Pont Aven secures ‘easy’ 40-length win
East Anglian Retired Jockeys Club, Higham, Suffolk
ALEX CHADWICK enjoyed a very successful day when scoring a treble. His first victory came in the men’s open where he came home a whopping 40 lengths clear of his nearest rival aboard Pont Aven, owned by Tim Gredley.
“There are very high expectations for this horse, as he has been bought to run in the Cheltenham Foxhunters,” explained Alex of the James Owen-trained nine-year-old, who had an official rating of 139 over fences when he left Willie Mullins’ yard in the second half of 2021. “He’s a bit gassy at home and his jumping could improve a bit, but all in all he’s won it easily.”
Alex’s second victory came aboard the Alan Hill-trained Bon Calvados in the restricted. Owned by The Cross Channel Racing Club, the eight-year-old scored the second victory of his career.
“He jumped well and didn’t have a hard race,” said Alex.
“It was great to get the ride from Alan too.”
The final part of Alex’s treble came aboard Oval Street in division two of the maiden.
“He’s a really nice horse and won it very easily,” said Alex of the six-year-old trained by Nicholas Wright and owned by Nicholas and Lucinda Wright. “It was a nice spare to have as his usual jockey, Archie Wright, was isolating with Covid.”
Bradley Gibbs scored a double on two horses he trains himself, with the first, the seven-year-old Fier Jaguen, heading the intermediate for owner Julian Sherriff.
His second victory came in division one of the maiden when piloting Whotheman to victory, again for owner Julian Sherriff.
Heidi Palin scored her first victory between the flags, riding Azzuri to a comfortable victory in the PPORA Club members’ conditions (level two) novice riders for trainer Nick Pearce, who co-owns the 10-year-old with his wife Ella.
Azzuri, who formerly enjoyed a successful career under Rules for Dan Skelton, for whom Heidi works, clocked the fastest time of the day and came home 25 lengths clear of his nearest rival.
General Arrow, who is trained by Tom Ellis, got his 2021/22 season off to a winning start for The Odd Socks Partnership when winning the ladies’ open under Gina Andrews.