Punter lands the odds
Several locals shine, a schoolgirl posts a double and a winner loses his stirrup
HAVING been rearranged due to adverse weather, this meeting was run on softer ground than normally associated with the fixture. This did not prevent the Ed Walker-trained Punter Friendly from following up from last year’s success in the hunt race — this year ridden by Josh Newman.
Owners Sylvia and Richard Francome are long-standing patrons of the Walker/Gundry establishment and they were “delighted” to win their local race.
The trainer did not take long to double the day’s tally when in the West Midlands conditions race the Will Biddick-ridden Different Gravey swept past Chasforgold (Sam Jukes) after a bold leap at the last to win by four lengths.
There was also a local victory in the intermediate when Charlie Dando rode his own Carrig Dubh, which was a first training success for Brooke Gardener-Wollen.
The horse had missed the previous year’s racing, which coincided with a serious shooting accident to the owner-jockey. Always at the sharp end, Carrig Dubh’s jumping was sloppy at first, but the rider sat tight and went on to win by five lengths.
Thomasina Eyston, 18, had a day to remember, riding her first double. Skylander bolted up in the novice riders’ with the Blundell’s School pupil, and her second winning leg was aboard the impressive four-year-old Missyladie. This Born King filly had smart form in French hurdle races before a second at
Wadebridge earlier in the season.
“I rode a winner two days after my 16th birthday and, after plenty of seconds last year, I am chuffed to ride one more winner, let alone two in one day,” said Thomasina.
Both horses are trained by Sam Holdsworth.
Top marks for acrobatics went to Tommie O’Brien, who survived a blunder at the last when sharing the lead aboard Billygwyn Too to win the young horse maiden.
“I had to ditch my other stirrup and kick like mad,” said Tommie.
The five-year-old by Dr
Massini was purchased by trainer Jonathan Tudor at Ascot sales as a three-year-old for £4,000.
Bradley Gibbs won the restricted aboard the Claire Sherriff-owned Nuevo Molino and, in doing so, risked incurring the wrath of David Brace — for whom Bradley regularly rides. David’s 16-year-old grandson, Connor, finished second.
“Gibbs will find himself on the dole now,” quipped David.