A massive crowd witnessed some competitive racing on a cold blustery day. Chairman Chris Mellard and his team had watered the track for two weeks prior to the meeting and there were numerous compliments on the state of the ground from owners, trainers and jockeys alike.
The highlight of the meeting was a riding treble for Toby McCain-Mitchell courtesy of Iontach Cheval, St Patricks Bridge and Cal OK. Phil Rowley also had a training double with Steady The Ship and Dom Rodrigo.
In the PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2), McCain-Mitchell held Iontach Cheval up, came to challenge two out and went clear from Frontal Assault. The nine-year-old gelding was a handicap hurdle winner for Alastair Ralph and was running in his first point under his mother Diana’s training.
In the Conditions Race (Level 3) over two-and-a-half miles, McCain-Mitchell had St Patricks Bridge at the front of affairs from the start and he won by seven lengths from Richard R H B. The gelding had pulled up on his previous two runs, but Sally Randall representing trainer Myles Osborne said that this was the first time he had raced right-handed this season, and the gelding does not like going left-handed. Osborne was on training duties in Jersey.
Mc Cain-Mitchell’s treble came courtesy of Cal OK in the second division of the flat race that was divided on the day. Henry Crow attempted to make all on Miss Bossy Boots but was overtaken by Darren Andrews on Magna Patch over a furlong out, and then McCain-Mitchell delivered a well-timed run on the outside to win by half-a-length.
McCain-Mitchell rode warm favourite Willewonga in the opening Members race, but he could never get past Victoria Sollitt on Steady The Ship who had been prominent throughout and stayed on well to win by one-and-a-half lengths. The jockey was delighted to have won her fifth race on the gelding she owns in partnership with Sue Sharratt. She has had some great fun with the horse this season including riding in two Military races at Sandown.
The second leg of Rowley’s double came courtesy of an easy win for Dom Rodrigo ridden by Darren Andrews in the Maiden. The trainer who also owns the five-year-old gelding had purchased him at the Goffs Land Rover sales and will contemplate another visit to the forthcoming sales.
Only two horses declared for the Mixed Open where Amber Jackson-Fennell led and jumped well throughout on Heidi Brookshaw’s charge Buzzard Trix to beat Raleagh Flora by seven lengths. The winner will now be aimed at the North-West Area Final at Tabley in May.
In the first division of the two-mile flat race, there was a very impressive performance from Joe Wright on Matching Energy who sprinted clear in the straight to win by ten lengths from Arbor Rose. The winner was bought as a store by Jack Teal, who owns and trains him. The four-year-old Telescope gelding looks like another who will be heading for the sales.