HORSE RACING
One of the classiest jumps prospects to be seen at Ayr in a long time made the long journey from Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard in Lambourn worthwhile when emphatically winning the Western House Hotel Novices’ Chase at Ayr on Monday.
Only two runners went to post for the two mile contest – the eventual winner Dame de Compagnie, whose last racecourse appearance was when winning the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March, and Grade 1 winning hurdler Cornerstone Lad from the Micky Hammond yard.
In the early stages of the contest it looked as if the Brian Hughes ridden gelding was travelling better than the Henderson mare who had Nico de Boinville in the plate.
And a mistake at the fourth fence by the 1-2 favourite seemed to suggest that her chasing debut wasn’t to be a winning one.
But all that changed dramatically as the race unfolded on the second circuit and Dame de Compagnie’s confidence grew and grew the further she went.
Coming to the last she went clear and won by nine lengths.
Nico de Boinville said afterwards the Mares’ Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham could be on the cards and he said the mistake earlier in the race was down to jockey error and nothing to do with the horse.
I think everyone who witnessed the race on television – once again we raced behind closed doors – would agree this is a mare to reckon with.
Strong Economy, who won last time out in December just days after his coowner Barry Macdonald had tragically passed away, gained his fourth win at Ayr in dramatic style in the Retraining Of Racehorses (RoR) Handicap Chase over 3 miles 3 furlongs.
Looking tailed off five out and trading His starting price was 9-2.
His victorious trainer told me immediately after the race: “Even I couldn’t see him winning from there but he has tremendous stamina and just loves the heavy ground. Derek (Fox) gave him another great ride and I couldn’t be more happier for the Macdonald family.
“His next stop will be the Eider Chase at Newcastle at the end of February.
“It’s usually heavy there and it’s another step up in trip. Obviously we’d think about
They landed the opening maiden hurdle with the Olly Murphy trained Champagne superover 6-4 favourite, and followed that up with Timeless Beauty, trained by Warren Greatrex winning the Support The Injured Jockeys’ Fund Handicap Hurdle at odds of 7-2 joint favourite. Both horses were ridden by Adrian Heskin.
The final and most valuable race of the day the National Hunt Flat Race was won by 12-1 chance Fortescue Wood for Nick at 880-1 in running on the exchanges the Ian Duncan trained nine-year-old was still seven lengths in arrears coming to the last but after clearing the fence powered past tiring rivals on the run-in to win by a length and a quarter from Buddha Scheme. the Coral Scottish Grand National back here in April but the ground tends to be good then and he doesn’t act on that type of going.”
There was a double on the card for owners the McNeill Family and Patrick and Scott Bryceland. Alexander and Grant Cockburn.
The six year old on only his second start made all and burned off his rivals to win impressively and send his trainer home a very happy man.
Ayr’s next meeting is on Monday March 1.