Double delight for Ravenswell revellers

The meeting at Doncaster began with the 888Sport Handicap Hurdle, which went the way of the very popular due of trainer Fergal O’Brien and jockey Paddy Brennan, who teamed up with Liosduin Bhearna to score by 6 lengths for the FOB Partnership 4 Syndicate.

A 6/1 shot in the betting, he stayed on stoutly in stamina sapping conditions to defeat the 5/2F Blackjack Kentucky, who has held some form behind leading novice The Big Breakaway.

Geordie B was the front runner with Kris Spin and Coded Message at flagfall, the favourite settled just in behind. A long swinging bend that contained only one hurdle for the first 5 furlongs saw the favourite move on approaching the second, travelling somewhat keen over the third.

With a circuit to go the pace increased at the halfway point as the field went out along the side. Kris Spin was the first to show any frailties in the jumping department where he received reminders, but still maintained his third place in the field. Sakhee City moved up under Thomas Dowson to take closer aim at the leaders.

Geordie B lost his place very quickly approaching and after 4 out, rapidly dropping to rear and causing his jockey Aidan Coleman to get flexing and driving in a bid to get him to pick the bridle up again.

Swinging into the home straight Liosduin Bhearna had gone into second as Blackjack Kentucky cruised up ahead. At 3 out Remastered had joined the leader and Liosduin Bhearna, with Flemcara the only one of the remainders who had gone with them, but was quickly beaten off. At 2 out the leader landed on all fours, and Liosduin Bhearna took up the running on the run down to the last.

Two good leaps at the last from the two at the head of affairs meant it would be all on who could stay the best, and it was the leader Liosduin Bhearna who stayed on the stoutest in the deep conditions to prevail by nearly 7 lengths to Blackjack Kentucky, who looks like he will improve for a fence next season, with Remastered back in third.

The Twitter page of the winning trainer of the previous race tweeted that they would be fearing for the bars at Doncaster after the syndicate wont he first, and it got worse for Town Moors Taverns as the trainer and jockey made it a quickfire double on the card when Gino Trail took the 888Sport “Bet £10 Get £30” Handicap Steeplechase for owner Mrs Jan Smith.

Making his stable debut at the ripe age of 13, the 9/2 shot was adopting his customary front running tactics to best effect as he wore off the challenge of Katpoli to take the contest by 3 ¾ lengths.

Gino Trail and Katpoli stood a little off the first, with as the field swung around the bend to face up to the water jump Joke Dancer was briefly niggled along. The leader wasn’t totally fluent at the water, but worse still was Dalila Du Seuil, who swivelled on jumping it and causing his jockey Barry Geraghty to lose an iron, while Joke Dancer was even more untidy and had to be scrubbed along by Danny Cook to pick his ideas up and keep tabs on the field.

Katpoli got in close to the fourth, the first of the ditches, while Dalila Du Seuil was again untidy, and yet again the worst of the blunders came from Joke Dancer, who took off by the wings but didn’t get high enough and ploughed through the fence.

Heading over the fifth by Rose Hill Gino trail continued to amble along, and swinging around the sixth Nuts Well wasn’t fluent. A great leap by the leader kept him ahead at the seventh, the last of the ditches, and Joke Dancer yet again was untidy, his jumping going to pot completely.

At 5 out Gino Trail ploughed through it, a little bit low, and straightening up Katploi was alongside him, with 3 lengths back to Dolos, who was making progress through to go into third. At 4 out the gap to him was 4 lengths, and the first signs of anxiety came from his jockey as he blundered his way over 3 out and quickly started to paddle.

At 2 out Gino Trail went clear by 3 lengths, Katpoli looking like he was struggling to land a blow. At the last a fine leap kept him 4 lengths to the good on his pursuers, who included Nuts Well, who had gone past the weakening Dolos to go into third. Neither him nor Katpoli could get close to the teenager however, and he kept on going to score by an somewhat eased down 3 ¾ lengths, showing his toughness and gameness over his rivals. Katpoli held on for second ahead of Nuts Well, while Dolos almost walked over the line in fourth over 20 lengths behind the defiant winner.