The talk may all be of Cheltenham, but we were flying our own flag at Stratford this afternoon, getting the season underway again after a wet winter that continues to play havoc with course preparation. 64 runners joined the fray to whet punters’ appetite for four days in the Cotswolds, and jockeys sharpened their skills in anticipation of Grade I glory. The wet prevented fences being used on the stretch of track running away from the stands to the railway bridge.
In the days of the Celtic Tiger, Stratford was awash with Irishmen seeking a Festival appetizer, but as even Cheltenham has discovered in recent years, you can have too much of a good thing. Racegoers are choosier than for some time, seeking value around competitive racing and decent fields.
But the names of winners around Stratford’s sharp circuit are as familiar to Stratford regulars as the stairs in their houses. There are some who have a penchant for Stratford’s peccadillos, or who simply appreciate a good old-fashioned Warwickshire welcome after 4 months’ absence.
Alan King is one such, a regular among our summer winners but whose fortunes are largely focused on the flat game nowadays in the absence of a Jumps flagbearer. The master of Barbury is proficient at acquiring inexpensive juveniles which may run up a sequence, and evens favourite Believitanducan looks just the sort to continue his progress. Two from three since he joined the Barbury team last July shows solid progress, enough to win a rating and graduate to handicap company. Tom Cannon rode an unfussed race to take it up before the last and win by a handsome 8l. Grandeur Dame runs for the yard in the Ultima tomorrow.
Sainte Doctor may not be the apple of owner J P McManus’ eye, given the embarrassment of riches he has running for him at Prestbury Park this week. However, the grey mare is now on a hat-trick after notching a second consecutive chase success in the 6 runner Dragonbet Backing Our Opinion at Cheltenham Handicap by a length from El Granjero. Neil Mulholland’s horses are running at a 17% strike rate, for which rider Richie McLernon can be thankful. McManus enjoyed a winner at Taunton too, to make a 57/1 double.
There then followed 90 minutes of local winners, led by Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen, both hoping for a good week ahead against the big battalions of Henderson, Skelton, Mullins, Elliott and Cromwell. Eight year old Summerleaze was getting off the mark at the ninth attempt in the middle distance novices handicap hurdle, denying Mulholland a double with Nowyoubeenandunit with a 1 3/4l victory after travelling well throughout. There’s a race in the second yet however.
Kielan Woods produced some sweet music on Moon Chime to scoop up the 2 mile handicap hurdle, re-inforcing Graeme McPherson and David Kilamena’s excellent season back training under their own name. Despite some sketchy jumping early on, the seven year old had the race in safe keeping some way out, the winning distance a respectful 9l to Harry Derham’s Balhambar. He’ll now be aimed at a conditionals race at Aintree’s Grand National meeting. Meantime, the McPherson yard will field a runner in Friday’s Albert Bartlett.
Sean Bowen wrapped up a near 16/1 double to complete the local success, when producing Martin Keighley’s 19th winner of the season in Yes Indeed, a 4l winner over 11/4 favourite Non Stop from the Dorset yard of Joe Tizzard in the two mile Dragonbet Handicap Chase. Withdrawn horse As Tears Go By sadly prevented full each way betting.
But Dorset didn’t return empty-handed from our opening meeting. Daisy Hitchins, making a name for herself around the courses of the Midlands and South West, is highly selective with her small stable, but is now one winner off double figures for the term. Six year old Chicago Storm has produced 2 of those, this latest when reeling in Miss Kassiopi by 3/4l in the 2m 2f handicap hurdle.
Visitors to Knightwick Point-to-Point races last November may recall Barton Snow winning the restricted. He’s a progressive novice that will likely return here in May. Either way, he and Huw Edwards were always doing enough to fight off the attentions of olive Nicholls on Viroflay to wrap up the concluding hunters Chase by a length.
