It was a day when eyes were more readily focused on the opening day of Royal Ascot, Britain’s showcase racing event, but connections of the 40 runners at Stratford found their own little bit of royal supremacy on a warm afternoon’s entertainment at Luddington Road.
Sergeant Fury has found it troublesome repeating his early promise when winning a maiden Point-to-Point at Bartlemy last May, but he found winning ways here on summer ground for the second time in a month, winning the 2m 2f Try RacingTV for Free Novices Hurdle handsomely with plenty on hand over Duel au Soleil for the Harry Derham – Paul O’Brien pairing. It looks like the key to him is good ground, so he’s likely to make hay during the summer and early autumn. He’s another graduate from the Noel Fehily Racing Club.
Derham’s second runner of the day, A Dublin Job, was sent off 5/4 favourite for the 2m 6f Handicap Chase, but will have to brush up his jumping if he’s to make the winner’s berth. Mistakes surrendered him the lead before halfway, and whilst he kept in touch, the Bowen – trained Fame And Fun and eventual winner Gateau de Miel, had the upper hand, the latter going on to score by 3 1/2l over A Dublin Job under Tom Broughton. This was a season-opening winner for trainer Barry Brennan, who has enjoyed more winners around Stratford than any other course.
Another trainer with a case of seconditis is Seamus Mullins, who filled the minor placings twice among his runners at the previous meeting. Basilette, fourth in a mares novices handicap hurdle at the end of May, improved on that performance, but still found one too good, in Al Mootamarid, a length winner of the novices limited handicap hurdle that concluded the card. It’s something of a comedown for the son of Kingman to depart Marco Botti’s Newmarket lawns for rural Lowsonford in Warwickshire, but he may finally have found his true metier for Dominic Elsworth. Robbie Dunne picked up the winning ride.
Dunne had already visited the Winner’s Enclosure earlier in the afternoon, enjoying a maiden novices handicap chase win for the Rob Summers – trained Boom Boom, third in an identical race her behind Tactical Affair a month ago. This time Dunne made good use of his speed to show prominently throughout, taking it up 2 out and making the best of his way home from Ella Pickard’s Fox Wallace, 3 1/2l back in second. Tanworth-in-Arden based Summers was another breaking his duck for the season.
Favourite backers raised a glass or two to Carrigeen Kampala when landing the 2m George & Dragon Handicap Hurdle, her third course and distance victory at Stratford under the tutelage of Fergal O’Brien and today’s rider, Jonathan Burke. There are more races in her for sure, as she took a keen hold here, and had plenty on hand at the close over Emma Lavelle’s Everyonesgame.
The day had opened with a moderate handicap hurdle for conditional riders in which just 6 lined up, yet only three finished. Tabitha Worsley was dumped when Snitterfield whipped round at the start, and two others were pulled up before the final bend. Among the survivors, jjoint-favourite Juan Bermudez, who’d made all under Dylan Johnston, was joined by the other favourite Market House, before the second last, but the James Owen – trained runner-up couldn’t sustain his challenge, and Johnston was able to ride out the winner to a 7l victory, a second from just 9 runners for Henry Oliver.
