I am pleased to report that the
summer of racing at Pitchcroft is going from strength to strength. Last week’s Severn Valley Railway Charitable
Trust raceday not only raised an amazing £23,000 for the charity, but also
welcomed a bumper crowd for a Wednesday afternoon to enjoy the first 8 race
card of the season. Eighty-three horses
had been declared to run, well in excess of previous racedays this year.
The day was particularly noted
for the support of a number of local trainers including Tom Weston (Hindlip),
David Dennis (Hanley Swan), Tom Gretton (Inkberrow), John Spearing (Kinnersley),
Roy Brotherton (Pershore) and Claire Dyson (Bromsgrove).
The big story of the day, however
belonged to ITV racing presenter Luke Harvey and his 6-year old Nicky Henderson
trained gelding, Drumlynn.
Declared for the Conditional
Jockeys & Amateur Rider’s National Hunt flat race, following 3 placed
efforts in Irish point to points in 2016, Drumlynn had been off the track for
402 days. Described by Harvey in the
winner’s enclosure afterwards as ‘green’, the horse ran well up the inner rail
and saw off the challenges of Gordon Elliott’s Irish raider, Captiva Island,
steered by top amateur jockey, Jamie Codd making his first visit to the course.
I am always interested in course
‘specialists’, particularly when they relate to Worcester. From time to time the success that often
rather averagely rated horses have at one track stands out. In short, the phrase ‘horses for courses’
springs to mind.
Jigsaw Financial, owned and
trained by Laura Young is the perfect example.
Now 11 years old, he has been running at Worcester since September 2010. I can’t think of many horses who have run
here over quite so many years. From 7
career wins to date, 4 of those have been at Worcester. In July 2013, he won on 2 consecutive occasions
in the month and latterly ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, he was again successful
at Pitchcroft last August. His victory
last week came on the back of a 2nd place at our Ladies Day on June
3rd. One to look out for when
he next makes the trip from Somerset.
Another interesting fact emerged
from last week’s raceday. In the Allelys General Haulage Claiming Hurdle 40% of
the field left the racecourse heading for a different trainer’s yard from the
one they ran for on the day.
Ten horses were declared for the
race, the purpose of which being that all the horses were for sale. The racecard listed the cost price of each of
the 10 horses and following their performances, 5 were ‘claimed’.
Claines trainer Richard Newland
took home Beau Bay and Mr Caffrey, Sophie Leech took Gordon Elliott’s
Buonarotti Boy back to Westbury-on-Severn, Gary Moore ‘bought’ the runner up,
Deebaj, and the winner, Ascendant was re-claimed by his owner following an ‘outside’
claim.
The ever-popular Family Fun
Raceday is on Sunday when aspiring little jockeys can enjoy complimentary pony
rides and the first race is due off at 2.10pm.
