POINT TO POINT
Cheltenham trainer Max Comley was rewarded for making the 315-mile journey to Kelso with a treble on yesterday’s Berwickshire card to take his season’s tally to an impressive 14 winners from 24 runners.
Jay Bee Whiskey set the ball rolling when extending his unbeaten sequence this term to four in the 2m4f Conditions Race. Confidently ridden by champion jockey James King, the nine-yearold went on up the hill after five out and never looked like being pegged back from the next. Despite being eased right down on the run-in, Comley’s charge still had a distance in hand over Flat winner Paramaribo at the line.
Former Charlie Longsdontrained chaser Oscar Montel doubled up for Comley’s in-form yard in the Ladies Open Race in the best time of the day to give 19-year-old Rhiannon Fletcher a memorable winner on her debut in the saddle. The ten-year-old picked off his rivals one by one on the final circuit before staying on strongly to head long-time leader Oscar Wilde approaching the last and win, a shade cosily, by four lengths.
Wagner completed a four-timer under King in the Men’s Open Race to make it another red letter day for Comley following on from his first treble at Alnwick in December. The nine-year-old quickened five lengths clear three out before coasting home fifteen lengths ahead of Wild Romance.
King said: ‘’ He’s been in great form since undergoing wind surgery last summer and is definitely much better on left-handed tracks.’’
Former Iain Jardine-trained hurdler Something Golden was given a peach of a ride by Jack Power to land the 13-runner Maiden Race in good style from Thirsk raider Whats The Solution. After making smooth headway from four out, the eight-year-old was produced with a perfectlytimed challenge to lead at the last and score by two-and-a-half lengths. Owned and trained by octogenarian Newton-by-the-Sea permit holder Victor Thompson, the winner was bought for £14,000 at Goffs Doncaster Sale on May 25 having finished runner-up over hurdles at Hexham two days earlier.
Chloe McHattie’s mount Ask Cory won first time out for the second season in a row in the NPPA Conditions Race for Novice Riders, finally asserting between the last two fences to beat Coole Hall by a couple of lengths.