Candy tastes sweet success in Classic Chase decimation

Kimberlite Candy demolished his opposition in emphatic fashion when taking the Grade 3 McCoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Handicap Chase for trainer Tom Lacey and owner J.P McManus,

Sent off at 9/2, he was given a fantastic ride by Richie McLernon to prevail by 10 lengths, going well clear of long time leader Captain Chaos from the last to score in decisive style.

Captain Chaos was rousted into an early lead by jockey Harry Skelton, a change of tactics from previous outings, and was fired into the first to take a 3 length lead over it. A strong, testing pace was set by the leader on the way down the side, but no real errors were made by the field as they swung into the back after completing the first mile of the contest.

Impulsive Star, last year’s winner, was given a reminder by his jockey Sam Waley-Cohen at the sixth, and received more of them after the ninth. The leader stood off the ditch while Goodnight Charlie was more untidy.

After a circuit all thirteen runners were still in the race, and going past the stands with a circuit to go Crosspark was just briefly niggled along.

The leader wasn’t fluent over the thirteenth and had to be cajoled along for a stride or two to keep up his rhythm. He was better at the next ditch and began to turn the screw further as the field went up the hill at the far side. Goodnight Charlie was ridden along at this point, with Mysteree and last year’s winner Impulsive Star losing touch at the back of the field. Petite Power was also niggled along but began to make progress, passing Bobo Mac and Crosspark, who were both going backwards.

Captain Chaos bunny-hopped the 16th and was rousted along by Harry Skelton, with Head To The Stars, The Conditional and Kimberlite Candy beginning to make a challenge, with Jouer Bresilien and Le Breuil still relatively in touch but with work to do. The Conditional belted the fence, but it didn’t stop his momentum remarkably. Darlac came down at the nineteenth as he began to struggle to keep tabs on the first 6, and at the twentieth Head To The Stars’ run began to peter out, and it was left to Kimberlite Candy and The Conditional to try and rein in the long time leader, who was still galloping on relentlessly up ahead.

Swinging in The Conditional was kept to the inside by Brendan Powell Jr, but the door was shut in his face at two out, and from then on his challenge faltered. Kimberlite Candy was the only horse able to reel in the long time leader, and at the last both him and Captain Chaos jumped it together. On landing Kimberlite Candy managed to head the leader, and then proceeded to finish the race as if it was a five furlong sprint, powering readily clear from a leg leaden Captain Chaos to score under a power packed drive from Richie McLernon by 10 lengths. The brave long time leader took the runner up spot, while Petite Power came from a mile back to take third ahead of The Conditional, who was back in fourth.

Two For Gold maintained his unbeaten record over fences in fine style with a determined and gritty finish to make it three out of three and land the McCoy Contractors 2020 Construction News-Awards Finalist Hampton Novices' Chase for trainer Kim Bailey, jockey David Bass and the May We Never Be Found Out Partnership.

Sent off at odds of 3/1 after two wins up north at Carlisle and then Kelso, he battled on gamely to repel the challenge of Hold The Note, who fought him all the way to the line after heading him at the last, but ultimately was denied by a determined opponent.

Two For Gold, Roll Again and Hold The Note led over the first, Kim Bailey’s charge being fired into the first to get an early handy position. Zara Hope took up the lead going up the hill, relegating Hold The Note to fourth ahead of Ardlethen, Whatmore and Highest Sun.

Down the back all of the contenders were neat at their fences, no real errors present. Highest Sun did brush through the top of the first down the home straight. Heading out onto their final circuit all jockeys still sat content aboard their mounts, and again no serious errors occurred as the field swung into the back with a mile to run.

With 7 to jump Highest Sun was sent forward by Robbie Power to take closer order, Whatmore being left 3 lengths adrift at the back. Highest Sun blundered at 6 out and was briefly niggled along by Robbie Power as up front Two For Gold put in a great leap to go ahead of Roll Again into the lead. Highest Sun again was sloppy at 5 out, as Roll Again hit 4 out.

At 3 out it suddenly became a shoving match in behind, Zara Hope dropping out of things and Ardlethen coming under a drive. Roll Again received reminders and then more pressing urgings from Charlie Deutsch as Hold The Note and Two For Gold turned up the wick as they led around the home turn. Whatmore barged his way through under Dicky Johnson to take fourth as the field swung in to the home straight.

Turning in David Bass was more animated on Two For Gold than Jonathan Burke on Hold The Note, the latter looking poised to strike. The front duo landed together a few lengths ahead of Highest Sun and Whatmore, and began to slug it out towards the final fence. There was nothing between them over the last, and as they set on inside the final furlong it was Two For Gold who simply would not lie down and accept defeat, and like a terrier stuck to the task, responding to his jockey’s every urgings to prevail at the line by half a length, the paid pulling clear of Whatmore and Highest Sun.

The winner looks set to go for either the RSA or National Hunt Chases at the Festival in March, and can be backed at between 10/1 and 16/1 for the National Hunt Chase and 25/1 and 33/1 for the RSA Chase. Hold The Note stayed well for his first try at 3 miles, though is joint favourite for the Close Brothers Novices Handicap Chase over 2m 4f on the Tuesday of the Cheltenham Festival, and it may pay to side with him over time, perhaps for a big handicap next season like the BetVictor Gold Cup.

Mossy Fen put an unlucky run at Cheltenham last month far behind him when snapping away and overhauling Décor Irlandais to take the Grade 2 Ballymore Leamington Novices Hurdle for the father and son pairing of trainer Nigel and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.

Sent off at 7/2 after a fourth in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle over 3 miles at Cheltenham’s International meeting, the drop back in trip to 2m 5f was no problem for him as he pounced on the Irish raider, who had set sail for home at the last after shrugging off long term leader Shan Blue.

There was drama before the race had even began, as on the way to post recent Chepstow winner Harry senior decided to have a go at jumping the rail separating the two courses and unshipped Robbie Power, and despite being caught at the start, the horse was withdrawn on veterinary advice.

The reduced field of five set off with Mossy Fen and Shan Blue leading from the Queen’s horse Keen On, Whatsupwithyou and Décor Irlandais settled in just behind. Whatsupwithyou was awkward at the second hurdle, the middle down the back.

Swinging in first time round Shan Blue had gone on by 2 lengths, where Keen On wasn’t fluent at the first in the straight. Shan Blue stood off at the first down the side away from the stands and before the hill, and approaching halfway all still looked well within themselves, though Mossy Fen had dropped off the front of the pack to go into third, Keen On replacing him at the head of affairs. Whatsupwithyou showed some greenness and was nudged along by David Bass.

Whatupwithyou started to struggle as the field completed a circuit and dropped right out as Keen On came under pressure at the middle flight down the straight. Decor Irlandais went up the inside to get into second, coming into contention nicely. Mossy Fen was 2 lengths back in third as the field swung in.

Décor Irlandais took a slight lead at 2 out, though Shan Blue wasn’t totally done for and fought back on the inside under Harry Skelton, whilst Mossy Fen was only a length down on the leader touching down over the last. A gritty, determined battle ensued and Shan Blue was first to crack, but whilst he had mastered the rival on the inside, Décor Irlandais had no response for the power packed finish so customary of Sam Twiston-Davies as the latter urged his mount for everything. He duly responded and scored close home by half a length to the Irish raider, who was game but just failed to repel his opponent.

Silver Sheen made it a winning UK debut when scoring under Robbie Power for trainer Jessica Harrington in the Pertemps Network handicap Hurdle ( Series Qualifier ).

Always handy and up with the pace, the 6 year old got up in the dying strides to deny Doc Penfro and in form conditional Ben Jones, the first 4 of which qualifying for the series final at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

At flagfall Lisnagar Oscar, White Moon, Silver Sheen, One For The Team and Doc Penfro all went to the front to force the pace, Connetable making it round them all to lead as the field came down the hill and swinging into the back.

Lisnagar Oscar took a crashing fall at the second, sending Sean Bowen into the turf and badly hampered several runners, luckily both horse and jockey were okay after a nasty looking incident. Sire Du Berlais, the winner of the final at the Cheltenham Festival last year, was last of the runners, a few lengths off the pace.

Silver Sheen had a good look at the sixth as the field crossed over it and went past the stands with a circuit to go. Stoney Mountain was untidy at the seventh, flattening the hurdle as Sire Du Berlais relegated fellow Irish raider It’s All Guesswork to last.

Over 4 out Igor, Doc Penfro, One For The Team and Silver Sheen were all in a line and starting to break away from the field, a gap of 3 lengths appearing to Stoney Mountain and Tedham. Silver Sheen went a length behind in fourth as Igor weakened away, Silver Sheen picking him off turning in for home.

One For The Team went to challenge Doc Penfro over 2 out as Silver Sheen began to roust another effort, charging after the first two as they went towards the last hurdle. Doc Penfro made the best jump of the trio, Silver Sheen pecking badly on landing. Both Ben Jones on Doc Penfro and Robbie Power on Silver Sheen were all out as they galloped to the line, with Silver Sheen just pulling it out of the fire to score by a head.

Connections will be hoping he has gone up sufficiently in the handicap to get into the final field for the big race at Cheltenham in March. Aside from the main trio up ahead, the final’s winner of last year Sire Du Berlais made eye catching progress to stay on for fourth, meaning their connections will be hoping for a repeat come March.

The day started off with the Join Racing TV Now Novices' Handicap Hurdle that was taken by the Paul Henderson trained Megalodon, who scored in decisive but questioned circumstances under Paddy Brennan for owners Hawkings, Finch, Harding, Stubbs & Willis.

Sent off at 14/1, he had been pulled up twice and was last on his three previous starts this season which meant there was hardly a cheer when he crossed the line in front, which also led to the stewards investigating after the race.

Secret Beri and Bonjour Steve took the field along ahead of favourite Milanstorm, in the same colours and connections as previous Leamington Novices Hurdle winner The New One. Heading down the back there were no issues seen, all runners travelling well within themselves.

Easkey Lad was the first to start to toil, struggling at 3 out, while Megalodon made progress under Paddy Brennan as the field swung in for home and approached 2 out. Megalodon jumped 2 out a length up on his pursuers. Elton Des Mottes, Motashakel, Manor Park and Twycross Warrior snapping at his heels. A decent leap at the last made sure he remained ahead, but while Elton Des Mottes and Manor Park faded, Twycross Warrior was beginning to motor home under Bryan Carver. Paddy and Megalodon were all out as Twycross Warrior began to close rapidly, but he was just able to hold him off at the line. Motashakel was third, with Bard Of Brittany in fourth.

After the race the stewards interviewed the trainer Paul Henderson over the sudden improvement in form of the gelding compared to his last three runs. The trainer reported that he has taken time to get back to peak fitness since a summer breathing operation. As usual, the gelding was routinely tested.

Joke Dancer stayed on strongly on the run in to take the Project Management Services Oxford Ltd Edward Courage Cup Handicap Chase for trainer Sue Smith and hockey Danny Cook.

Sent off at odds of 10/3, the strapping seven year old defied his tendency to jump to his right to score by 8 lengths to 5/4F Rough Night, whose bad error at the last all but surely ended his challenge up the run in.

Rough Night went on by 3 lengths at flagfall, where at fence one Geneva Barracks wasn’t fluent at it, and neither was Master Work.

Going down the side over the ditch Geneva Barracks was starting to struggle a little, having to be rousted and niggled along to keep tabs on their 5 rivals. Rough Night blundered through the ditch, and at the middle fence down the straight Ashoka was very untidy and went right through it. The remaining 4 scooted away around the home bend and swung into the home straight to set up the finish.

Master Work and Luckofthedraw bumped into each other on landing after 2 out, which dented their momentum and let the leaders go 2 lengths up at the last. Rough Night barely took off, never lifting a leg and ploughed through the fence, giving the advantage to Joke Dancer and Danny Cook. They duly obliged the opportunity and scampered away on the run in, staying on strongly to win by 8 lengths from Rough Night. Luckofthedraw was third, while Master Work was fourth.

The concluding race of the day was the Cheltenham And South West Syndicate 'Newcomers' Standard Open NH Flat Race, and was a local winner for trainer Olly Murphy and jockey Aidan Coleman as Here Comes McCoy scooted clear in the final furlong to score in decisive fashion by 4 lengths to Wilfdire Warrior, who in turn was 1 ½ lengths ahead of the 3/1F Diamond River.