Piece of the action proves his worth
The five-year-old produces a poignant win and Joe O’Shea adds to his spoils
Border, Hexham Racecourse, Northumberland
AFTER finishing last season as the highest rated five-year-old in the country, Piece of the action, under Jack Andrews, made the best possible start to the new campaign, with a 10-length victory over Lough Derg Island (Alex Chadwick) in the conditions race.
Confidently ridden, he reeled in long-time leader Relax (Will Ramsay) on the final circuit before taking it up after two out, settling the issue in a matter of strides.
The youngster carries the colours of Alnwick land agent George White: “That’s for my
father, Frank, who died in October, aged 96,” he said. “He always used to collect the cups whenever one of my horses won and I hope he’s looking down on us today. Piece of the action will run again at Alnwick on 16 December and then go under Rules.’’
‘RELENTLESS GALLOP’
IRISH ANTHEM and Immy Robinson followed up last week’s North Herefordshire members’ race success in the ladies’ open, to make it five wins from six runners this season for trainer Joe O’Shea.
Always in the leading duo, Irish Anthem was never headed from the eighth and maintained a relentless gallop to beat Iron Chancellor (Jess Bedi) by 21 lengths in the best time of the day.
Immy, who works for an innovation charity, said: “I knew from Joe that Irish Anthem had been bouncing at home since Eaton Hall and the plan was to make it a true test of stamina.’’
After two outings between the flags in Ireland in October, Uptown Harry (Tom Strawson) had a distinct fitness advantage over his 13 rivals in the open maiden, and duly came up trumps from promising four-year-old, Enry Iggins, under Joe Wright.
Ollie Pimlott, son of the winning trainer, Chris, said: “We were quietly confident, as he had been working better at home than Streets Of Milan, who won last season’s maiden hunters’ chase at Hexham. He now heads to the Ascot sales on 10 December.’’
More than five years after scoring over hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival, the versatile Ted Veale (Kit Alexander) struck gold on his first start for new connections, after changing hands for £14,500 at Goffs Doncaster sales in September.