More glory for O'Neill as she lands a Stratford double
IRISH jockey Lisa O’Neill, who scored the biggest win of her career when landing the Kerry National last month, made her first visit to Stratford a successful one with a double at the course’s penultimate meeting of the year, writes David Hucker.
With just one success from four rides in Great Britain, O’Neill was one of the least experienced riders on Saturday’s seven-race card, although her profile had been raised by that Kerry National victory on Wrath Of Titans for her boss Gordon Elliott.
Her first ride came in the toteexacta Forecast The 1st And 2nd Selling Hurdle on Shan Dun na nGall for Elliott, although the betting market suggested that it was stable companion Tajseer, the mount of Tom Scudamore, who was the more fancied.
Needing to bounce back after a disappointing performance at Navan last time out, Tajseer had pressed the favourite Angus Glens, who had set a moderate pace, until the final flight, but couldn’t resist the challenge of Shan Dun na nGall who went away for a comfortable success.
O’Neill completed her double in the concluding totepool Racing´s Biggest Supporter Lady Riders´ Handicap Hurdle on Presenting Julio who proved too good for hat-trick seeking Wildmoor Boy, the pair finishing well clear of their rivals.
Elliott had a fancied runner the day’s feature race, the £25,000 totequadpot Four Places In Four Races Handicap Chase in Mountain King, twice a winner at Perth.
Settled in the rear by Scudamore, his chances weren’t helped by a mistake at the eighth fence but, from the penultimate jump, he was always second-best to course winner Roman Flight.
Whilst Roman Flight can take a while to get warmed up in his races, this time he went clear in the straight under Leighton Aspell to score a comfortable success for trainer David Dennis and owners Favourites Racing.
Favourite backers had got off to a good start when Midnight Jazz, trained at Edgcote by Ben Case, took the opening Class 3 toteplacepot Racing´s Favourite Bet Mares´ Handicap Hurdle. This was a career-best performance by Midnight Jazz and the seventh winner of the season for Case from 18 horses to have run
Disappointment of the race was second-favourite May Hay, who raced keenly throughout, but found nothing between the last two flights, finishing only fourth.
There was a drama at the finish of the £12,000 totetrifecta Pick The 1,2,3 Handicap Hurdle when, despite making mistakes, Diamond Rock swept past the leading trio to go clear three furlongs out. Once in front, he started to hang and, after by-passing what would have been the final flight, went badly to his left, only straightening up when meeting the running rail.
Daulys Anthem, beaten a nose by Show’s Over also at the course in August, had again run well at Warwick last time out, and was made favourite to get his reward in the toteswinger Three Ways To Win Handicap Chase and give trainer Dennis a double on the afternoon.
But, he could manage only third behind the front-running Little Windmill and remains without a win after 14 races. The winner jumped boldly in front, having the field well stretched out after only a couple of fences, to follow-up his Plumpton success and could land the hat-trick if the handicapper doesn’t overburden him.
Five winners at Chepstow over the weekend saw champion trainer Paul Nicholls take over top spot in this season’s table as he looks to land his 11 title. He had just one runner at Stratford, saddling Clic Work in the @totepoolracing Follow Us On Twitter "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle, but had to settle for second place behind the consistent. Kalaskadesemilley, who ran on well from the last flight for conditional jockey Thomas Cheesman.
