REVIEW |
Joe Docker and Fiona Needham were the in form riders at
Brocklesby on Saturday, each riding a double. Docker’s first win came in the Confined on Even Flow, who
readily followed up his Ampton win, shaking off his only pursuer,
Shanavogh (Richard Hunnisett) from two out with Primitive Streak (Rupert
Abrahams) back in third. Nautical Lad completed the Docker double getting the verdict
by a head from Via De La Valle (Lucy Coney) in a tight finish. The winner,
an improving seven-year-old, should be able to step up in class. Via De La
Valle lost nothing in defeat and he and his novice pilot should have
little trouble of taking a Restricted. Odds on shot Imperial Dawn followed up last weekend’s
Cottenham victory in the Ladies Open, but was unimpressive in doing so,
having to be pushed out by Fiona Needham after the final fence to beat Sea
Tarth (Hannah Kinsey) by two lengths, with Linlathen (Gemma Hutchinson) a
further half length behind in third. The second leg of Fiona Needham’s double came in Division
One of the maiden on the William Bethell trained Captain Oates. The
nine-year-old son of Arctic Lord looked a potential maiden winner when
running Jolly Giant, a subsequent 42,000gns purchase at Doncaster Sales,
close here last season. However, this time there was nothing of Jolly
Giant’s calibre and he came home three lengths to the good of Bill
Warner’s Sparebit (Stuart Morris) with Patagonian Passion (Nick Kent) a
further four lengths back in third. The Confined produced a good finish with Maitre De Musique
(Michael Tate) getting the better of Bowlingher (Richard Hunnisett) by a
length. The winner had a good prep race last weekend at Market Rasen and
was produced spot on here by trainer Gill Walford. He should win more
races this season. Division Two of the maiden saw both the favourite, Emperor
Roscoe (Richard Armson) and the well-backed My Best Buddy (Rowan Cope)
fall, leaving the race at the mercy of the Nick Shutts owned Major Benefit
(Michael Keel). The winner, a five-year-old son of Executive Perk looks a
decent sort and should be able to rise in class. The Bailey second string,
Whichway Girl (Joe Docker), couldn’t live with the impressive winner,
but still looks a horse capable of taking a race of this calibre. Slodadam
(Matthew Mackley) was one-paced in third and seems to get found out by
horses with a turn of foot. He needs a real test of stamina. The final division of the maiden went to the Bailey yard with
Mr Cooney (Rowan Cope) comfortably holding Princess Derry (Chris Cundall)
by a length with Crackrattle (Tim Lane) a further four lengths back in
third. The Hunt race went to the maiden Paddington Jones (Nick Kent), holding off Sunny Lad (Adair Pickering) to win by three lengths. |