Nostalgic win makes owner’s day
An owner enjoys the ‘best day of her life’ and victory lifts a jockey’s spirits
Kingston Blount Racing Club, Kingston Blount, Oxon
MEMORIES of Celtic Shot’s 1988 Champion Hurdle triumph were rekindled by Western Diva’s game win in the Kingston Blount Racing Club members’ conditions race.
For the nine-year-old mare, who was trained and ridden by Claire Hardwick to a six-length victory over Will Fight (Sam Davies-Thomas), carried the pink and grey colours of the late David Horton, the owner and breeder of the Fred Winter-trained Cheltenham Festival hero.
Horton’s daughter, Sue
Horton, heads the Mini Dreams Partnership, which owns Western Diva, and she said: “Dad would be proud. She is just the sort of mare he would have loved.
“It is 30 years ago on Tuesday that he won the Champion
Hurdle. It’s the best day of my life.”
Claire added: “Sue has been great and it’s a privilege to ride in those colours. It is lovely. Western Diva won three last year, but has struggled this time.”
Claire completed a riding double in the ladies’ open when Dabinett Moon made light of the testing conditions to come home a distance clear of Goodnight Vienna (Tabitha Worsley) — the only other finisher.
The 10-year-old mare was recording a 14th career success for trainer Fran Marriott, who owns the daughter of Midnight Legend with her husband, Christopher.
A DOUBLE FIRST
TRAINER Fred Hutsby was relieved to post his first winners of the season as jockey Sam Lee recorded his first double on Mistercobar and Wilco in the opening two maidens.
Mistercobar was the only runner of the eight starters to complete in the 2m5f four, five and six-year-olds contest, while Wilco — owned and bred by Jane Organ — rallied well to take the six-year-olds and over race by six lengths from Cnoc Sion, ridden by Phil York.
Nick Meek admitted it’s only riding Legal Legend that has kept him in the sport after opening his account for the campaign on the Christopher Henn-trained 11-year-old, who outstayed Creepy (Jack Andrews) by two lengths in the men’s open.
“Pointing got to me last year and I was not enjoying it as much, but this keeps your spirits high,” he said.
Trainer Michael Kehoe believes there’s plenty more to come from Keel Over after the seven-year-old followed up his Horseheath win by holding off
Top Man Tim (Shane Roche) by a length in the 2m5f restricted under Johnny Bailey.