LAST MEETING REVIEW

The opener for the day was a novice’s hurdle with a small field of 1 1 only 3 runners. It was Harry Fry’s San Giovanni who scored the victory here, overcoming an unfortunate mistake on the 6th. He went clear 2 out and eased towards the finish, a comfortable victory. Huelgoat kept up well for the majority of the race but a couple of mistakes on the final few meant he had no chance of catching the winner while Sorellina Royale unseated their rider on the 7th. A 5-runner handicap was up next, and it was Jamie Snowden’s Bucko’s Boy who was the victor, and a comfortable one at that after an excellent ride from Page Fuller. It was his first win of the year and there could well be more to come on the form he showed here. It was left to Mascat and State Crown to battle it out for 2nd with Mascat getting the better of the engagement after State Crown began to struggle with his jumping 2 out. Get Back Get Back and Galah brought up the rear. Defi D’Oudairies has flattered to deceive since joining David Pipe’s yard in June but seemed to explode into life here. Jockey Philip Armson kept the 9-year-old gelding in the rear but then after a mistake at the 13th he began to make some serious headway before taking the lead over the 17th. His jumping was still patchy, but he

3

kept on well. David Pipe’s rep was unable to explain the 4 improvement in form. Christian Williams’ Jony Max was the clear favourite for the race after the excellent form he has shown all year with 2 wins and 3 2nds in his last 5 and he looked primed for another big performance here. He was prominent throughout but found no extra late on and took home 2nd with Balkardy the only other to finish. It was another small field in the next with a 4-runner handicap, though it was more competitive than some of the previous races on the card. Fire Lake notched her second win on the bounce for Milton Harris here. It was a strong ride from

Mitchell Bastyan who continued his fine form this season. Fire Lake wasn’t fluent with her jumping early on making a couple of errors but kept on well, seizing the lead just before the last and finished strongly. Evan Williams’ Peterborough led almost the whole way but a crushing mistake at the last meant the veteran was only able to make 3rd with Manor Park just passing him in the final run in. Clearance was unable to keep up and made little impression late on. The handicap chase provided us with an exciting finish as the Neil Mulholland trained Ragamuffin battled back gamely to score his 2nd victory of the year to date. He has been in superb form, not finishing outside the top 3 in all 5 of his races leading up to this meeting and he looked every bit a winner here.

7 Sam Twiston-Davies did very well to guide his steed after a difficult blunder over the last that put him under serious pressure, but he had just enough in the tank to fend off the late challenges from Dindin and Electron Bleu to win and continue his hot streak this year. The final race of the day was a 2m1f national hunt on the flat with Fergal O’Brien’s The Galahad Kid finally completing his hat-trick after a 65-day break, though his rivals certainly didn’t make it easy for him. He actually held up in last, keeping in touch with the leaders before making his challenge at the final furlong. It was a scintillating ride from Paddy Brennan who has been in red hot form himself lately and The Galahad Kid looked every bit the big favourite that he was. Merrijig ran prominent throughout and kept on well to challenge but was just unable to get in front while the early leader Dame De Fortune found no extra in the final furlong scraped 3rd.

5

PHOTOS:

1  SAN GIOVANNI IRE 2  BUCKO’S BOY 3  DEFI D’OUDAIRIES FR 4  FIRE LAKE IRE 5  RAGAMUFFIN IRE 6  THE GALAHAD KID IRE