Regal Decree to rule over at Redcar
WITH Jedd O’Keeffe’s horses still going well, Regal Decree might be the best bet at Redcar tomorrow.
The Middleham handler is on course to smash his previous best tally this season, with the standard of horses in his care going through the roof.
Having never previously saddled a Listed winner, earlier this month he notched up two in less than 24 hours when More Mischief won at Newcastle and the progressive Lord Yeats scored at Newmarket.
The affable O’Keeffe runs two in the Watch Racing UK On BT TV Handicap, but with Paul Hanagan on Regal Decree a big run can be expected.
Some way below the level of his two stable stars with a rating of just 54, he is nevertheless consistent and in this grade that is usually half the battle.
Still a maiden after eighth races, there has been an improvement since being gelded over the winter and he has gone close on each of his three runs this season.
Stall 12 is not ideal but Hanagan has been faced with trickier propositions in his time.
Art Obsession is another sprinter on the up for the excellent Paul Midgley and can make it three wins from his last four outings.
Midgley excels with sprint handicappers and just when you think they may have reached their peak, they find more improvement from somewhere.
Not many can get more out of horses than David Barron, but this sixyear-old is now just 1lb lower than the highest mark Barron achieved with him.
After wins at Thirsk and Doncaster recently, he is 3lb higher than the latter race but this looks a weaker event.
Red Riverman has returned from a long layoff in good form and will take plenty of beating in the Russell Lane Jewellers Handicap Chase at Stratford.
Narrowly beaten on his comeback after 18 months off at Cartmel, he avoided the bounce factor when bolting up last time out at Uttoxeter.
Up 6lb for that six-length win, the handicapper has given him every chance of following up.
Horse Force One makes his hurdling debut for Philip Hobbs in the John Bircham Memorial Maiden Hurdle at Newton Abbot and looks to have a future.
Having shown ability in the pointing fields he joined Hobbs and won two bumpers without much fuss.
In winning he looked a resolute galloper so it is no surprise he starts out life over timber over an extended two and a half miles.
28-1 Held up towards rear, headway under pressure before 3 out, no impression next, plugged on into modest 4th run-in, 4th of 9, 25l behind Cosmeapolitan at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs in Dec. 9-1 Held up in rear, headway after 5th, 2nd after 3 out until before last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Theo at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd. 7-2fav Chased leaders, lost place 5th, soon ridden, rallied 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 19l behind Sweeping Rock at Worcester 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jun. 4-1 A.p; went 2nd 14; led 4 out; clr 2 out; rdn out, won at Weston & Banwell Harriers 3m ptp in May beating Jack’s Ranger by 1 1/2l, 8 ran. 50-1 Tracked leaders in 4th place, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 10, 33l behind Clearly Capable at Newton Abbot 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in Jun. (16) Miss J Du Plessis 7 11-2 ...................... James Best (16) P Hobbs 6 11-2 (C2) ................ R Johnson (13) D L Williams 6 11-2 ....................... D Crosse (63) David Dennis 5 11-2 ........................ N Fehily J Frost 5 11-2 ................................ Bryony Frost (5) (21) R Harris 9 11-2 ...................................... Mr C Orr (7) (21) N Henderson 6 11-2 ......... Nico De Boinville (16) J W Mullins 5 10-9 .................................. J McGrath (26) M Gillard 4 10-6 ........................ J M Davies BETTING: 8-11 Horse Force One, 7-2 Whoshotwho, 6 Silver Quay, 7 Phoenix Park, 14 Vet Cert, 50 Mister Mister, 66 Carumba, 100 Cheyona, Spanish Queen.
4-11fav Tracked leaders, headway to lead over 4f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf beating Keyboard Warrior by 11l, 6 ran.
15-8 Chased leaders, took keen hold, 2nd 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Lovato at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd. 14-1 Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, went 3rd over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Tapis Libre at Epsom Downs 1m 4f ldy hcp (4) gd (flat).
7-2 Chsd ldrs, 4th frm 6th until 5th 6out, drpd 6th aftr 4out, sl prog 2out & went 3rd flat, no impr, 3rd of 11, 20l behind Knockoura at Dromahane 3m ire ptp in May. 50-1 In rear, not fluent 1st, headway from 3 out, 4th after last, never on terms, 4th of 12, 25l behind Burrows Lane at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd. 40-1 Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 9th of 11, 48l behind Psychedelic Rock at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd. 33-1 Held up, ridden after 4th, headway before next, lost place 6th, short-lived rally 7th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Buble at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gf. 50-1 Held up, not fluent 4th, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 7, 49l behind Buble at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gf.
4-6fav Mostly jumped really well, made all, soon 5 lengths clear, even further ahead after 4 out, unchallenged, won at Newton Abbot 2m nov chs (3) gf in Jun beating Kayf Blanco by 30l, 3 ran.
2-7fav Tracked leader who went clear after 3rd, closed before 4 out, led approaching last, soon clear, easily, won at Stratford 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd beating Stealing Mix by 14l, 4 ran. 16-1 Chased leaders, 2nd 2 out until ridden well before last, weakened approaching and mistake last, 4th of 9, 22l behind Sailors Warn at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf in Jun. 14-1 Tracked leader, lost place over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 6, 38l behind Horse Force One at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf. 100-1 In rear, not fluent and losing touch 8th, 13 lengths last when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Vosne Romanee at Stratford 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd, 4 ran. A King 10-12 ................................ W Hutchinson N Mulholland 10-12 ............................ N Fehily W G M Turner 10-12 ................................ N Scholfield (7) B Powell 10-12 ............................. B J Powell NWilliams10-12 .................... LizzieKelly(3) (7) W G M Turner 10-12 ................... J M Davies P Gundry 10-5 ..................................... James Best J W Mullins 10-5 ......................... J McGrath BETTING: 11-4 Phoenix Dawn, 3 Amadeus Rox, 4 Charlie Rascal, 6 Vision De Gloire, 7 Il Sicario, 10 Yorkshire Star, 16 Performance Art, 33 Hot N Sassy.
9-1 Disputing lead when very slow 1st, prominent, led after 2nd, edged right and headed 4th, led before last, headed at hurdle, led towards finish, headed close home, 2nd of 9, shd behind Taxmeifyoucan at Stratford 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd. 14-1 Close up, (33) T R George 4 11-8 (CD) ............. A P Heskin (19) D Skelton 5 11-4 (CD) .......... H Skelton (12) A Dunn 5 10-12 ................ A Wedge (27) D Bridgwater 6 10-12 ..... Callum Mckinnes (10) (7) M Scudamore 5 10-12 ................. B Poste (3) (38) Jennie Candlish 7 10-12 ......... Sean Quinlan (21) Jonjo O’Neill 4 10-10 ....................... R McLernon (18) M Keighley 4 10-10 ........................ A Tinkler P McEntee 4 10-3 ................. J Quinlan BETTING: 11-8 Champagne City, 6-4 Mister Universum, 8 Not At All, 10 Kalanisi Glen, 14 Ocean Eleven, 25 Diamondsaretrumps, 50 Chasing Headlights, Justice Knight, 66 Fair Frank.
4-6fav Tracked leading pair and keen, mistake 2nd, outpaced 2 out, rallied between last 2, led approaching last, kept on well, won at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun beating Thahab Ifraj by 3l, 6 ran. 7-2 Tracked leader until after 2nd, stayed handy in chasing pack, 2nd again on last bend, led before last, soon clear, won at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (4) gd beating Jodies Jem by 9l, 8 ran. 25-1 Tracked winner until 3 out, soon weakened, last of 9, 38l behind Lovato at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd. 9-1 Held up, took keen hold, headway on outside to chase winner 3rd until before 4 out, 3rd and weakening when fell 3 out, in a race won by Ravens Hill at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun, 10 ran. 10-1 Edgy, led, wandered into 1st, hit 4 out, ridden after next, headed 2 out, weakened before the last, 5th of 6, 19l behind Novis Adventus at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd. ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 6l behind Amelia Dream at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf (flat). 10-1 Chased leader 4f, chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 10l behind Conkering Hero at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jun (flat).
Vision D’etat colt out of Rose Paola. 5-2 In touch, headway entering final 2f, soon chased leader, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Leicester 1m 2f clm stks (6) gf in Jun beating Sir Jack by 3 1/2l, 8 ran (flat). 66-1 Held up, headway 3rd, lost place 5th, went 4th and stayed on from last, no impression, 4th of 9, 5l behind Taxmeifyoucan at Stratford 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd. 9-1 In touch in mid-division, pushed along 4f out, soon beaten, 8th of 10, 9l behind Venetian Proposal at Lingfield 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gs (flat). 50-1 Soon led, headed 8f out, stayed 2nd until rival tried to bite her 6f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 20l behind Count Calabash at Bath 1m 2f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Sep (flat). BETTING: 11-4 A Tail Of Intrigue, 10-3 Calin Du Brizais, 7-2 Patricktom Boru, 5 Dawnieriver, 8 Royals And Rebels, 12 Strumble Head, 14 Beuvron.
4-1fav Tracked leaders, outpaced before 4 out, switched right and rallied flat, went 3rd, stayed on, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Get Involved at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jun.
11-4 Not always fluent, in rear, headway before 9th, 3rd 13th, blundered next, 2nd before 16th, switched right before 3 out and left before 2 out, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Lost Legend at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jun. 3-1 Chased leaders, jumped right 13th, 2nd before next, not fluent 16th, driven after 3 out, hit 2 out, not fluent last, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Fort Gabriel at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf. 5-2 Tracked leaders, effort before 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th and beaten last, last of 4, 23l behind Minella Tweet at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
7-1 Held up in rear, hampered and got behind 3rd, closed a little 5th, lost touch 9th, pulled up after 13th, in a race won by Fort Gabriel at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf, 7 ran. 7-1 Jumped right led, headed after 11th, pushed along and lost 2nd next, weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, 28l behind Marquis Of Carabas at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jun. 14-1 Chased leaders, lost place after 6th, not fluent next, went 3rd 14th, mistake when outpaced 16th, well held after 4 out, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Fort Gabriel at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf. C J Gray 10 11-12 ............................ Robert Hawker (7) — (26) P Nicholls 5 11-9 (C) . Bryony Frost (5) 117 Mrs N Evans 6 11-6 (C, D) ..... Rob Williams (3) 120 (21) Dr R Newland 7 11-4 .......................... S Twiston-Davies 111 (28) A Dunn 8 11-4 ................................. L Gordon (7) 113 (44) D Rees 8 11-4 ........................ N Scholfield 114 (19) M Hill 8 11-0 ..................... J McGrath 115 (25) B Powell 6 11-0 .................................... B J Powell 114 (26) M Hill 8 10-5 .................... Nico De Boinville 101 (31) T Vaughan 8 10-3 ....................... A Johns 115 BETTING: 10-11 Theo, 7-2 Bistouri D’honore, 12 Retrieve, 14 Towering, 16 Scorpion Star, What A Scorcher, Gone Platinum, 20 Treasure The Ridge, Panis Angelicus, Gannicus. (26) J Scott 10 12-1 (CD) ................... Robert Hawker (7) (68) J W Mullins 7 12-0 (C, D) ..D Sansom (7) (14) P Bowen 5 11-12 (BF) .............. James Bowen (10) (83) E Williams 6 11-8 .................... M Bastyan (7) (39) R Phillips 7 11-6 ........................ D Hiskett (5) (26) J Frost 11 11-4 (CD) ................. Bryony Frost (5) (23) K Bishop 6 11-1 ................................ James Best (50) Mrs M Evans 11 11-1 (C) .Mr C Orr (7) (21) D Rees 8 10-5 ....................... N Scholfield BETTING: 3 Sutter’s Mill, 7-2 Sam Noir, 6 Brave Helios, 7 Decimus, Kentford Heiress, 8 Archie Rice, 10 Bankhall, 14 Superman De La Rue, 20 Backoftherock.
6-1 Held up, closed 2nd, 3rd after 5th, 2nd form 7th, led 7th, clear before 4 out until 3 out, driven out flat, gamely, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun beating Marquis Of Carabas by 3l, 7 ran. 7-4fav Tracked leader, led 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd beating Solar Impulse by 6l, 5 ran. 9-2 Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place after next, headway after 4 out, 3rd before last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Stynes at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jun.
5-1 Chased leaders on inside, well outpaced before 4 out, never on terms after, 5th of 8, 25l behind Marquis Of Carabas at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jun.
11-2 Held up rear division, headway before 4 out, chased winner from and blundered 2 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Bestwork at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.
5-1 Mid-division, headway on outside 2 out, 3rd and beaten before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 12, 20l behind Polarbrook at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd. 7-2 Close up in rear, headway to go 3rd 3 out, soon ridden kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Hepijeu at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May. 10-1 Held up, mid-division, headway before 7th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up, in a race won by Somchine at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jun ‘16, 9 ran.
5-2fav Keen early, tracked leaders, led before 2 out and veered badly right at hurdle, went right and awkward last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jun beating Back To Balloo by 5l, 12 ran. 11-2 Led, ridden 4 lengths clear between last 2, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Sweet Holly at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun. 7-2 Towards rear, fell 3rd, in a race won by Truckers Highway at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan, 7 ran.
80-1 Held up towards rear, hit 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 7th of 8, 35l behind Long Call at Hereford 2m 4yo mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan. 14-1 Tracked clear leader, effort 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 11, 23l behind Glimpse Of Gold at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr. 100-1 Always towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, never a factor, 8th of 11, 32l behind Final Choice at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (3) gs in Dec. .