LAST MEETING REVIEW

The first race on the card was a handicap hurdle 1 that attracted 7 runners. Ranco overcame a 275-day break in his first run for new trainer Nigel Hawke after switching from David Pipe, turning over the warm favourite for Milton Harris, Appreciate. The winner was prominent with the early pace, and although the favourite rallied from the rear, he won comfortably under talented conditional jockey Tom Buckley always holding those in behind. The novice chase was only a small affair with just three lining up. It was Hell Red for the devastating team of Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden that continued his fine summer chasing campaign with another win, bringing his tally to 3 wins out of 4 since going over fences in May. The winner made all, however second placed Balkardy made sure Hell Red had to work for his victory. Despite some costly jumping mistakes in the middle of the race, Balkardy made a challenge to the front-runner approaching the last but was no match once the winner was ridden out to the finish. The Tizzard team continued their fine summer form in this 5-runner field, however probably not in the way they imagined it would happen. 7-year-old Rectory Oak gained the victory due to the fact no other horse managed to finish the

1 race. Lure de Pres was pulled up and Arizona Glory unseated halfway 4 through the race. Rectory Oak was prominent for most of the race but began to be asked questions when weakening 3 out and quickly became distant from his two remaining rivals. However, Mister Allegro badly blundered 2 out and unseated Rex Dingle and, with the race at his mercy, Dindin fell at the last leaving Brendan Powell and Rectory Oak to cross the line in front in the most bizarre fashion. Another select field here with 4 runners in this Mares` race, but not quite as dramatic as the last. Benefitting from a huge step in up in trip from 2m to 3m1f, On Time for Evan Williams won conformably by a

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whopping 12 lengths at big odds. Those in behind were no match for the winner, who gained her first career win without seeing a rival. Paul Nicholls fired in his second winner of the afternoon, this time with Tom Buckley doing the steering and putting his own double up for the day. The race became a two-horse race approaching the final two hurdles, with Mankhool losing touch when the pace tuned up a notchThe winner Galouis took the lead from Heronord approaching the last and stayed on well to win by a length for her second victo ry at the course. In the juvenile hurdle, we seen the most dominant performance of the afternoon as the Milton Harris-trained Mucuna demolished the field by 22 lengths to justify favouritism. The three-year-old travelled strongly into the race and stretched clear from his rivals entering the home turn, leaving those in behind with no chance. The winner looked a very smart prospect here as he notched up the quick fire hattrick. The last race of the day was one with an extremely exciting finish which saw 4 horses all in with chance when turning for home. It was Our Three Sons though for Page and Charlotte Fuller who stuck on gamely from the front to hold off those in behind, and ultimately win by just a nose from Defi

D`Oudairies. The horse just denied for David Pipe made eye-catching ground when ridden into the home turn and looked like he would go past the eventual winner but just failed in the end to give the crowd a thrilling finish to the day.

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PHOTOS:

1  RANCO IRE 2  HELL RED FR 3  RECTORY OAK IRE 4  ON TIME IRE 5  GAULOIS FR 6  MUCUNA GER 7  OUR THREE SONS IRE