14 April 2008 Flint & Denbigh - Bangor-on-Dee
Adams Wine: took the Volkswagen Touareg Men's Open in good style
Yesterday's Flint & Denbigh meeting, between the flags at Bangor-on-Dee, produced a cracking day's racing. Going into this meeting the former national champion rider Richard Burton was 7 winners behind the current leader Ollie Greenall in the Men's title but, after yesterday, that deficit has now been reduced to just five after Burtie completed a double at the North Wales course.
Burtie landed the first leg on the Caroline Robinson trained Silver Ace, who came with a perfectly timed run at the last fence to sprint clear on the run in to win going away by two and a half lengths from Josey Wells. The winner is owned by Brian and Wendy Orchard from Cleobury Mortimer. Speaking after the race Robinson said: "I was a bit worried about the testing ground, but Richard (Burton) said he handled it well. The owners had the horse under rules with Peter Bowen last season. When he finished fourth in a bumper they promised to send him to me at the start of the season which, thankfully, they did. He will improve a lot from the race.
The Restricted saw Burton ride his 20th winner of the season after Proud Andees, from the Gary Hanmer yard, won by a distance from Lord Louis. Opio, from the David Easterby yard under Ollie Greenall, was upsides when he fell at the second last, and it would have been interesting if they had both stayed on their feet. The gelding is owned by Carol Thomas from Northop, Nr Mold. Speaking afterwards Hanmer said: "I very nearly did not run him because of the ground. He is a better horse on better ground than this. I have always thought a lot of him and ideally I would like to find a decent Intermediate race for him next."
The feature race on the card was the Volkswagen Touareg Men's Open which was won in good style by Adam's Wine, under Will Kinsey, who was not extended when beating the former course winner Lord Bush by 25 lengths. Will Kinsey, who works as assistant trainer to Donald McCain Jnr at Cholmondeley, was recording his 6th winner of the season. The winner is trained by the rider's mother, Julie, and speaking after the race her husband Richard said that the Volkswagen Touareg Final at Towcester on Monday May 12th was a strong possibility, as the winner was better right handed.
Welcome To Unos made the long trip from Yorkshire worthwhile when outstaying Madge Carroll on the run-in to win going away by 3 lengths under a very confident ride from Serena Brotherton. Michelle Mullineaux took a crashing fall at the last fence on Rootheday but, thankfully, she was alright. The winner is trained at Coulton by Freya Hartley who was represented at the track by her partner Guy Brewer, who said that the winner relished the testing ground and the flat course.
The opening Members race was won by Bak On Board, under Lucinda Dutton, who put in a foot perfect display to beat the heavily backed Von Origny by a length and three quarters. The winner is trained not far from the course by Geoff Dutton at Marchweil, Nr Wrexham.
Cholmondeley trainer Kelda Wood was breathing a huge sigh of relief after Clear The Line won the Confined race readily by 10 lengths under Stuart Ross, who was winning his 6th race in a week. The Satco gelding pulled clear to win by 10 lengths from Hip Pocket, with News Maker a further 15 lengths back in third. Wood said afterwards that the yard had struggled with a bit of a bug, but added that she had been working her charge sharper in recent weeks and that the win would be a welcome boost for owner Prudence Glassford who was recovering from an illness at present.
Harry Challoner, the current leading novice rider in the North Western area, extended his lead over his rivals after Krac de Mirande outstayed Malt Max to win the Open Maiden by 8 lengths. The winner is trained by Caroline Hurley at Richard and Carrie Ford's yard at Tarporley. The gelding is owned by Dawn Ritson, who used to own that very good horse Dover.