Bushypark may bid to continue his winning streak over the busy Christmas and new year period, after completing a 24-day four-timer at Doncaster last week.
Phil Kirby’s charge opened his account when landing a significant gamble at Hexham last month, and a 15lb rise in the weights was nowhere near enough to stop him following up in a conditional jockeys’ race at Haydock exactly a fortnight later.
The six-year-old completed his hat-trick back at Hexham the following week, and made light of a 48-hour turnaround when defying a 7lb penalty at Doncaster on Friday.
“He’s grand and has come out of Doncaster fine,” said Kirby.
“He’ll have a little break now. I haven’t even looked at the programme book, to be honest, but we’ll try to pick something for him over Christmas or early in the new year.
“He’s as hard as nails and doesn’t need a long holiday – he just needs freshening back up again.
“He likes racing at the minute – so while he’s well, we’ll keep going.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/fca30b3a-ce48-4055-9ffc-a8afe1c641f5.jpg6321264Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngGeegeez News2020-12-16 16:00:052020-12-16 16:00:05Bushypark will be back for more soon
Kim Bailey was delighted to see Balleticon make a successful return from a 705-day absence in the starsports.bet 20K Owners Club Guarantee Maiden Hurdle at Southwell on Sunday.
Runner-up in two of his three bumper starts, the six-year-old had not been seen in competitive action since finishing fifth at Bangor almost two years ago.
Hot favourite Mocacreme Has loomed up looking a big danger to the front-running Balleticon before leaving the back straight, but the latter refused to yield and proved three and a half lengths too strong.
Bailey said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and a big thank you goes to my head lad George Savill. He rides this horse every day and he is far from an easy horse, I promise you.
“His bumper form is rock solid and he’s got stacks of ability, but he’s unbelievably fragile.
“Fingers crossed he’s in one piece tomorrow and I rather feel the same way about his owners, actually – this is their first winner and I think there’ll be big celebrations for them tonight!”
Ecossais justified 2-1 favouritism in the opening Download The Star Sports App Now! Handicap Chase.
Ecossais (centre) on his way to victory at Southwell (Tim Goode/PA)
Oliver Greenall’s charge successfully followed up his course victory of last month with a near three-length verdict in the hands of 5lb claimer Ross Turner.
“I’m very pleased. He’s healthy and well and improving, so it’s all good,” said Greenall.
“I was a bit worried about the softer ground, but he seemed to handle it.
“He just seems uncomplicated, so it’s great.”
Debden Bank also obliged for favourite-backers in the Call Star Sports On 08000 521 321 Handicap Chase.
A promising third on his seasonal reappearance at Stratford last month, the 100-30 chance was fitted with cheekpieces for his latest assignment and they seemed to have the desired effect, with James Best’s mount powering 11 lengths clear of his toiling rivals.
Fame And Concrete made a seriously impressive start to his career in the Read Davy Russell’s Exclusive Blog starsportsbet.co.uk Standard Open NH Flat Race.
Representing the father-son combination of Jonjo O’Neill and Jonjo O’Neill junior, the 7-2 shot took over the lead rounding the home and the further he went the better he looked – passing the post 13 lengths clear of Deeper Blue.
Phil Kirby’s Another Theatre was a surprise winner of the Starsports.bet £10k Showtime Guarantee Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
Formerly trained by Henry Oliver, the daughter of Shantou had shown precious little in her first two starts over fences for Kirby in finishing seventh at Perth before being pulled up at the same track.
Another Theatre was a wide-margin winner (Tim Goode/PA)
She was priced up accordingly for her return to the smaller obstacles at 28-1, but romped to an 18-length triumph under Tommy Dowson.
Kirby said: “Her form was good before we got her and the plan was to go chasing, but she’s just struggled.
“She’d schooled well at home, but hasn’t jumped particularly well at the races, so we just decided to go back to basics over hurdles and try to teach her to be a racehorse again, as she’d just lost her way.
“It’s a nice surprise to see her win today. Hopefully there’s more to come from her now.”
Oliver Sherwood and Brendan Powell combined to land the Starsports.bet Pipped At The Post Offer EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle with 10-11 favourite Ocean Drifter.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2.57086623-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngGeegeez News2020-12-13 15:50:552020-12-13 15:50:55Kim Bailey thrilled to see Balleticon back to winning ways after long absence
Phil Kirby hailed Lady Buttons as “our horse of a lifetime” after confirming his star mare’s retirement because of injury.
While very much in the twilight of her racing career at the age of 10, the daughter of Beneficial was arguably better than ever last season – winning three of her five starts.
After successfully defending her crown in the Listed mares’ hurdle at Wetherby in early November, Lady Buttons finished a creditable fourth in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle before landing both a Listed mares’ chase and a Grade Two mares’ hurdle at Doncaster.
Wonderful mare! Wishing a very happy retirement to Lady Buttons@PKirbyRacing 🗣 "Our horse of a lifetime and the people's favourite… What a legend she has been!" ❤️ pic.twitter.com/p5xxDn9qcd
She could finish only seventh in an especially high-class renewal of the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but Kirby had been looking forward to her return to action this autumn for one final season.
In an emotional statement posted on Twitter, the trainer said: “It’s been a significant morning here at the yard, and time has been called on a wonderful career. Our horse of a lifetime, and the people’s favourite, Lady Buttons, has been retired.
“Keith, Jayne (Sivills, owners) and all of us here would like to thank you so much for sharing her incredible racing story with us. What a legend she has been, and the decision to retire her this morning was typical of her devoted owners – putting the mare first.
Happy retirement to the wonder-mare Lady Buttons 🏇
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