Tag Archive for: Perth

Bowen four-timer features half-brother to Douvan and Jonbon

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On the eve of being crowned champion jockey for the first time, Sean Bowen lit up Perth with a four-timer, with bumper winner Wilstar justifying his tall reputation.

As a half-brother to multiple Grade One winners Douvan and Jonbon, Olly Murphy’s youngster has plenty to live up to.

Sent off favourite for his debut at Warwick, he finished third, form franked by the winner subsequently, and the punters kept the faith, making him the 6-4 market leader in the Goodbye Charlo Thanks For Everything Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Wilstar briefly looked in a bit of bother but found an impressive turn of foot to go and win by three lengths.

Both Bowen and Murphy celebrated four winners. They teamed up in the opening Campbell & Son Roofing Novices’ Hurdle on Junker d’Allier (4-7 favourite) and the Alastair Down Novices’ Handicap Chase with Heard That (5-2 favourite).

Bowen also rode Fairlawn Flyer (11-4 favourite) to what looked an unlikely success in the QuinnBet Highland National Handicap Chase for his father and brother, Peter and Michael, while Murphy employed Lewis Saunders to win on Wa Wa (15-2) in the Campbell & Son Roofing Handicap Hurdle.

Skelton still fighting in title battle with Mullins

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Dan Skelton made the most of a quiet Thursday afternoon for Willie Mullins by extending his title race lead to £57,477 with an across-the-card treble at Perth and Warwick.

The Alcester handler began the day £24,562 clear of the reigning champion, who saddled just one runner at Perth compared to Skelton’s 13 across three fixtures on the day.

Mullins was first in to bat, but his Magic McColgan was beaten into third place as the 8-11 favourite for the opening race in Scotland and picked up just £1,003, meaning Skelton was still £23,559 in front before kicking into action.

His first runner Halondo failed to figure at Warwick, but Gwennie May Jem and Doyen Quest earned over £13,000 between them with victories at the trainer’s local track, before Heltenham picked up £13,008 with a bold front-running success in Perth’s Phil Nelson River Tay Handicap Chase.

Snipe, Hidden History, God’s Own Getaway, Ice In The Veins and Rock House all earned prize-money in defeat to add to the Skelton coffers before sending out four runners at Bangor’s evening fixture.

With Mullins not represented in Britain on Friday, Skelton has the opportunity to go further ahead with two declared runners at Perth and two at Chepstow.

But with 21 horses scheduled to be in action compared to Skelton’s nine on the final day of the season at Sandown Saturday, Mullins is a 1-7 favourite with Paddy Power to overturn the deficit and successfully defend his trainers’ championship, with Skelton a 4-1 shot to lift the title for the first time.

Speaking at Warwick, Skelton told Racing TV: “We’ve tried our best to extend the lead as best we can and he (Mullins) has always just kept us in check by running a few horses in the bigger races.

“I think there’s an air of inevitability about it unfortunately on Saturday, but I’ve enjoyed the last three weeks immensely and if we get beat we get beat.

“I’ve learnt a lot about myself, my staff and my owners – they’ve been absolutely phenomenal.

“I knew what was coming (from Mullins on Saturday), I’m not surprised what’s there and he’s going to be hard to resist. I’ll go down there with a smile on my face and we won’t give up.”

Perth double sees Mullins make inroads into title lead of Skelton

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Willie Mullins trails Dan Skelton by £24,561 in the trainers’ title race after a Listed double saw the reigning champion significantly erode the deficit at Perth on Wednesday.

Skelton led the way to the tune of £57,777 prior to the start of play, but Mullins was the first to strike a significant blow in Scotland, as Kiss Will and Paul Townend picked up £22,780 with victory in the British EBF Gold Castle “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

Skelton did saddle the runner-up Royal Infantry to lessen the blow, but Mullins then pocketed another £25,889 in total after the Townend-ridden Fun Fun Fun and Paggane provided the master of Closutton with a one-two in the Quilter Cheviot Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase.

Townend told Racing TV: “It (Perth) is a brilliant place to come, it’s a great atmosphere and lovely weather and they’ve done an incredible job with the ground. I couldn’t give them enough plaudits for that, it’s beautiful out there.

“I don’t know what happened to Kiss Will in Cheltenham, but he travelled well throughout the race today and I hope he can have a bright future.

“Fun Fun Fun made harder work of it than I was hoping, but there was plenty in the tank when I needed it and she’s done an important job today.”

On the title race, he added: “I’ll leave someone else to figure the maths!”

While Mullins was the big winner on the day, Skelton did not finish the afternoon empty handed, with Etalon’s triumph in the Phil Nelson Capercaillie Handicap Chase at Perth earning him £8,713 and the subsequent success of Jeffery’s Cross in the hunter chase at Ludlow worth a further £3,388.

Madajovy also placed for Skelton in the bumper at Ludlow, while his last runner of the day, Jo’s Rainbow at Taunton’s evening meeting, was fifth to add £272 to the pot.

Etalon’s rider Harry Skelton said: “He’s been difficult to get right at home, but he’s brought it all together hopefully when needed. I’d say we need every penny we can get!”

Mullins’ sole runner on Thursday is Magic McColgan at Perth, while in contrast Skelton sends out a formidable team of 18 across meetings at Perth, Warwick and Bangor.

Mullins is not represented at all in Britain on Friday, with Skelton declaring two runners at Perth and two at Chepstow, potentially giving him the opportunity to further add to his total ahead of what promises to be an enthralling final day of the season at Sandown on Saturday.

Following collaboration between the British Horseracing Authority and Sandown, the high-profile meeting will begin 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled to ensure ITV viewers can see the final six races on the card and therefore the conclusion of the trainers’ championship.

Sandown’s clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: “All of us at Sandown Park are excited about bringing the curtain down on what has been a fantastic season and showcasing its thrilling conclusion to fans on course and at home.”

‘Unbelievable’ entries leave Perth officials relishing key three-day meeting

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Perth is set fair as its three-day meeting becomes the latest battleground in the British champion jumps trainer title race.

The Scottish track has three days of action in store across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, before the National Hunt season comes to a close at Sandown on Saturday.

The fixture is always well supported with plenty of prize-money on offer, but the champion trainer battle between Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins has inspired even larger fields as both look to gain every penny available in order to claim the trophy.

Clerk of the course Matthew Taylor said: “We were delighted with the entries, especially tomorrow, they are probably the best we’ve had in the modern day runners-wise and that has continued into the following day. They’re unbelievable.

“This meeting being just before the final day of the season has been very fortunate. We always get good support, but this time it has been exceptionally good.

“We sold another 350 tickets off the back of declarations for Wednesday, we’re absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to give the customers what they want to see.”

Skelton will start Wednesday £52,775 in front of defending champion Mullins. Skelton has four runners on the opening Perth card, while Mullins has five, with Paul Townend and Rachael Blackmore among his jockeys.

United FA Cup collapse inspired Mullins to stay focused

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Willie Mullins is taking nothing for granted ahead of what could be a thrilling conclusion to the British trainers’ title race at Sandown this weekend.

After following up the Grand National victory of I Am Maximus with a four-timer at Ayr that included Macdermott’s win in the Scottish Grand National, the Closutton maestro is in pole position in what is mathematically still a three-way battle with only two days of the season remaining.

Since his Ayr heroics, Mullins has notched further winners on British soil at Ffos Las and Ludlow, and while out of luck with six runners over the course of the first two days of the Perth Festival, he still holds a significant lead over Dan Skelton and 14-times champion Paul Nicholls.

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with the Grand National trophy
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with the Grand National trophy (David Davies/The Jockey Club)

However, with huge prize-money up for grabs at Sandown, with the bet365 Celebration Chase and the bet365 Gold Cup each carrying a total prize fund of £170,000, there is no sign of complacency from the man who has won the Irish trainers’ title on 17 occasions.

During a Great British Racing media conference, Mullins said: “If we can keep winning some prize-money, the others are probably going to have to win two of the feature races without any reply, but it has to be done.

“As we saw the other night with Manchester United against Coventry City (in the FA Cup), you can’t count your chickens. You just have to go through and keep playing – and that’s what we’re doing. Hopefully it will work out on Saturday for us.”

After saddling four beaten favourites at Perth on Wednesday, Milo Lises and Feu Du Bresil also came up short on Thursday’s card, with the former suffering a crashing fall and the latter finishing second.

El Fabiolo is one of Mullins' big hopes at Sandown on Saturday
El Fabiolo is one of Mullins’ big hopes at Sandown on Saturday (Niall Carson/PA)

Stoke The Fire is the trainer’s sole representative at the Scottish track on Friday before he sends a nine-strong team to Sandown including Celebration Chase hotpot El Fabiolo, Select Hurdle favourite Impaire Et Passe and the bet365 Gold Cup trio of Nick Rockett, Minella Cocooner and Aime Desjy.

When asked if he had been feeling nervous this week, Mullins replied: “I’ve been good because of the position we’re in, especially after Ayr.

“We did way better in Ayr than I was expecting, I thought we might get one winner and hopefully some place money but as it turned out, we had a fantastic day. To get two photo finishes on your side in big prize-money races was just unbelievable stuff, which made this week much easier.

“I thought about running less horses, but I said when we’re in the position we’re in, just keep running them – and the results have been good.

“I know we had four favourites beaten yesterday in Perth, but there wasn’t any of the horses I thought were unlucky. Patrick had his two wins in Ludlow and Ffos Las, they went according to plan.”

If Mullins does emerge triumphant at the close of play on Saturday, he will be keen to insist he is only a small part of a well-oiled machine at his County Carlow base.

He said: “It’s done but just not dusted yet, but I’d be very proud of everyone here in Closutton if we can achieve this, and our owners too. I’ve been amazed at the support we’ve got, travelling off to the different tracks in England, it’s a real sense of Team Closutton.

“We have a great team of people, from my wife Jackie to Patrick and David Casey, and Ruby Walsh is down three mornings a week. Grainne (Whelan) in the office, Dick (Dowling) out in the yard and Ben (Delmar), our travelling head man. They do their jobs, which makes my job much easier.

“The years of experience they bring here at Closutton, it’s very hard to go out and hire those kinds of people, as they don’t exist. We have our own academy nearly, they’ve come through from the time they were younger, they know how everything works here and they just do it, so it’s very easy for me.”

Willie Mullins has to settle for minor honours in Perth Listed events

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Willie Mullins had to make do with minor honours in the two Listed events on the opening day of the Perth Festival as Sounds Russian and Apple Away both secured popular victories.

Better known as a high-class staying chaser, Sounds Russian was sidelined for the best part of the year after suffering a knee injury which subsequently required surgery after being brought down in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Having finished fifth in the Rendlesham Hurdle on his February comeback at Haydock, the nine-year-old was a 5-1 shot for the British EBF Gold Castle ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle under Brian Hughes and knuckled down to to secure a three-length success over the Mullins-trained 8-11 favourite Loughglynn.

Winning trainer Ruth Jefferson said: “That was good, he travelled better today and jumped better and Brian said it was like riding a different horse to Haydock.

“He was the fresh horse in the race, it was only his second run of the season so that probably helped as well, but you couldn’t really be anything other than happy.”

Of his injury, Jefferson added: “We’ve never really had this type of injury before, so we were sort of making it up a bit as we went along. Everyone has done a great job, from the surgeon to the girl who had him in pre-training and when he came back to us it was just a question of whether he’d stand up to it.

“We haven’t had many bumps in the road, you never quite know but he obviously hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for it which is the main thing.

“He’ll have a summer break now as there isn’t really a lot for him and he wouldn’t want quick ground anyway.

“We now know he goes right-handed, which opens up a few options. We might look at the Charlie Hall if the ground is all right and we could look at the Betfair Chase and there is the race at Ascot (1965 Chase) if it was soft enough.

“I’m sure there will be something for him over fences and that is the plan, but if not we can always go back over hurdles.”

Mullins also saddled the marginal favourite for Robertson Homes Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase in 7-4 shot Instit, but she too picked up the silver medal behind Grade One-winning hurdler Apple Away.

Apple Away was a Grade One winner over hurdles
Apple Away was a Grade One winner over hurdles (David Davies/PA)

Since that top-level win at last year’s Grand National meeting at Aintree, Lucinda Russell’s seven-year-old has been plying her trade in quality novice events over fences, most recently finishing fifth in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Instit set out to make all the running under Paul Townend, but she was reeled in by 9-4 chance Apple Away and pilot Derek Fox, with four and three-quarter lengths separating them at the line.

Ed Seyfried of owners Old Gold Racing said: “I think she’s just had an unlucky campaign actually, so to get a Listed win over fences under her belt is fantastic.

“I think we all expected her to continue on the trajectory she was on last season and until this afternoon she hadn’t quite done that, but I think there are genuine reasons for that and I lay the blame mainly on the weather, it just made mapping out a really good campaign for her really difficult.

“I think we’re going to have a lot of fun next season as we’ll send her hurdling and chasing. Where she goes is above my paygrade as I don’t know how to plot these things, I’ll leave it completely up to the people who know what they’re doing, but it’ll be interesting.

“It’s good that horses are partially colour blind as there were so many Old Gold scarves there it was kind of blinding, but there was such a good atmosphere because of it. I reckon we had 200 or 300 Old Gold members there and maybe I’m being a bit fanciful and fantastical, but hopefully the mare and the Old Gold members kind of fed off each other.

“Everyone was so happy and in the nicest way possible, it’s nice to serve one up to the Irish!”

Although out of luck in Scotland, with the well-fancied pair of Dr Eggman and Figaroc also coming up short, Mullins did enjoy a winner with his first ever runner at Ludlow.

Daddy Long Legs, ridden by the Closutton handler’s son Patrick, obliged as a 1-7 favourite with the easiest of victories in the opening Butty Bach Novices’ Hurdle, seeing him extend his lead in the race to be crowned British champion trainer.

Amateur Ella Herbison performs miracle recovery to claim first victory at Perth

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Amateur jockey Ella Herbison performed a miraculous recovery in the saddle on Monty Searle to register her very first victory under rules at Perth.

To make matters even sweeter for Herbison and trainer Nigel Hawke, Willie Mullins fielded the odds-on favourite in Dr Eggman.

Monty Searle (11-1) looked a sitting duck as Paul Townend loomed up on Dr Eggman, with Dexterity and Sean Bowen also looking a threat as they approached two out, when Herbison almost came out of the saddle.

Their chance looked over but Herbison, who was claiming 7lb, galvanised Monty Searle and went on to win by a length and three-quarters.

“To be honest I thought I was a gonner but he helped me out and lifted his head up and threw me back into the plate so a lot of thanks to the horse,” Herbison told Racing TV.

“I knew he stayed well. He wouldn’t be the quickest in the world but when I was in front I was thinking ‘why haven’t they got to me yet’ and when they did get to me we got racing and he got in a bit tight (to the second last).

“He stayed on really well to the line and he’s really game. That’s only his second start over hurdles as well. He’d won a point-to-point but he’s learning all the time and will make a nice chaser in time.

“He’s had a few problems which is why he hasn’t run much but he’s really game.”

She went on: “That’s my 42nd ride so I’ve given it a few goes and had quite a few seconds so it’s great to get my first winner under rules, especially for Robert (Pudd, owner) and Nigel who have been very good to me.

“I’ve had 13 winners pointing, I had one on Sunday too. I’m based with Nigel in the morning and do the pointers in the afternoon.

“It’s a long way to come but it was worth it.”

Apple Away takes on strong Irish challenge at Perth

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Lucinda Russell’s Apple Away looks to round off her season with a win in the Robertson Homes Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase at Perth.

A Grade One winner over hurdles for owners Old Gold Racing, this term she has turned her hand to chasing without quite matching that success.

Placed in graded races at Warwick and Ascot, she ran well for a long way at Cheltenham before ultimately failing to see out the trip in the National Hunt Chase.

A mixed chasing and hurdling campaign awaits the mare next season, but first she will wrap up the term at Listed level over fences at Perth.

“After Cheltenham she got so cocky again so quickly up in Scotland that Lucinda suddenly said it wasn’t right to put her away,” said Ed Seyfried of Old Gold Racing.

“There was talk of sending her hurdling and we had entries in the both the Liverpool Hurdle and the handicap hurdle on Grand National day, but they were both very competitive and we felt if we were going to reintroduce her to hurdles, we didn’t want to throw her in at the deep end.

“This race is a very nice way to round off the season, it’s competitive and we’re the second or third favourite – that’s probably about right.

“She ran her heart out at Cheltenham, she is so brave and genuine, but stepping her up in trip wasn’t the right thing to do that day.”

Gavin Cromwell’s Malina Girl just failed to make the cut for the Grand National and has been diverted to this contest, where she leads a three-strong Irish challenge in a field of six.

The seven-year-old was last seen over hurdles ahead of her intended National tilt, having won at Cheltenham in November.

“Obviously she didn’t get into the National, which was disappointing, but she seems in good nick and she should hopefully run a good race,” Cromwell said.

“She was over there and ready to go, which is not ideal, she’d travelled over and back and then travelled to Perth.

“She seems in good order though, and she takes everything in her stride so she should be fine.”

The Irish team is boosted by Gordon Elliott’s Riviere D’Etel and Willie Mullins’ Instit, the latter of whom will be vying to add the £18,509 prize to her trainer’s British haul this season.

Mullins currently heads the British jumps trainers’ championship ahead of Dan Skelton and has a significant advantage ahead of the season finale at Sandown at the weekend, with the Perth prize a welcome boost with that aim in mind.

Chief can rule over Newcastle rivals

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It would be no surprise if Chiefman masters his rivals to become top dog in Newcastle’s AGMA EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes.

Archie Watson’s Cracksman colt was well held on his first start at Wolverhampton but it is his next outing at Ffos Las that provides plenty of encouragement ahead of his trip to Gosforth Park.

On that occasion he gave away lengths at the start when second to Ollie Sangster’s highly-promising youngster Per Contra. and although he had no answer to the Wathnan Racing-owned colt when it mattered, he gave a solid account and could have lots more improvement to come.

This looks a winnable assignment and Chiefman is fancied to make it third-time-lucky in the north east.

Latin Five’s consistency makes him a solid proposition in the Wl Distillery Handicap.

He has only been running off basement ratings for Pail Midgley, but he has not been out of the first four in his last six outings.

That counts for a lot at this level and it is hard to see him being out of the frame.

Down at Brighton Jack Channon’s Miguel can make it third time lucky in the  At The Races App Form Study EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes.

The Phoenix Of Spain colt finished second on his debut at Chepstow and returned to the Monmouthshire venue to finish third, beaten just a length, on his most recent outing.

Obviously, the ability of the newcomers is an unknown but he sets a fair standard.

Oisin Murphy has been booked for Ed Dunlop’s Lucidity in an attempt to go one better than last time out in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 “Confined” Handicap.

Over the obstacles at Newton Abbot, Syd Hosie’s Way Out can continue his winning streak in the Britbet “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

The six-year-old was deemed good enough to run in a Grade Two at Cheltenham earlier this year when beaten a long way by stablemate Rock My Way, but has somewhat found his real level of late, claiming a Fakenham maiden hurdle by an emphatic 15 lengths before following up in handicap company at Warwick.

He has to concede weight all-round here, but is heading in the right direction, and can continue his handler’s profitable summer.

Similar sentiments also apply to Investment Manager, who has racked up back-to-back course victories this summer and now bids for a hat-rick in the Ben Oliver Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Joe Tizzard’s seven-year-old is up to a career-high rating but is hard to oppose while in this sort of form at a venue he knows like the back of his hand.

Also looking to continue on a winning thread is Emmet Mullins’ Slate Lane who has made successful raids to Cartmel and Bangor in recent months.

Unbeaten since joining Mullins, the five-year-old now attempts to bring up the three-timer in the Talk Tidy Marketing Handicap Hurdle.

Irish raiders could also enjoy a successful afternoon north of the border at Perth and Gordon Elliot’s Doctor Nightingale looks the class angle in the opening Bet In Running On Racing At BetVictor Juvenile Hurdle.

SELECTIONS:

BRIGHTON: 2.20 Uncle Dick, 2.55 Miguel, 3.30 Line Of Fire, 4.05 Dee’s Dream, 4.40 Lucidity, 5.15 Imperiousity, 5.45 Moondial.

GALWAY: 3.20 Alvaniy, 3.55 The Vegas Raider, 4.30 Seddon, 5.05 Father Jed,  5.40 Sittingonthefence, 6.15 Calico, 6.45 Iridescent, 7.15 Just For Love.

NEWCASTLE: 4.55 Krona, 5.30 Irv, 6.00 CHIEFMAN (NAP), 6.30 Desert Raider, 7.00 Dream Final, 7.30 Blackcurrent, 8.00 Lupset Flossy Pop, 8.30 Latin Five.

NEWTON ABBBOT: 2.40 Sharp Note, 3.15 Way Out, 3.50 Investment Manager, 4.25 Slate Lane, 5.00 Saddlers Quest, 5.35 Johnnie River.

PERTH: 2.30 Doctor Nightingale, 3.05 A Different Kind, 3.40 Beauty To Behold, 4.15 Inca Prince, 4.47 Themanintheboots 5.22 Headscarf Lil.

DOUBLE: Chiefman and Way Out.