Royal reigns for Hamiltons
The husband-and-wife team of trainer Ann Hamilton and owner Ian were celebrating at Ayr yesterday after their useful hurdler Runswick Royal landed the £12,000 Class 3 two and a half mile handicap hurdle.
The eight year-old battled well under a good ride by Ryan Day to win at 8-1 by a neck from the fast-finishing Isaacstown Lad. Ian Hamilton said : “He’s had his problems with a leg injury but was back to his best today.”
The other Class 3 race on the card, a £15,000 Handicap Chase over two mile four furlongs, attracted only four runners and the only nonirish runner, Chidswell, the 6-4 favourite, from Nicky Richards’ yard in Penrith, stamped his class on the race to win comfortably by three and a half lengths from Angus Milan.
Richards said : “Brian Harding who usually rides him but is injured suggested that Craig Nichol ride him prominently today and it did the trick.”
Fife trainer Nick Alexander had only one runner because of the testing ground, but it was a winning one when Craiganboy produced a great run from the last fence to win the novices handicap chase at 14-1, with Grant Cockburn timing his challenge to perfection.
Lucinda Russell’s horses continue in fine form and Kilbree Chief (4-1) won the staying chase with Tim Scudamore on board, while Dumfries trainer James Ewart was on target with Sky Full Of Stars (9-4 Fav) in the two mile handicap hurdle.
North Yorkshire-based Scot Mark Johnston sent Golden Jeffrey (5-4 Fav) north to win the concluding national hunt flat race, with amateur Alex Ferguson riding. Jock Bennett, representing Johnston, said: “Theownerwantedtorunhim in bumpers and he’ll go to the Cheltenham sales now.”
Meanwhile, at Lingfield today, Bamako Du Chatelet holds the key to the Betway Handicap, writes Glendale. The six-year-old has been a super servant for Ian Williams on the all-weather this winter, having won twice.
Williams was keen to try his inmate back over two miles at Lingfield a week ago, and he did not let the side down when a two-length second behind Remember The Man.
That race was hardly contested at a ferocious gallop, though, so the suspicion remains he is a better animal over shorter distances. His trainer tends to agree with that line of thinking as Bamako Du Chatelet is back down to a mile and five furlongs for this latest assignment. The four-time course winner must shoulder joint-top weight and is now on a career-high mark, but this savvy operator is clearly still progressing quite nicely. The reappointment of Adam Kirby also looks a good piece of business.
Lingfield’s feature is a ninefurlong conditions race and looks an unusual one as Mise En Rose is a mile clear on the ratings, yet runs against four rivals on level terms.
The War Front filly has not quite kicked on since finishing second in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster, but she did not run too badly in a good race at Chelmsford on 8 February and is clearly the one they have to beat.