length win at Southwell previously, he made a competitive hurdle look like a schooling session.
Sad Eyed Dylan and Bugsie Malone set out a decent pace in the three mile contest. Dollnamix gave a sketchy jump at the middle flight in the home straight, which wasn’t the first for him as he did continue to make a few errors throughout the trip. All however were going well within themselves down the back, Bugsie Malone being ridden along going around the home turn to move up and try to take issue and force it on his rivals.
Dollnamix began to tail off going over three out, all the rest beginning to get to work, knuckling down to the hard, gritty work at hand. That was except for Wayne Hutchinson on the favourite, who cruised menacingly into the lead and effortlessly passed Bugsie Malone and Sad Eyed Dylan.
He easily popped over the last two hurdles and was not extended to win by 31 lengths, so just over a distance, in what was an emphatic, breathtaking performance. He seems to be one to keep an eye on, given how during the course of his demolition job he gave 7lbs and a comprehensive beating to his rivals.
Race 7 – Guide Dogs Handicap Hurdle
G For Ginger made an honest taking performance to win the concluding race at Worcester, the Guide Dogs Handicap Hurdle.
Disputing the early lead with Mercian King, himself a previous winner at Worcester, the pair cut out a decent pace in the two mile contest.
Dexcite was the first to feel the pinch, slowly tailing off after jumping 4 out, whilst Miss Spent and Blazon were beginning to also feel the pressure at hand going around the home turn.
Over 3 out it was clear that only G For Ginger was travelling well, the rest really beginning to struggle as the race began to enter the last few furlongs. He only needed to be kept up to his work to score a 15 length success from Mercian King and Vif Argent, who drew well away from the two other finishers.
Here is a gallery of some more images from the night, hope you all enjoy!
Thank you very much once again to Katherine at Worcester for the opportunity, we really appreciate everything you have done and continue to do for us. I would bake you a cake to say thanks, but we three know that wouldn't be as straight forward as it seems!
Another review of Worcester is coming soon, from yesterday's Carpet Gallop Family Fun Day, so watch this space!
