Sandown
THE Imperial Cup card at Sandown was weakened by deteriorating ground, with a host of horses declared on turf described as good in places being withdrawn, and that led to a much less competitive affair than the par.
It’s debatable whether it made a difference to the result, though, as 5/1 chance Langer Dan (Dan/Harry Skelton) ended up running out a facile winner, reversing earlier Market Rasen form with runner-up Miss Heritage (Lucy Wadham/Richard Johnson). The runner-up led at the third-last hurdle and battled on tenaciously as is her wont, but the winner was always travelling best, and put four and a half lengths between them at the line, with Mack The Man (Evan Williams/James Bowen) 10 lengths adrift of Langer Dan in third.
Farient another find for Venetia
Venetia Williams has done very well with French-bred jumpers, and in Farinet she looks to have unearthed another high-class recruit to the chasing game.
A graduate of Yannick Fouin’s Maisons-Laffitte academy, he only managed one win in France, but had shaped well when third on his British debut at Haydock, and he built on that promise here, jumping well on the whole, and recovering from a mistake at the last to overhaul Up The Straight on the climb to the line.
He stuck his head out willingly when asked for his effort by Charlie Deutsch, and the way he saw his race out on a day when slow finishes were the order of the day was encouraging. He looks sure to progress again, although it remains to be seen if he needs testing ground to show his best.
THE year 1983 is a long time ago, but the silks carried by Ben de Haan to win the Grand National on Corbiere are easily recalled, and it was pleasing to see Bryan Burrough’s ‘Light Blue, Orange Chevrons’ back in the winners’ enclosure on a big day courtesy of 28/1 outsider Beauport (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Jordan Nailor).
The five-year-old relished the test of stamina to beat Riggs (Dan/Harry Skelton) and Gladiateur Allen (Jane/Chester Williams) by 11 lengths and five and a half lengths respectively in the EBF Paddy Power National Hunt Novices Handicap Hurdle Final.
To say Beauport didn’t travel well in the early stages of the contest would be an understatement, and he was one of the first off the bridle, but in fairness to him, he responded well when asked, and produced a sustained run from the back of the field in the straight, and his proven stamina proved an asset as he moved into top gear on the rising ground.
The race was certainly run to suit, and the most notable aspect of the result is that five of the first six came from significantly off the pace, the sole exception being Gladiateur Allen, who rallied well after briefly being caught out for pace, and he appeals as the best long-term prospect in the field.
THE listed mares’ bumper featured a rematch between Rainydaywoman and Flirtatious Girl, first and second in a similar event at Huntingdon in December, but the former failed to give her running, and Kim Bailey’s daughter of Flemensfirth gained a rather hollow revenge, the 13/2 second favourite showcasing her abundant stamina in beating outsider Speech Bubble (Noel Williams/Connor Brace) by two and a quarter lengths under David Bass.
It’s almost 45 years since Kim Bailey was assistant to the late great Fred Rimell, and I’m sure there is a sense of satisfaction that his latest star hails from the same family as the last horse Rimell bought.
That was SunAlliance and Stayers’ Hurdle winner Gaye Chance, one of a number of top-class performers out of that redoubtable broodmare Artiste Gaye. Flirtatious Girl has Artiste Gaye as her fourth dam, and in a world of fickle fashion, it’s gratifying to see such a well-established family continue to flourish.
Wolverhampton
RICHARD Hannon’s Mums Tipple has proven expensive to follow since he destroyed his rivals in the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes at York as a juvenile, but he got his career back on track when landing the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes over an extended seven furlongs at Wolverhampton on Saturday under a dynamic Ryan Moore ride.
The son of Footstepsinthesand was gelded prior to his return, and he stepped up on his reappearance despite market weakness to beat Lord Of The Lodge by two and a quarter lengths. Hannon has suggested that he will run next in the Bombardier Mile Championship on All-Weather Finals Day on Good Friday.