Now that the gentlemen’s flat season has drawn to a conclusion with the championship title shared, its time for many congratulations to the Top Three: William Easterby, James Harding and Pat Millman
Many congratulations also to runner-up Eireann Cagney just one winner behind them, who also won a Novice Riders race this year (which cannot count towards the championship because of its conditions).
Well done lads – we are already looking forward to next season!
Congratulations to Ciaran Jones aboard Mark Usher’s BORN TO PLEASE when winning Division II of the Mansionbet Handicap Stakes at Nottingham yesterday, the last gentlemen’s race of the amateur season. This was a day to remember for Ciaran, an experienced Arabian jockey, with this being his first winner under rules!
Reigning champion Simon Walker cut a lonely figure on Scott Dixon’s SOCIOLOGIST coming wide off the home bend to take the better ground on the near rail, but Ciaran had been biding his time and started to urge his horse from two furlongs out to lead in the last 75 yards and win by 3/4 of a length, with Pat Millman 8 lengths 3rd.
Congratulations to George Eddery on winning Division I of the Mansionbet Handicap Stakes, the penultimate gentlemen’s flat race of the season, on his father Robert’s COUNTRY’N’WESTERN at Nottingham yesterday.
Ross Birkett on his mother Julia Feilden’s TELEKIINETIC led the field from early on, only to be joined a couple of furlongs out by George and Country’N’Western who were always going comfortably and won by a length. James Harding and his recent winner PARA QUEEN did well to finish just over 2 lengths 3rd having been slowly into stride. They denied William Easterby that place by a nose.
Many congratulations to George and his father on a great end to the season!
Brilliant to see our reigning NH champion winning over hurdles on Sunday at Wincanton with a great ride on the Philip Hobbs trained DOLPHIN SQUARE to challenge from two out and lead in the final stride, and in so doing deny Adrian Heskin by a short head!
Many congratulations to David Maxwell for whom this was his third win so far of the NH season. Well done David!
Friday saw our last mixed flat race of the season sponsored by the AJA at a very wet Doncaster with no less than 19 going to post.
Ultimately in such conditions on heavy ground and in driving rain the field finished well strung out.
Aaron Anderson and John Quinn’s GRASEON ROY were always prominent and challenged Cai Williams on Oliver Greenall’s well named GAMESTERS ICON well over a furlong out, with the Greenall mare gamely holding on in a battle to the line to score by half a length well clear of the rest. Eireann Cagney finished closest, 13 lengths away 3rd on Richard Fahey’s FIREWATER.
This was a day to remember for Cai giving him his first ever winner under rules. Many congratulations to him and to winning connections!
The eagerly awaited return to Cheltenham by NH fans on Friday saw 13 amateurs go to post for the Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
Gina Andrews was always prominent on Seamus Mullins’ PLANTAGENET and took it up from 4 out. However, an exciting finish was in store as Liam Harrison partnering Fergal O’Brien’s PETITE POWER had them clearly in his sights and laid down a commanding challenge at the last to stay on and win by 3 and a 1/4 lengths, with Gina second and Millie Wonnacott on Neil Mulholland’s FINGERONTHESWITCH a further 3 and 3/4 lengths third, denying stable companion DOING FINE and Sam Waley-Cohen by a neck.
Many congratulations to winning connections on a memorable victory (the 2nd leg of Fergal’s treble on the day!) which is the highlight of Liam’s career to date and his third of this campaign. Liam represented GB abroad earlier this year both in Cologne and on the beach in San Lucar and has made a great start to the season. Well done Liam!
You could be forgiven for thinking it was Ladies Day yesterday at Ludlow with 2 of our lady jockeys making their mark!
First of all, many congratulations to Lilly Pinchin who enjoyed a great victory aboard Graeme MacPherson’s ALEXANDER THE GREY when riding against pros in the Handicap Chase.
This horse was winning for the first time ever in his career having had 13 runs over hurdles and this was his 14th run over fences! Lilly has been placed on him in each of her previous 5 rides except when he ran out with her at Huntingdon, so this win must have felt very special. Well done Lilly – what an achievement!
Yesterday’s Ludlow amateur riders Handicap Chase was dramatic despite a relatively small field of only 7 runners.
Liam Harrison and SHOW’S OVER parted company at the third followed by James King and LERICHI BELLE at the next, with Alex Edwards and DAMUT I’M OUT being carried out by a loose horse and crashing through the wing at the fifth.
Happily the race then progressed without incident, with Lorna Brooke and John Groucott’s SHINISTAR having been left in the lead at the fourth and maintaining that position to stay on well and win by 4 lengths from Corey McGivern and Tim Vaughan’s GLIMPSE OF GOLD with Tommie O’Brien a similar distance 3rd.
Many congratulations to Lorna with her third win on SHINASTAR, having won previously with him at Ludlow last December and then again at Stratford in April. What a partnership!
Congratulations to Millie Wonnacott who enjoyed her second win of the NH season at Fontwell yesterday aboard Neil Mulholland’s HYGROVE PERCY having won a Mares Handicap Chase at Ffos Las on PRETTY LITTLE THING from the same yard back in July (below).
Hygrove Percy led from two out to run on well and score comfortably by 10 lengths. Well done Millie!
Congratulations to Phil York on following up his impressive win 4 weeks ago aboard his own MAGEN’S MOON with another victory at Plumpton on Monday, defying a 6 lb rise in the weights.
Owned, trained and ridden by Phil, she hit the front between the last 2 hurdles, and having idled in front managed to hang on by a neck in a dramatic finish!
Well done and good luck to Phil in making it a hat trick with her next run!
Congratulations to Alice Stevens on her first winner under rules at Exeter yesterday partnering DON JUAN DU GOUET for the in-form Henry Daly in the amateur riders’ handicap hurdle.
Biding their time at the rear of the field under top weight, the partnership made a move as they turned into the home straight to win by just over a length from Martin McIntyre and SIENNA ROYALE with Zac Baker 3rd.
