Welsh riders give it their Sunday best
WHILE the Arc de Triomphe took centre stage on Sunday, three Welsh jockeys were enjoying a good afternoon at Uttoxeter.
Sean Bowen rode Mariners Moon to win there for Caroline Bailey. Mariners Moon had a nasty fall last time out but showed no ill effects as Bowen steered him to a 19-length win.
Richard Patrick has had a quiet summer, with only nine rides since the end of May, but Orchard Grove gave him a battling victory. The horse is trained by Kerry Lee, whose Happy Diva and Storm Control have furnished Patrick with big-race successes at Cheltenham.
In the final race on the card, James Bowen steered The Bomber Liston to a widemargin success for Nicky Henderson.
There’s quality throughout both days of this weekend’s Unibet Jump Season Opener meeting at Chepstow when there is £400,000 of prize money on offer. It gets under way on Friday with a race commemorating popular owner Andy Stewart, who died recently. His trainer Paul Nicholls is intent on winning the race named after his old friend.
Friday’s highlight is the £60,000 Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, named after the winner of three consecutive Champion Hurdles from 1968-70. For the first two he was trained close to Chepstow racecourse by ex-jockey Colin Davies.
This year’s race attracted 19 entries, 18 of whom have won under National Hunt rules. The exception is The Grand Visir, and as he finished only seven lengths behind Stradivarius on the flat six weeks ago, that may be the best form of all.
Saturday’s main event is the £75,000 Wasdell Group Silver Trophy, but the novices’ chase has in previous years attracted many future stars of the sport including Cue Card, Silviniaco Conti and Clan Des Obeaux.
The day also sees the launch of a new 256-page book, Champion Jump Horse Racing Jockeys. The author, Neil Clark, will be signing copies at Chepstow, as will some of the jockeys featured.
David Evans’s two-year-old Wind Your Neck In won at Salisbury last week. His stable companion Rohaan is being aimed at the six-furlong sprint on Champions Day on Saturday week.
Finally, we are delighted to welcome the Potter Group back as sponsors of the £50,000 Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on Saturday, October 16.