Roman Flight lands fortunate victory at Stratford
A BIG crowd turned out for Family Day at a sunny Stratford on Sunday and they saw a dramatic finish to the feature £20,000 Sunday Mercury Handicap Chase when favourite Roman Flight, who looked anything but the winner for much of the race, pounced to score an unlikely victory, writes David Hucker.
Top-weight Sharp Rise, trained near Over Norton by Charlie Longsdon, had won six of his previous ten starts and looked to be heading for another success as he took the lead approaching the second-last fence.
But, his jumping, which had been foot-perfect to that point, was to let him down at the final obstacle and, although Graham Watters picked him up off the floor, all momentum was gone and RomanFlight, who was struggling in fifth turning out of the back straight, took full advantage to land the prize.
The afternoon had started with an all-the-way success for Jazzy in the opening Coventry Telegraph Juvenile Hurdle, as Martin Keighley’s runner made up for a disappointing debut run at Hexham in good style.
Although he was again keen to get on with things, Andrew Tinkler got him into a good rhythm at the head of the field with Khismet leading the chasers. Although Khismet drew alongside at the penultimate flight, she couldn’t get past and Jazzy went on again, overcoming a mistake at the last to beat Schoolboy Error, who had been backed from 8-1 to 6-1, and Invocation.
Disappointment of the race was Irish raider Trespassed, who was well-supported in the betting market, but pulled up before the third-last flight.
Sixteen faced the starter in the following Peugeot Citroen Handicap Chase and, in a wide-open contest, three horses went off as 7-1 co-favourite, including Ffos Las winner Present Accepted, ridden by Robbie Dunne, who had been in double-winning form at the last meeting.
In a race run at a fast pace, it was Present Accepted who was clear of his rivals turning for home and he ran on strongly to beat Shady Glen by five lengths to give Dunne his 8 winner of the season. One to note is third-placed Brave Encounter, who was returning to racing under Rules after a successful point-to-point campaign, but didn’t look to quite see out the trip.
Five course winners lined up in the Shakespeare Martineau Handicap Hurdle (for The Stratford Summer Salver), but it was Brotherly Company, successful at Exeter and Kempton Park on his last two runs, who was sent off the 3-1 favourite.
The only ride of the day for Noel Fehily, Brotherly Company, was waited with off another strong pace but he couldn’t peg back Instant Karma, trained by Michael Bell at Newmarket, who was sent into a decisive lead by Tom O’Brien going to the final flight. Running on for third was I’dliketheoption, who had dropped to last after a mistake in the middle of the race, but could be one to watch off his current handicap mark.
Paddy Brennan replaced Conor O’Farrell, injured from a fall in the second race, on the top-weight OnAlberts Head in the Prior Products Windows And Doors Handicap Chase and, in a lop-sided betting market, they were the clear leaders at 7-4.
Favourite backers soon knew their fate, however, as On Alberts Head fell at the fourth fence, which also claimed Spock. Meanwhile, up front Accessallareas was disputing the lead with Badgers Retreat and, with the field stringing out, they finished in that order, separated by eight lengths at the post. Winning trainer Sarah-Jayne Davies also saddled third-placed Whos De Baby to complete a good afternoon for her Leominster stable.
Avispa, who couldn’t get near enough to challenge behind easy winner Ivor’s Queen at Newton Abbot last time, got back on the winning trail when making all the running under Wayne Hutchinson to land the Birmingham Mail "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle by 19 lengths from Stamp Your Feet, who never looked like landing a blow.
The concluding Brummies Conditional Jockeys´ Handicap Hurdle was divided into two, with Deserter, ridden by the up-and-coming Harry Bannister easily landing the first division.
The second heat was a closer affair, with Polo Springs making a valiant effort to make all the running, only to peck at the final flight. This handed the advantage to Ginjo and Robert Williams and they stayed on to hold the strong-finishing Junior Package, who deprived Polo Springs of second place on the line.
There is racing again this coming Sunday when the course stages it annual Ladies Day, the highlight of which is the 102 Touch FM Handicap Chase (Class 3) over two and three-quarter miles. The action kicks off at 2.15pm and there’s a free glass of Pimms for the first 200 ladies arriving into the Club and Tattersalls Enclosures.
