Worcester Racecourse, Carpet Gallop Family Fun Day, Sunday 2nd September 2018
Good morning all,
Sunday 2nd September was the Carpet Gallop Family Fun Day at Worcester Racecourse, which also featured the Retraining Of Racehorses parade in the Paddock and the Worcestershire Parent & Carer’s Community “Mascot Dash”. A fantastic, highly enjoyable day, which is always is at Worcester, and once again we are very appreciative to Katherine for the opportunity.
Race 1 – The Carpet Gallop All Weather Surfaces Handicap Steeplechase.
Heurtevent took the opening race of the day with a perfectly timed run in a game and gutsy performance under Harry Bannister for trainer Tony Carroll, nipping up the inside of Welsh Designe and Charlie Hammond inside the final furlong to score by ¾ of a length.
Mount Russell and Welsh Designe shared the lead over the first, with King Muro bringing up the rear, rather awkwardly jumping it however, and then repeating his effort over the open ditch, which was fence 2.
Diplomatico moved up to join Mount Russell at the fourth fence, continuing to dispute the lead rounding the bottom turn, whilst King Muro moved past Heurtevent and Djarkevi to take closer order entering the back straight.
Heading to the second in the back straight Mount Russell was booted into the fence to try and force a stronger pace and a lift in tempo. Diplomatico went with him, themselves 5 lengths ahead of Welsh Designe back in third. At the last down the back No No Cardinal crashed out, hampering Moontripper who also unseated the rider. Thankfully all horses and jockeys got up fine following the incident.
Around the top bend Diplomatico went on from Mount Russell, who was shaken up to try and go with him. King Muro made eye catching progress around the field into fourth, Heurtevent and Djarkevi making some progress of their own to make up the leading six.
Diplomatico, Welsh Design and King Muro could have had a blanket covering them entering the home straight, Heurtevent being ridden along and Mount Russell dropping back quickly, his early exertions taking their toll.
Welsh Designe took over the lead at four out, Heurtevent coming in to join him and King Muro as Diplomatico dropped away at 3 out. From there King Muro tried to get past Welsh Designe, but was never quite getting there. Heurtevent switched to the inside over the last to sneak in past Welsh Designe, who battled back gallantly, but was never going to hold the charge of the former as they got up to score.
Race 2 – The carpetgallop.co.uk Novices Steeple Chase
All Set To Go won a dramatic renewal of the carpetgallop.co.uk Novices Steeplechase for trainer Kevin Frost and jockey Paddy Brennan, and in the process making it 2/2 over fences since switching to the larger obstacles.
Having been on the go all summer since switching to the yard from Paul Nicholls, he followed up a win at Southwell a few weeks earlier to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in what looked beforehand a very hot novices chase for the time of year, with himself, 2017 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle winner Flying Tiger, former Swinton Hurdle winner John Constable and smart hurdler on his day Zaidiyn among the contenders.
There was drama before the race even went off as the chasing debutant and favourite Flying Tiger’s saddle slipped just after heading to the start from the parade ring, causing him to bolt. Jockey Mr Chester Williams tried valiantly for over a circuit and a quarter to pull the horse up, but ultimately was unceremoniously dumped near the start and Flying Tiger continued loose for a further ¾ of a circuit, turning around, and then finally being caught halfway down the back straight. Subsequently, the horse was withdrawn.
The remaining four runners set off for the 2 mile contest, with By Rail taking them along in the early stages. Both him, Zaidiyn and All Set To Go all jumped the first well, with John Constable having a good look at it and the next three fences down the straight, shifting left and not quite warming to the task ahead of him.
Zaidiyn and By Rail went eye to eye until the first down the back, with the former going on by 3 lengths. He flew the 7th, which couldn’t be said for John Constable over the 8th as he made a bad mistake, jockey Adam Wedge doing well to sit tight.
Coming around the top bend, Zaidiyn had gone 4 lengths ahead of By Rail, who was 2 in front of All Set To Go, and a further 10 lengths back to John Constable, seemingly not travelling or jumping with any fluency. Zaidiyn jumped the last ditch, 3 out, 6 lengths in front of All Set To Go, with By Rail weakening and John Constable tailed off. All Set To Go reduced the lead to 4 lengths going over the second last, but was still 3-4 lengths adrift of Zaidiyn approaching the last, who looked comfortable in front and possible the more likely to score. Unfortunately for his supporters, he barely lifted a leg and crashed through the fence, unseating jockey Jonathan England and handing victory to All Set To Go, who avoided the melee to score, 27 lengths clear of By Rail and the very disappointing John Constable in third. It would appear that chasing simply isn’t the latter’s game, and it must be wondered whether he will revert to hurdles, or try again over fences, perhaps at Chepstow in a few week’s time.
Race 3 – The Call Carpet Gallop 01785719991 Mares Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race
There may have been a touch of star quality about the winner of the Call Carpet Gallop 01785719991 Mares Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race, as Alsa Mix scored for Alan King and jockey Wayne Hutchinson.
Bought for £65,000 at the Tattersalls 2018 Ascot Sale in February by Highflyer Bloodstock after winning an Irish point-to-point at Aghabullogue in January by 10 lengths, the mare went off the 1/3F and made a winning debut for her new stable in nice fashion.
Kim’s Diamond refused to race at the start, while Pennant Legend and Getadollar took the field along took the order of the field until Clem moved up to second to try a force a change in pace.
Alsa Mix did run slightly lazily towards the home bend, but moved into contention leaving the home bend and entering the home straight. She and Freedom Run cleared away from Clem, Getadollar and Pennant Legend at the two furlong pole. With one furlong to go Wayne Hutchinson sent Alsa Mix on, riding with only hands and heels, drawing quickly away to score by 6 lengths in fine fashion. The premise is that she will now go hurdling, with maybe Alan keeping one eye on the Dawn Run at Cheltenham in March with this one?
Race 4 – The Emerald Trading Waste Solutions Mares Handicap Hurdle Race
Stepover took the Emerald Trading Waste Solutions Mares Handicap Hurdle Race off top weight for trainer Alex Hales and jockey Kielan Woods.
The consistent 7-year-old scored by 1½ lengths from Included, in the process proving that top weight was no burden.
Ginger Fizz led from the aforementioned duo of Included and Stepover, with the leader looking around and racing keenly at the second. A decent pace continued around the city bend, getting stronger as the field turned into the back straight to face the next three hurdles. Included moved up at the first in the back but was outjumped by Ginger Fizz, who was giving it a good, bold show in front.
Ebony’s Encore was the first to feel the pinch of the relentless pace, dropping away as the field went over 4 out and exited the back straight. Included went past Ginger Fizz at 3 out, while Stepover travelled up at 2 out to join issue with him as the race became about them two for the top honour. Level at the last, Stepover pulled out more to win by 1½ lengths to Included, with a gap to Milan Of Crystal who took third.
Race 5 – The emeraldtrading.org.uk Hand>
Novis Adventus took the emeraldtrading.org.uk Handicap Hurdle Race for the trainer and jockey combination of Neil Mulholland and Tom Scudamore.
Notnow Seamus took them along, while Utility gave them a wide lead after messing around at the start. Going to the city bend it was Notnow Seamus leading from Malton Rose, Iftiraaq, Chase End Charlie, G For Ginger, Talent To Amuse, Novis Adventus and Utility. Richard Johnson was not happy on Chase End Charlie, who was slow at the 5th and lost his placing in the field at it. He was slow again at the sixth and was immediately pulled up by the champion jockey, something clearly amiss with him.
Going around the home turn Notnow Seamus led from G For Ginger, with Malton Rose dropping back. Novis Adventus and Iftiraaq moved up , with Utility making progress, albeit whilst being ridden along. G for Ginger faded after 3 out, with Malton Rose regaining second after rallying around the home turn.
However in all of this Novis Adventus was cruising under Tom Scudamore to move alongside Notnowseamus and Malton Rose. He fluffed his way over the flight though, but lost no momentum and was bang in contention going to the last. Over the last he was more fluent and extended away in the final furlong to win hard held by 6 lengths at the line to Notnowseamus and Malton Rose in what was an impressive performance.
Race 6 – The Carpet Gallop Supporting Racing Handicap Hurdle Race
Ruby’s Cube made sure the long journey from Carmarthen was worth it as she took the Carpet Gallop Supporting Racing Handicap Hurdle Race for trainer Debra Hamer and jockey Sean Bowen.
She followed up a keeping on second at a previous meeting the month before at the course with a ready performance to break her maiden tag at the ninth attempt.
Western Storm led at the start from Tir Dubh and The Last Melon in what was a steady run race early on. Over the fourth Charlie Hammond had to give reminders to Burgess View as his jumping was sloppy, while the leader Western Storm jumped to his left at the fifth hurdle.
At the sixth Burgess View was again not fluent, and was ridden again by Charlie Hammond, who decided that the horse was not travelling fluently at this stage and pulled him up before the seventh hurdle, the first in the back and having completed just shy of a circuit.
The pace increased going down the back straight, with Tir Dubh moving up towards the 8th hurdle, but was not fluent over it, surrendering the position to Balkinstown shortly after going over 4 out, the ninth hurdle.
Around the bend Ruby’s Cube moved into contention and into fourth place under Sean Bowen and looked ready to take aim at the leaders as they entered the straight and began to head towards 3 out.
Western Storm was travelling smoothly as the field went towards two out, while the same couldn’t be said for Ruby’s Cube, who wasn’t as fluent as she was throughout earlier stages in the race. Despite this she was still in contention over two out and heading towards the last. Long time leader Western Storm had a good look around approaching the last, wandering around approaching it, which allowed Ruby’s Cube to come to challenge over the last. The pair set off towards the line and it was Ruby’s Cube who found more, collaring Western Storm and running away to score by 3¾ lengths at the line. Western Storm stayed on to take second, with Balkinstown best of the rest in third.
Race 7 – The GTECH Carpet Gallop Refresh Old Surfaces Conditional Jockeys’ Maiden Hurdle Race
Settimo Milanese broke his maiden tag in the GTECH Carpet Gallop Refresh Old Surfaces Conditional Jockeys’ Maiden Hurdle Race for Dr Richard Newland and Charlie Hammond.
Having fielded some good form for Mouse Morris during his time in Ireland, including a 16½ length fourth behind ultimately the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle winner at the Punchestown Festival Draconien in December at Clonmel, he made light work of the field to score by 29 lengths, the step up in distance after moving from Ireland also being beneficial to him.
He and Black Prince led to the first, while Native Soldier, who was sweating up already, wasn’t fluent over it. He also blundered his way over the third. Orchard Lane was also not fluent over the fourth.
The front two led by 5 lengths going over the sixth, the last in a circuits time, and into the city bend. The field did close up going to the seventh, the first down the back, in which Black Prince was not fluent. So was Orchard Lane, who after making yet another mistake proceeded to drop back even more.
Over the eighth the pace increased further, with the front pair going on again by 5 lengths, re-establishing their earlier lead. Massini’s Dream chased the leading pair, clear of Winsome Bucks and the rest of the field. Winsome Bucks fell at the last and in the process brought down Orchard Lane in a nasty looking fall. All horses and jockeys were up safely afterwards.
Coming around the home bend both Black Prince and Massini’s Dream were being hard ridden, but the same couldn’t be said for Settimo Milanese who was cruising in the hands of Charlie Hammond. Black Prince gave a tired leap at 3 out, signalling his chance had gone, where Native Soldier also pulled up. Settimo Milanese cruised well away after this, jumping the last two with aplomb and scoring by 29 lengths on the bridle, with Massini’s Dream taking second place, from a very tired Black Prince in third. They were the only 3 finishers in a race full of drama and attrition.
A few more of some of our favourites from the day's racing;
Usually this would be the end of the report on the day at Worcester, but there were also a few other gems for the attendees at the course. First up was the parade of Retraining Of Racehorses at 1:35pm, featuring the following horses and riders;
Archie Boy – Showing, and ridden by Tamsin Warr.
A 16 year old gelding formerly trained by Emma Yardley, who ran 59 times and also in 12 point-to-points.
Masamah – Dressage, and ridden by Sam Harris
A 12 year old gelding formerly trained by Ian Williams, who had 73 starts on the flat, many at our local course Chester, and won over £337,500 for the owner Dr Marwan Koukash over a nine year career.
Never Never – Showjumping, and ridden by Hannah Cartwright
An 8 year old gelding who ran 16 times under National Hunt Rules, winning twice and being placed 7 times before retiring in 2016 as a 6 year old.
Sage De Tercy – Dressage, and ridden by Carolyne Sanders
A 13 year old gelding formely trained by Ian Williams and Donald McCain, he ran 26 times under both Flat and National Hunt codes before retiring from racing in 2014.
Stand Aside – Dressage, and ridden by Joanne Harris
An 8 year old gelding, he ran nine times under National Hunt rules without success for former trainer Jonjo O’Neill and was retired in 2015 to take up Dressage, where pleasingly he has achieved a fair few victories.
It is always great to see ex-racehorses doing so well in retirement and having second careers once their racing days are over. I urge everyone reading this to look up their website and see what else they get up to. The website is ror.org.uk , so please go and have a look around, and if you can help with their mission, then please do, any help would be welcome for them!
A few more of the parade;
Also held on the day was the Worcestershire Parent And Carer’s Community “Mascot Dash”. The WPCC is a local charity supporting families across Worcestershire that have one or more children who have disabilities or require special needs, and who are aged between 0-25 years old. If you or anyone you know would benefit from them, then please head to www.parentcarers.org.uk and see in further detail what they do, and how they can help you or a loved one.
It was won by the WPCC’s mascot Orion The Lion, who streaked away in the one furlong race, celebrating as if he had just won the London Marathon, which in that costume it must have felt like it!
Thanks once again to Katherine and everyone at the racecourse for the opportunity, we really are grateful for it! Until next time!
