Will Biddick is setting a strong pace in this year’s Riders Championship, but James King is not giving up his Title without a fight and added two winners to his total at Bitterley on Saturday afternoon...
Hopes of further successes were thwarted when Moolooagh fell when prominent in the Maiden, while Hidden Charmer was a well beaten favourite in the Conditions, and Tom’s Terrace was outpaced in the final stages of the 2-mile Flat Race.
King’s first win was provided by the Jo O’Shea trained Envious Editor in the Restricted, who finally got his head in front after some near misses earlier in the season. On paper this looked an easy opportunity for Peter Clifton’s gelding and King was content to sit in behind Phoenix Park as James Jevons mount made the running.
After leading on sufferance for a circuit and a half he was never going fast enough to trouble the favourite and the race was over when King sent Envious Editor into the lead entering the home straight and won impressively.
The Mixed Open proved disappointing with three of the four runners out of the contest after they had gone a short distance. The trouble started when Dee Lane tried to refuse at the first and unseated rider and the joint favourite Gabrial the Great was taken out in the resulting melee. Flora Guy on Gottagottagetaway were then carried
out by a loose horse at the third which left For Rita to safely negotiate the remaining obstacles in order for Fran Poste’s gelding to claim victory.
Gabrial the Great’s jockey Thomas Murray gained compensation later in the afternoon after Ballela Sunrise’s success in the 2-mile flat race. Flora Guy was a last-minute replacement for Luke Scott on Lisnasallagh Ruby but the mare ran far too freely for her own good and held a 25-length lead at one point.
Her rivals started to get her measure entering the last half mile and King sporting the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings then sent Tom’s Terrace to the front, but that effort was short lived as they were passed by James Jeavons on Tom Westons West Away, but they suffered the same fate as Murray produced his 5-year-old mare with impeccable timing to claim the prize in the shadows of the post.
The winner had been caught in the closing stages when second behind Maid of the Night at Larkhill, but seemed better suited by the change of tactics.
There was a surprise in the Members when the odds-on favourite Unai had to settle for third place behind stable mates and half-brothers My Friend Freddie and Bestfriend Barnaby from Caroline Robinson’s Sheriffhales yard.
Unai jumped right at almost every fence while My Friend Freddie showed no such tendency and that allowed Guy Sankey to produce his mount with a winning run over the final two fences before resisting the challenge of Iola Hopkinson on Best friend Barnaby who finished best of all.
This was the fourth winner for Sankey but his first for 4 years. “The horse was bred by my grandfather and has hunted 12 times with the United and Albrighton & Woodland”, the 29-year-old Birmingham surveyor said later.
Shropshire trainer Laura Richardson saddled Eeze a Saint who scored a pillar to post victory in the Conditions under Huw Edwards and it appeared that most of the Yorton Racing Partnership were there to celebrate his success. With the favourite Hidden Charmer running no sort of race it was left to Master Sunrise and Master Hide to provide the biggest challenges but their efforts petered out over the final two fences. The winners last success was at Tabley back in 2019.
The Novice Riders produced a 12-1 winner in the Toby McCain-Mitchell ridden Vango de Vaige. Held up at the back of the field for most of the contest the partnership moved into a race winning lead as they straightened up for the judge.
Drumlee Getaway and Grageelagh Girl were vying for honours at this point, but McCain Mitchell brought his mount with a sweeping run to hit the front between the final two fences. Grageelagh Girl held every chance until parting company with Kaitlin Perks at the second from home.
James Kings mount Mooloolah was going well just behind the leaders when he fell in the Maiden. Blackjacktennessee and Ben Bromley continued in front until were joined by Luke Scott and Hill of Hope who collared the long-time leader turning for home. The winner stayed on resolutely to land the spoils for owner Michael Fothergill and trainer Callum Griffiths who works for Alistair Ralph at Billingsley. He prepares the Pointers in his spare time with the aim of achieving his ambition to become a professional trainer at some time in the future.