Spectators might have been forgiven for thinking they’d been sold short at Stratford on Saturday, when the card was restricted to the scheduled 6 races for the first time in several fixtures. As the tempo of the autumn season begins to wind up, the demand to run is evidently being satisfied by the increased number of fixtures elsewhere. Nevertheless, 53 runners competed over the day on good ground.
Tis the season of Ten to Follow competitions, when punters look to horses that will pay their way through the winter. One such is Roaring Legend, whose performances since pulling up in the Supreme Novices have enhanced his splendid name. Breaking his duck in a maiden at Chepstow at the end of April, he reappeared here is a small field for little more than a schooling run, justifying even money favouritism to clock his first fully fledged novice hurdle by 10l. Rated 119, he’ll compete for bigger prizes for trainer Olly Murphy and rider Sean Bowen.
In the feature Wynchwood Handicap Chase, Move It Like Minnie graduated to chasing successfully albeit a more demanding course might find weaknesses in his jumping. The Twiston-Davies 7 year old is a winner of 4 of his 18 starts over the smaller obstacles, and the Naunton maestro had recognized that this immediate step up to handicap company might avoid a pricey foreign import from one of the bigger yards. There’s a race to be found for second placed Sir Tivo, 5 1/2l back, having led into the straight for the Hanmer-Dunne combination.
Gary Hanmer didn’t leave Stratford empty-handed however. The opening selling hurdle, restricted to conditionals, was won by his Razzo Italiano, under 3lb claimer Jack Hogan. Always handy, he took it up approaching the last and went on to score by a length. There was no bid for the winner; in fact, post race auctions, so often a feature of Stratford and Leicester, have all but died out. Sixth – placed Nadim, and seventh Queen of Steel were both claimed however.
The Bowen dynasty has many layers. Led by Peter and eldest son Micky, the training provides ammunition for championship contender Sean, but younger brother James is no pushover. He doesn’t enjoy the volume of rides of his elder brother, but is more than capable, as illustrated by a 24th winner of the term on Charles and Adam Pogson’s Callin Baton Rouge in the Power Utilities Group Handicap Hurdle over the minimum trip. He completed a hattrick of victories at this level with a comfortable 8l victory over Martin Keighley’s don Rafael, and may yet defy a penalty to strike again.
A rather mediocre group of runners faced the starter in the Class 5 Power Utilities Group Handicap Chase over 2m6f in which only 6 of the original 11 starters completed. Honours went to Nickelforce, a Ben Case – trained 5 year old breaking his maiden chasing tag on debut under Harry Bannister.
Stratford bumpers have been worth staying on for these past few months, with some notable fledgling stars making their debut, like Ronnies Rules. Irish-bred Serious Chat looks to be on the upgrade, seeing off the challenge of Olly Murphy’s newcomer All Well And Good to come good on the promise he showed at Kilbeggan back in June. It was a welcome Stratford success for Brian Hughes whose winner ratio in Warwickshire this term has been rather subdued.
