Weekend Round-up
9th & 10th February 2008
by Peter Mansell

NIVER BAI SCORE FACILE WIN AT LARKHILL

Alastair Ralph must have thought race riding was easy when he won on his first three rides with Un Jour A Vassy in 2006, but subsequent victories proved illusive last season.

Ralph’s parents run an Equestrian Centre at Leigh Sinton, near Malvern, but the 21-year-old jockey is now honing his race riding skills at Paul Nicholl’s yard in Ditcheat. Those attributes were not put to the test because this was the proverbial “steering job” when Niver Bai made mincemeat of his rivals in Division I of the United Services Maiden on Saturday afternoon.

Victor Victorious led the field until the runners started the accent of the hill at the far end of the course where Ralph’s mount started to make stealthy progress towards the leaders although Victor Victorious’s renewed effort allowed him to dispute the lead at the third from home.

The winner began to draw clear soon after the penultimate and a 2-length advantage at that obstacle had been extended to 25-lengths by the time they passed the judge.

No rivals in sight as Niver Bai and Alastair Ralph storm home to claim victory in Division I of the United Services Maiden

The Ralph’s purchased the ex-Henrietta Knight trained 7-year-old in June and he was subsequently qualified with the Croome and West Warwickshire, although Richard Barber has been responsible for his training.

“We are really pleased, because we were unsure whether he would stay the trip” said owner Diana Ralph afterwards while her son told his parents “He travelled really well throughout so I kicked on at the top of the hill. I looked round turning for home and there was nobody there!”

Niver Bai returns to the winners enclosure after his effortless win

“We must go to Cheltenham after that” exclaimed John Manners after Man from Highworth had pulverised some top class opposition in the day’s principal race, The Coronation Cup.

Just 8 runners faced the starter for the second of the seasons National Feature Races but these include Alvino a duel winner in 2007, Gaye Trigger who was unbeaten in Point-to-Points, Irilut twice a winner this season including the Lord Ashton of Hyde Cup and Southwestern who finished runner up in last seasons Volkswagen Final before winning the John Corbett Cup at Stratford.

Southwestern ruined his chances with a monumental blunder at the second and he was always playing catch up from this point. With the exception of Southwestern all the principal contenders held winning chances as they breasted the final hill but while others were beginning to push and shove, David Bass was still sitting motionless on Man from Highworth.

As he had done on his previous visit to the course, Man from Highworth put the issue beyond doubt in a matter of strides and quickly established an unassailable lead which was extended with a good jump at the second from home.

Irilut made late progress at the finish and to pass the tiring Alvino to claim the runners up spot some 8-lengths in arrears.

Man from Highworth and David Bass (2 nd left) track the leaders during the early stages of the Coronation Cup

John Manners has enjoyed Christie’s Foxhunters success in the past with Calvelero and there is no reason to believe that his home bred trained and owned 9-year-old cannot emulate his predecessor.

“I told him not to take it up until the last, unless he had something in the tank” said Manners afterwards.

Reverting to her maiden name seems to have worked for Westbury on Severn based Hannah Lewis who rode and trained her second winner of the season after One for the Lads had prevailed in the Mares Maiden down at Erw Lon.

For the second time in a week, Angela Rucker came out the loser in a narrow finish after Honest Endevour had been beaten half a length by Sir Storm in the Ladies Open at Brocklesby Park, while her neice Alex Smith Maxwell finished third on Urban Rebel in the Novice Riders Race at Idford Arch in Devon.

Mrs Rucker had to settle for another runners up spot behind Oracle des Mottes who scored a easy win over her partner Blue Business in the Ladies Open at Tweseldown on Sunday afternoon.

Angela did have the satisfaction of beating Hannah Lewis and Shareef who had finished in front of them over this course some weeks ago. Alex Smith Maxwell’s mount Hi Tech Man was putting in his best work at the finish of the closing conditions race

Kim Smyly bypassed Tweseldown in favour of the long trip to Godstone in Surrey and was rewarded when Noakarad de Verzee scored an easy win in the Mens Open under David Maxwell, but hopes of a double for connections were foiled when Iphar was beaten by RefMysterio in the Maiden.

Claire Allen kept up her challenge for the Ladies Championship when Heaven is Above upset the odds on favourite Millenium Way in the Ladies Open at the same meeting, with Title leader Polly Gundry finishing behind her in third place on Lile Na Casca.