AIDEN HITS 100 AGAIN
AIDAN COLEMAN reached 100 winners for the second straight season with a smooth win on Marcilhac in the Forbra Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ludlow.
A former stable jockey to winning trainer Venetia Williams, Coleman was content to sit just off the pace set by Dusky Lark before he asked Marcilhac (100-30) to take even closer order as they turned for home with four fences to jump.
Going on two out, Marcilhac drew away on the run-in to score by eight lengths from 3-1 favourite Nansaroy.
Coleman said: “I was stable jockey to Venetia for six or seven years. I basically started there after a year at Henrietta Knight’s, so it’s been a long association.
“Marcilhac is a big-framed horsed and it’s took him a long time to mature. It’s nice to see he’s fulfilling his potential.”
Williams, who also had a winner at Taunton with Huff And Puff, initiated a Ludlow treble with Kap Jazz (10-11 favourite). The seven-year-old defied a 7lb penalty for a victory at Carlisle 10 days earlier in the novices’ limited handicap chase.
Ridden by 3lb claimer Charlie Deutsch, Kap Jazz jumped ahead two out after Some Are Lucky had made the running and bounded away to win by two lengths.
Williams said: “He’s always been one of those slow burners and one we always liked. It’s nice to see he’s got his confidence now.”
Deutsch steered home Centurius (11-8 favourite) to cap a red-letter day for the Williams team in the Clive Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
A 20lb rise for a course and distance success six weeks ago failed to stop Seymour Star (8-1) from following up in the Henman Marquees National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Billy Hicks (6-1) got off the mark under rules with an all-theway win in the Three Counties Equine Hospital Novices’ Hurdle.
Paul Webber’s Miss Tongabezi (6-1) ran out a 10-length winner of the Racing UK Profits Returned to Racing Mares’ Handicap Hurdle under Fergus Gregory.
Sahara Haze was disqualified from second place after rider Tom Greatrex weighed in 2lb light. Greatrex was banned for two days while the trainer Phillip Dando was fined £500. Two Swallows was promoted to runner-up.
Persian Snow (1-2 favourite) held Colbert Station by a neck in the hunter chase while Jonjo O’Neill Jnr, rider of Colbert Station, was given a two-day for the use of his whip.