Tag Archive for: Sedgefield

Mr Escobar provides Mullins with maiden Sedgefield winner

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Willie Mullins won with his first ever runner at Sedgefield as Mr Escobar justified odds-on favouritism in the Vickers.Bet Proud To Support British Racing Novices’ Hurdle.

Brian Hayes travelled over to the north-east to take the ride on the six-year-old, who had finished second on the Flat at Chester earlier this year.

On his last run over hurdles, he had been second at Listowel but this time was sent off a 1-3 favourite to beat 10 rivals.

Always handy under Hayes, from a long way out the race revolved around just the Irish raider and the Rebecca Menzies-trained Kingston Narcissus, who did his best to put it up to the market leader but there was four-and-a-quarter lengths between them at the finish.

“I don’t think Willie has ever had a runner here and I don’t think he would have been good enough to win a maiden hurdle in Ireland, so Patrick and Willie thought he might be as well to come here,” Hayes told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s a bit quirky. There was one day at Killarney when he actually ran out at the first hurdle.

“It suited us today where the hurdles were and the best of the ground was on the wide outside – it didn’t really matter as he’d have won anyway, but it’s nice to get it done.

“I suppose the undulations here make it a bit like Tramore, except going the other way round, the way you are always turning. It suited him as it kept him interested and he jumped really well.”

Hayes is the partner of Rachael Blackmore, who has been on the sidelines in recent weeks with a neck injury but is targeting a comeback for the busy Christmas period.

“She’s recovering well, I think she’s aiming to be back the week before Christmas,” said Hayes.

Reel can show off winning moves

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Northern Reel proved tough to catch at Leicester last week and can quickly add to her tally at Southwell.

Olly Murphy’s six-year-old travelled with real zest when part of the handler’s recent treble at Leicester, moving stylishly into contention and then showing her rivals a clean pair of heels when asked to go and win her race after the second last fence.

She cruised home 13 lengths clear of the opposition and a similar performance would make her tough to oppose under a 7lb penalty in the Golf And Gallop Package Mares’ Handicap Chase.

Also heading to Rolleston in winning order is Anthony Honeyball’s Jasmin Du Grugy, who now switches to the larger obstacles for the Southwell Golf Club Handicap Chase having rattled up a hat-trick over timber back in May.

Dan Skelton’s Asian Star had to settle for second when carrying a penalty for a previous Southwell victory at Warwick earlier this month.

However, a return to Nottinghamshire could help her quickly regain the winning thread as she is sent handicapping in the Watch Unbridled On attheraces.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

It may also be worth keeping a close eye on Harry Derham’s Sergeant Fury in the Download The At The Races App Maiden Hurdle as the point-to-point winner makes his hurdling bow following a pleasing run in a Wincanton bumper.

Spectators at Sedgefield could be set to witness a little bit of local history when Willie Mullins sends over Mr Escobar for the vickers.bet Proud To Support British Racing Novices’ Hurdle.

A winner at the venue is missing from the Closutton handler’s distinguished CV, but his raider could prove a tough nut to crack judged not only on his second over obstacles at Listowel in Septemberm but also his fine effort on the Flat at Naas last month.

More used to success at Sedgefield is Rebecca Menzies and the local handler can strike in the concluding Paxtons No1 Caseih Dealer In UK & Ireland Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race with Snapaudaciaheros.

Fourth on her Hexham debut, she then took a step forward when second at Southwell on her second start and could be primed to make it third time lucky if her progression continues.

It is a long time since The Paddy Pie has returned to the winner’s enclosure, but because of that, he finds himself now 20lb below his last successful winning figure.

He was an encouraging second over track and trip most recently and a similar performance could give Joel Parkinson – the grandson of Sue Smith’s husband Harvey – his first victory since joining the Grand National-winning handler on the training licence.

Also at Sedgefield, Laser Focus can notch up a hat-trick in the Chris Blanckley Birthday Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer James Owen can do no wrong at present and away from the Cheltenham triumphs of Burdett Road and East India Dock, Laser Focus has been in fine form with two wide-margin triumphs this month.

This is his toughest assignment yet, but the six-year-old is on the upgrade and could have plenty still lurking in the locker.

SELECTIONS:

SEDGEFIELD: 12.55 Mr Escobar, 1.25 National Question, 2.00 Clean Getaway, 2.30 Laser Focus, 3.00 The Paddy Pie, 3.30 Snapaudaciaheros.

SOUTHWELL: 12.35 NORTHERN REEL (NAP), 1.05 Jasmin De Grugy, 1.40 Asian Star, 2.10 Sergeant Fury, 2.40 Rockola, 3.10 Neigh Botha, 3.40 Lunar Contact.

TRAMORE: 12.45 Downmexicoway, 1.15 Caman Eileen, 1.50 Roxhill Roise, 2.20 Beggars Rock, 2.50 Natural Breeze, 3.20 Garcon Doux, 3.50 Sortudo.

DOUBLE: Northern Reel and Mr Escobar.

Emotional winner for Rebecca Menzies at Sedgefield

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There were emotional scenes in the Sedgefield winner’s enclosure on Tuesday, after Imperial Rule carried the colours of the late John Wade to victory at his local track.

Wade saddled over 200 winners from his County Durham base before retiring in 2016. He later handed over the reins to Rebecca Menzies, who recently sent out the 400th winner of her burgeoning career.

Wade died aged 80 last month and a minute’s silence was held before racing in both his honour and that of George Reveley, widower of former leading trainer Mary Reveley.

Imperial Rule was a 7-1 shot for the Racing Supports Graham Lee superstar-auctions.com Novices’ Handicap Chase and finished with a flourish under a well-judged ride from Ross Chapman to score by four and a half lengths.

“It’s brilliant to win a race that was named for John and has been switched for Graham. Graham Lee actually said the other night ‘there’s one rule in racing, there are no rules’, and I think that just sums that up. He (Imperial Rule) pulled it out of the bag when it mattered,” Menzies told Sky Sports Racing.

“We need to celebrate what John has done for northern racing and what he’s done for all of us. To keep training winners in his colours is an absolute honour.”

In early October Menzies surprised Wade by sending a small team of runners to Downpatrick and sponsored a race in his honour, and the plan came to fruition, with Wade on hand to see Edgewell carry his silks to victory in the Rebecca Menzies Racing 40 Winners And Counting For John Wade Handicap Chase.

Edgewell’s success was the second leg of a double on that card for the team, with Boomslang earlier making a successful debut over fences for Wade’s close friend Maria D Myco.

Edgewell with connections at Downpatrick
Edgewell with connections at Downpatrick (Michael Graham/PA)

Menzies added: “John and Maria have some lovely horses at home, young horses as well that haven’t made the track yet. Hopefully we can keep training those and see those horses through, I’m sure that’s what John would have wanted.

“He wanted winners and always wanted winners at Sedgefield. We had a really fun-filled season planned out, Downpatrick was the start of it and we had all sorts of stuff planned for him.

“I think he was definitely there urging that horse down to the last and hopefully we can continue to do him proud.

“I’m absolutely delighted to win a race named after another complete legend in Graham Lee. They are two such massively influential people in my career, so to train the winner of that race means even more.”

Reach For The Moon found to be lame after hurdling bow

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Jamie Snowden will give The Queen’s Reach For The Moon a thorough overhaul after the one-time Derby favourite returned lame having finished fourth on his hurdling debut at Sedgefield.

Owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II in his days on the Flat, he won the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown for John and Thady Gosden and was twice the runner-up at Royal Ascot.

Having lost his way in that sphere, he was sent to Jamie Snowden and prepared for a hurdling campaign and he reappeared in the colours of the Queen in a partnership with Sir Chips Keswick, the former Arsenal chairman.

Reach For The Moon seemed to enjoy his jumping
Reach For The Moon seemed to enjoy his jumping (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Everything seemed to be going well in the first half of the race as Gavin Sheehan tracked the hot favourite Schmilsson (11-10) but a slight mistake three out stopped him in his tracks and he was immediately on the back foot.

As Schmilsson powered clear in the second division of the Betting.Bet New Betting Sites Maiden Hurdle, Reach For The Moon eventually lost two places on the run-in, although a reason quickly appeared for his lacklustre finish.

“He’s lame behind, unfortunately, but nothing obvious has come to light as to why,” said Snowden.

“We’ll reassess him when we get back home and hope it’s nothing serious.”

He went on: “One thing he did enjoy was the jumping, which I was almost certain he would, as he had done in all his schooling at home.

“As an ex-Flat horse maybe that ground was just too taxing for him so one thing we will look for next time out is better ground.

“Without knowing where he went lame… (but) obviously the ground won’t have helped his cause on that front today.

“So, we’ll hope it’s nothing serious, look for better ground and take it from there.”

The Queen, whose husband the King was diagnosed with cancer on Monday, and Keswick had another Snowden-trained runner at Ludlow, but Schematic also finished unplaced.

Moon fails to reach Sedgefield heights

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The Queen’s Reach For The Moon was reported to have finished lame after coming home unplaced on his jumping bow at Sedgefield.

Owned by the Queen in partnership with Sir Chips Keswick, Reach For The Moon was a Group Three winner and one-time Classic hope for Queen Elizabeth II before he lost his way on the Flat.

Switched to the care of Jamie Snowden, Reach For The Moon embarked on a National Hunt career in the second division of the Betting.Bet New Betting Sites Maiden Hurdle, but after racing in second through the early exchanges, he was beaten at the turn for home.

Reach For The Moon was fourth at Sedgefield
Reach For The Moon was fourth at Sedgefield (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Schmilsson was was sent off the 11-10 favourite and successfully made all the running as Reach For The Moon dropped away, with Snowden eager to check on the gelding straight after the race.

He said: “He showed he’s got the aptitude for jumping but he’s returned lame, so we need to check that he’s OK.”

The Queen, whose husband the King was diagnosed with cancer on Monday, and Keswick had another Snowden-trained runner at Ludlow, but Schematic also finished unplaced for connections.

Reach For The Moon under the spotlight at Sedgefield

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All eyes will be on Reach For The Moon, who is jointly-owned by the Queen, when he makes his hurdling debut at Sedgefield on Wednesday.

A Group Three winner and runner-up in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot as a juvenile on the Flat for John and Thady Gosden when owned by Queen Elizabeth II, he was also second in the Hampton Court Stakes at the Royal meeting as a three-year-old, having had to miss the Classics following a setback.

He lost his way somewhat in three runs after that and was sent to Jamie Snowden for a jumping career following his unplaced effort in the Royal Hunt Cup. After taking his time with his new recruit, Snowden feels now is the time to test the water, before a potential Cheltenham Festival outing.

The King and Queen cheer on their Royal Ascot winner Desert Hero
The King and Queen cheer on their Royal Ascot winner Desert Hero (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The King and Queen clearly enjoyed their runners last year, winning at Royal Ascot for the first time with Desert Hero and travelling to Doncaster to see the same horse finish third in the St Leger, although Reach For The Moon now runs for the Queen in her colours and is jointly-owned by former Arsenal chairman, Sir Chips Keswick.

“He’s taken well to jumping. He came to us last summer and we did a fair bit with him and then he went back to Sandringham for a holiday. He came back to us November-time and he’s done very well,” said Snowden.

“He enjoys his jumping, he jumps very neatly and accurately and his work has obviously been very good, as you would expect from a talented Flat horse, and we thought it was time to start and tip away gently.

Queen Elizabeth II with Frankie Dettori and Reach For The Moon at Royal Ascot
Queen Elizabeth II with Frankie Dettori and Reach For The Moon at Royal Ascot (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“I don’t see why he wouldn’t stay the trip, there’s stamina in his pedigree, obviously the ground will be a little bit softer than he has been used to in the past and he’s got to get used to jumping eight flights of hurdles. But if he can translate what he has done at home to the track then hopefully he should go well.

“As far as the horse is concerned we’ve got to start somewhere and see where he takes us.”

Snowden also saddles a second runner on the day owned by the Queen and Sir Chips Keswick in Schematic, who makes his third career start in the Racing Welfare EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Ludlow.

Bred by Queen Elizabeth II, the six-year-old was well beaten on his hurdling debut at Chepstow in October, but there was more promise in his fourth-placed finish at Taunton last month.

Quinlan gains little consolation after Sedgefield favourite woe

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Sean Quinlan suffered mixed fortunes at Sedgefield on Thursday, with the rider registering a winner after being dramatically unseated in the opening event.

While Blue Hawaii made no mistakes in the JTC Pizzalicious Handicap Chase, it was a different story with Telhimlisten in the Follows Us @vickers.Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase.

The Jennie Candlish-trained runner was sent off the 2-9 favourite for the two-runner event and victory looked a formality as Quinlan’s mount was well clear approaching the final obstacle in the two-mile-one-furlong affair.

However, despite jumping the final fence with no issue, the horse edged left running away from the fence, with Quinlan caught off balance and being unseated out of the side door.

That left Grey Skies to come home alone as a 100-30 winner, much to Quinlan’s dismay.

He told Sky Sports Racing: “I’ve had a winner but that won’t make up for what happened in the first.

“He’s gone to pop it and for some reason two strides after he’s jinked left. He got in tight and I was quite happy with the way he jumped it, but I was just going forward to get him away from the fence and as I’ve gone forward, he’s gone left and my balance has gone.”