REVIEW |
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Richard Burton started the day two winners behind Ashley
Farrant in his quest to retain his Riders Championship. The Shropshire based
rider guided three horses to victory during Mondays Albrighton Woodland
meeting at Chaddesley Corbett, but at the end of the day the status quo was
unchanged because Farrant match his efforts with a hatrick down in Devon. Snowtre has provided Burton with three wins at a crucial
stage of the season due to the generosity of his fellow rider Adrian Wintle
who with the co-operation of trainer Helen Needham and owner Jim Callow has
willingly stepped aside to aid Burton's Championship aspirations.
With several confirmed front runners, the Mixed Open was always going to be run at a frenetic pace and Jemaro's victory set a course record. Jemaro, Machalini and Philtre were unwilling to give one another a respite and this trio had the field at full stretch from the start. Machalini was still in contention when parting company with Andrew Morley at the 16th while Philtre and Adrian Wintle harried the winner all the way down the home straight and Burton was forced to pull out all the stops on Jemaro to secure victory.
Burton's third win was provided by the Jen Wall trained Sabena Canyon in the Restricted. The 8-year-old joined the leaders at the 15th and held a slight advantage turning into the home straight and then defied Jolly Jakes efforts all the way down the home straight. His current owner Don Constable brought the winner for a modest sum at Market Drayton Horse Sales.
Emma James is enjoying her best ever season and the Stoke Bliss rider landed a first and last race double with Primitive Son (Members) and Franco Lady (Maiden). Primitive Son gained the advantage with a good jump at the 15th and his rivals were always fighting a losing battle from this point. The 7-year-old increased his advantage all the way down the home straight to land his second win of the season for Halesowen trainer Wendy Bayliss and her co-owner Sue Jordan.
James was in tears after Franco Lady's Maiden race success despite the 11-year-old mare's victory. This partnership gained a vital couple of lengths over their rivals at the third from home, but Winnick kept responding to Geoff Barfoot Saunt urgings and both riders asked their mounts for a final effort at the last. Both responded gamely but Franco Lady was fractionally quicker away and stayed on well for a well-deserved success, but finished the race lame, so spoil what should have been a happy occasion for owner Dick Godfrey.
Lord Daresbury or Peter Greenall as he was then known was National Champion four times during the mid-1980's. He enjoyed numerous successes over this course and was on hand to witness his 17-year-old son Oliver record his second win on the Stephen Wynne trained Double Rich in the Intermediate. The 17-year-old Shrewsbury schoolboy showed impeccable timing producing his mount with a well time challenged to join Ricky B and TheRealBat at the last before quickening clear of his rivals on the flat.
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