Double delight for Williams as Perfect Summer shines
A BIG crowd welcomed the return of racing at a sunny Stratford on Sunday afternoon, when the course hosted an eight-race card sponsored by Stratford Caravans and Avon Estates, writes David Hucker.
Perfect Summer was a popular choice in the opening stratfordcaravans.co.uk Mares´ Novices´ Selling Hurdle over two miles, being a solid 9-4 favourite to go one better than when runner-up to SymphonyOf Pearls over the course in March.
She didn’t look the most straightforward of rides that day but, with the experienced Tom O’Brien replacing Toby Wheeler in the saddle, she had no problem in landing her first win over jumps, scooting clear after the second-last flight to beat Hang Fire by an easy 15 lengths and set up a double on the afternoon for Alvechurch trainer Ian Williams, who also scored with Byron Flyer at Market Rasen.
Jockey Wayne Hutchinson made a strong bid for the At The Races ride of the month award when getting The Barbury Queen home in the first division of the stratfordcaravans.co.uk Handicap Hurdle from northern raider Presenting Streak.
In a close betting heat, Craiganee just shaded favouritism at 4-1, and he looked the likely winner when leading into the home straight, only to weaken approaching the final flight as Presenting Streak and Ryan Winks took command.
But, looming up behind was The Barbury Queen, who was being pushed along by Hutchinson with a circuit go and not helping her cause with some indifferent jumping.
His perseverance paid off, however, as Alan King’s runner put in a good jump just when she needed one and ran on determinedly for what had looked an unlikely victory for most of the race.
In the second division, trainer Emma Lavelle made it two wins for the season when 2-1 favourite Pawn Star, ridden by Daryl Jacob, just held on by a neck from Red Red Rover in a driving finish, where just a length covered the first four home.
The combination doubled , who has had just two runs since coming back from a long lay-off, took the Riverside Caravan Park Handicap Chase by five lengths.
Most valuable race of the afternoon was the £10,000 stratfordcaravans.co.uk Novices´ Limited Handicap Chase in which David Pipe’s Mount Haven was making his debut over fences. He could make no impression on Cold Knight, who led into the straight and just held on from Lakeshore Lady in another close finish.
Point-to-point winner Mountain Eagle was sent off favourite, but could only finish third, and will need to brush up on his jumping if he is to make his mark over fences.
Longest race of the afternoon was the Avon Caravan Park Handicap Hurdle (for the Charles Lea Memorial Trophy) over three and a quarter miles and it went to Tea Time Fred, who almost downed tools at the start, but quickly caught up with the rest of the runners.
When the race got serious, he proved too good for his rivals, leading at the penultimate flight and seeing off the challenge of Aigle De La See for a comfortable success.
With Cheltenham Festival victor Moon Racer not declared to run, the way looked open for course winner Sleep Easy to land the Stratfordcaravans.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle, but he was withdrawn by trainer Neil Mulholland after the track had dried out.
With Honeymoon Cocktail also a non-runner, jockey Tom Scudamore switched to Nomadic Storm and, despite a mistake at the last flight, this prolific chase winner, who was returning from a 13-month absence from the track, notched up his first success over hurdles.
Lambourn trainer Warren Greatrex had chosen Burlington Bert from his three entries in the concluding Rayford Caravan Park Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race and he had no trouble adding to his Warwick win of last year in the hands of claimer Harry Bannister.
