Bold performances lift the gloom at soggy Stratford

IT turned into a soggy afternoon for Stratford’s Bordeaux Undiscovered Day on Tuesday but, despite the rain-softened ground, there were a number of bold front-running performances to light up the gloom, writes David Hucker.

With 22mm of rain over the weekend, topped up by another 15mm on Monday night, the going had eased to good to soft, soft in places, resulting in a number of withdrawals.

Worst affected was the fourth race, the Bordeaux Undiscovered La Fleur Morange Mathilde Handicap Hurdle, in which just three of the original 11 declared runners stood their ground.

It turned out to be a straightforward affair for favourite Rossetti, who made all the running to see off the challenge of his two rivals in the hands of Wayne Hutchinson.

“He’s genuine, tries and goes on any ground” said the winning jockey, who sees further success for the Neil Mulholland trained gelding during the summer.

There was drama aplenty in the opening Bordeaux Undiscovered Sommelier´s Choice Mares´ Novices´ Hurdle, when three of the runners departed at the fourth flight, including odds-on favourite Fit The Brief, who was hampered by the fall of Miliair and unseated jockey Paddy Brennan.

Out in front, Katie’s Hen was clear of the trouble and going well, but she was challenged on the turn for home by 66-1 outsider Mollylikestoboogie, who had been kicked by one of the other runners before the start and only allowed to run after passing a vet’s inspection.

In the end, it was Katie’s Hen who prevailed, fighting back to go clear again from Mollylikestoboogie, to score for conditional rider James Cowley and trainer Donald McCain.

Bleu Et Noir made all the running to take the following Bordeaux Undiscovered Merlot Novices’ Hurdle, although his task was made easier when favourite Egypt Mill Rebel was pulled up after the penultimate flight.

There was a gap of 28 lengths back to the staying-on Elysian Prince in second, with the Dan Skelton trained Amitie Waltz, who made a mistake early in the race, in third.

Fear Glic was only the second runner at the course in five years for Saltash trainer Jackie du Plessis, but the journey back to Cornwall will have seemed a lot shorter after he had taken the Bordeaux Undiscovered Wines Handicap Chase from Comeonginger.

Jumping past leader Ockey De Neulliac at the fourth-last fence, Fear Glic and James Best never looked in danger from there on, having 16 lengths to spare at the line.

Roderick Random was sent off favourite to score on his first outing for the Skelton stable in the Bordeaux Undiscovered Wines La Fleur Morange Novices' Handicap Chase, but he couldn’t peg back Edgar, who was another to make all the running for jockey Tom Cannon, standing in for the injured Tom Scudamore, who had sustained a sore thumb from his fall from Miliair in the opener.

After easing off mid-afternoon, the rain returned with a vengeance for the concluding Bordeaux Undiscovered Wine On Line Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race in which debutant Flying Shadow, who was always in the front rank, justified favouritism when holding the late challenge of Cosmic King and recoup a small part of his €55,000 purchase price.