Monday at Stratford celebrated the return of two riders out of the limelight since April. Nico de Boinville picked up a single ride for the Twiston-Davies yard, whilst Jonjo O’Neill rode for his father.
Injury is the bane of every Jump jockey’s life, abruptly shutting down your monthly income, and surrendering your rides to others keen to capitalize on the vacant slot. De Boinville, first jockey to Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows, has been out of action since a fall at Plumpton on Easter Monday which injured his spine and neck. It’s been a tortuous rehabilitation process, made easier by the prospect of plum rides like Constitution Hill, who will likely make his return in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle at the end of November. This soft return aboard a chance ride for Willy & Nigel Twiston-Davies’ The Expensive One, was an ideal comeback, a pillar to post victory in the Dragonbet Born from the Betting Ring Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, 2 1/2l ahead of Sarah Humphrey’s Fourtowns. Whilst there’s nothing to follow through on at Ludlow on Wednesday, Chepstow’s Season Opener is sure to offer some choicier titbits to blow away the cobwebs.
A dream return didn’t quite happen for Jonjo O’Neill Jnr, off for a similar timeframe since the bet365 Gold Cup that concluded the season in late April. Aggravation to a back injury that had first occurred in 2018 has meant a summer of rehab and body building rather than picking up the regular rides from Jackdaws Castle over the summer months. The J P McManus-owned Trapista hadn’t read the script, and wasn’t able to quicken from the last, a full 3f out following the omission of the final hurdle in the straight, and finished third to Jonathan Burle on the Fergal O’Brien-trained Sleeping Satellite, breaking his maiden chase tag for his new-ish trainer at the seventh attempt.
Henry Oliver celebrated the turn of the month with a 616/1 double in the Dragonbet-sponsored juvenile hurdle and the bumper. Africa Charm, fresh from Richard Hannon’s Wiltshire yard, appreciated the longer trip of 2 miles and some hurdles, and showed good speed to pick off the free-running James Owen-trained Stardrop, yet another Gredley family horse sure to make his mark in Jump circles following the news that Derby second Ambiente Friendly is to go hurdling. Lee Edwards made the most of the opportunity to land his fifth winner of the term.
Kielan Woods was the man in the plate for the second leg of the Oliver double, a comfortable 7 1/2l stroll in the bumper that smacks of running up a sequence.
Newmarket trainer Jack Jones is enjoying a hot streak presently under both codes, and availed himself of the champion jockey’s availability to make it 4 winners from 6 Jumps runners this term in the 2m novice hurdle. The five year old Mr McLoughlan looks like he could defy a penalty to land a hattrick next time out, whilst Bowen is showing rivals a clean pair of heels, this his 98th winner from 351 rides already since the start of May.
Ben Pauling is another who looks to have turned the taps on from the start of the month. In perhaps not the most competitive of handicap chases, his Just Chasing May under Ben Jones sauntered away to a 7l victory in the 2m 6f chase, making form figures for October of 1-2-3-1 for Pauling.
The day had begun with a boys’ race where Pauling’s betty’s Tiara had to give best to Donald McCain’s Serious Chat under Charlie Maggs, now riding out his last 3lb. The 6 year old may not be the highest rated horse you’ll see, but he lacks nothing in gameness, this his fourth victory since joining McCain 13 months ago.
