Despite an overnight downpour the going at Cotley was good to soft and the day remained dry so that racegoers were able to enjoy some very competitive racing where the highlights were doubles for jockeys Will Biddick and Josh Newman, a first training double for Harry Ryall and a classy performance from Macklin and a dead heat.
Another Furlough was a very easy winner of the Restricted race and was the first leg of the double for trainer Harry Ryall and jockey Josh Newman. Already the winner of a Maiden race at Badbury he drew clear of his five rivals from the fourth last and was a distance clear from Wise Garden ridden by Darren Andrews. Owned by a partnership, including Harry’s father Nicholas who sadly missed the victory as he was in London but he did receive a commentary on the race from Harry’s brother Tom. Harry had been undecided to run due to the softer going but as it was the first race he decided to let his charge take its chance. An Intermediate race will be on his radar for his next outing.
Macklin supplemented his Charlton Horethorne victory when easily winning the Mens Open race giving Will Biddick the first of his two winners. Owned by John Studd who had travelled from his Midhurst home to watch his star he explained that the gelding had not run on soft going in France so was not sure he would appreciate the going, but he need not have worried as he had fifteen lengths in hand from Beau du Brizais ridden by Darren Andrews. Describing him as ‘very cheeky at home and an amazing doer’ John did say that he is remotely related to Porlock Boy who won the Foxhunters for him. No immediate plans were outlined for the seven year old who looks one to follow for the rest of the season.
The two and a half Maiden race looked to be going the way of Scoresby and rider Josh Newman who led over the last fence until he was joined on the line by The Sumba Island ridden by Lucy Mager. The judge could not split them, and a dead heat was declared. Scoresby had previously been trained by Christian Williams but is now with Harry Ryall who was securing his first training double in his first season training pointers. Placed at both MIlborne St Andrew and Charlton Horethorne he looks progressive and should have a good future for his owners Decimus Racing X who have other horses under Rules with Anthony Honeyball.
The Sumba Island was also in training under Rules with Laura Morgan and was placed over Hurdles at Wetherby. Bought following an advert on the Jumping For Fun website by Ann Mager, the mother of Lucy, who now owns the gelding in partnership with Kim Tripp and Ed Kenny-Hebert and is trained by Lucy at Bleadon Hill. Lucy, who was riding her first winner this season, had a rather unusual preparation for her ride as she was playing rugby for the Western Hornets the night before at Devizes. Normally she is a centre back but with her ride pending she played as full back instead.
The Ladies race developed into a match between Field Exhibition ridden by Ella Herbert and Sixteen Letters ridden by Natalie Parker. The former named made all the running but with ice cool confidence Natalie stalked her rival and did not take up the lead until after the last and had three quarters of a length in hand at the winning post. With Alice Stevens being unavailable following a recent fall, John and Floss Symes turned to Natalie to ride the gelding and she was delighted to receive the call and secured her tenth victory for the season including a Hunter Chase win. John explained that his gelding had knocked a joint after finishing runner up in the Coronation Gold Cup so had not run for about a month.
Luke Price enjoys his visits to the West Country from his Welsh base and rarely leaves a meeting empty handed. His Captain Mc was dominant in the Conditions race leading from flag fall and was never headed under James King. Explaining that he would prefer better ground and that he needs to be left alone in his jumping Luke stated ‘James knows him so well and they make a good partnership’ Only making a decision to come to Cotley following the abandonment of Siddington the day before there are no immediate plans for him. Luke has twenty five horses to run from his stable this season and he added that ‘James will be busy!’
The biggest field of the day took part in the Maiden race when ten horses faced the starter. At the finish it proved to be a duel between Coolattitude, ridden by Will Biddick, and Treacys Jim ridden by Michael Treneer with the former prevailing by half a length. Owned by Paul and Sara Thorman who are based at the Trickledown Stud in Hampshire they acquired the gelding as part of a draft that was going through their hands for sale and decided to have a fun pointer to go racing with. Paul advised that ‘I love my pointing and wanted a horse trained and ridden by the best’ Chris Barber was thrilled to train a winner for Paul who was a close friend of his late grandfather Richard.