Point-to-point Charing, Larkhill, Bangor-On-Dee and Howick
Time off proves fruitful for Ivy Gate, as he posts the first of a double of victories for trainer Christy Mews
RACING at Charing lived up to expectations on Sunday
(18 February), with runners flocking from far and wide in search of good ground.
One such trainer was Christy Mews, who brought two runners to the track and went home with two trophies — her first double as a trainer and making it six career winners from just 11 runners.
The first of her winners came in the men’s open, when Ivy Gate was produced with a perfectly timed run under Jordan Nailor.
“Ivy Gate won at Cocklebarrow last season and then had a slight leg issue,” said Christy. “We gave him time and brought him back this season. He needed his last run but he was spot-on today. He’s so straightforward and is a lovely horse to have around.”
Christy’s second winner quickly followed in the ladies’ open. Ally Stirling pushed Degooch to a comfortable victory on the gelding’s point-topoint debut.
“Degooch is a legend,” smiled Christy. “I got him through a friend, Jason Maguire, who is racing manager for Degooch’s owners Paul and Clare Rooney. Pointing has freshened him right up and he enjoyed himself yesterday — taking off with Ally half a mile from home. Hopefully he and Ivy Gate will both run at the Stratford Hunter Chase meeting in June.”
NEARLY A TREBLE
JOCKEY Shane Roche was another dual winner and he bookended the meeting with success in both the 2m4f and the 3m maiden. Shane’s first winner was aboard the well-fancied Caryto Des Brosses for David Kemp and his second came on Indian Chance for local trainer, David Phelan (see box, left).
Shane was narrowly denied a treble in the second division of the 2m 4f conditions event, where he and Generous Ransom were just held off by Gina Andrews and Quick Oats — who was winning the sixth race of his career and could make the step up to open or hunter chase level this season.
The first division was won by the Dale Peters-trained, and ridden, Important Moment, who was having his second point-topoint run and was purchased by Dale for just £1,200 in August.
“The lads were disappointed with his last run [finished sixth of seven], but I wasn’t — he travelled well that day but just found nothing. Today he was travelling the whole way, he loved the trip and the ground,” said Dale.
‘Degooch took off a mile from home’ TRAINER CHRISTY MEWS