Jamacho made the members of the Stratford Racecourse Racing Club happy again for a ninth time in 4 years as he won the Stratford Summer Salver, sponsored by Allsopps, in a very exciting finish with Beyond The Clouds. Both are trained by Charlie Longsdon near Chipping Norton, and Jamacho was winning for a fourth time over course and distance here at Stratford.
Last year’s winner of this race was Hang In There, now novice chasing, and highly regarded by Emma Lavelle. There’s no suggestion that Jamacho is in the same league, but he lacks nothing in determination, surrendering the lead before the last, but getting back up on the back of a better jump at the last, and defying every effort from champion jockey Brian Hughes on the runner-up, to win by a neck.
Sutton Veny has become a little powerhouse in the world of Jump racing since Milton Harris took up residence, and his run of good results continued here with a double, starting with Macuna in the Juvenile Hurdle, defying a double penalty to win by 6l. Since winning a 1m 2f handicap at Salisbury in late April, the filly has been virtually unstoppable over Jumps, with a record of 3 from 4 including wins at Aintree and Newton Abbot. Experience showed here, in her reversal of form with Shipton Moyne, whom she finished behind at Market Rasen 5 weeks ago. Bradley Harris took the ride.
The second Harris winner, taking his season’s tally to 12, was Fire Lake in the Stratford Racing Club National Hunt Maiden Hurdle, who got up in the final 100 yards to justify his 11/8 favouritism. It was a close-run thing though; you would have given him an outsider’s chance of the three leaders turning in and jumping the last well, he found himself baulked on the rail and Mitchell Bastyan had to switch to the outside. It was late on that Fire Lake found the acceleration that lost his maiden tag.
Jamie Brace rode a coolly judged race to take the National Racehorse Week 10-18th September Handicap Chase on Joly Maker for Jonjo O’Neill for the sport’s longstanding leading owner, J P McManus. The 3 1/2l winning distance over Zuckerberg and Forget You Not belied the ease of this victory for the eight year old, recording his fifth winner over fences. There’s only one other course in the UK where Jonjo sports a better strike rate than this 18% – Cartmel.
Rostello appeared barely at the races in winning his third handicap chase for the Richard Newland-Cillin Leonard partnership in the Stratford Racecourse Campsite Handicap Chase over 2m 6f. Not perhaps the most competitive of fields, Rostello positively hacked up under 11st 11lb, and there’s few would argue that more can follow at this class. The other 7 finishers were strung out like washing, the best part of 40l covering them all.
Favourite backers were feeling comfortable about Dindin landing the odds in the final 2m handicap chase, but despite a clean jump at the last, stamina came into play for Trumps Benefit, from the Herefordshire yard of Ryan Potter, ridden by Caoilin Quinn. Dindin might well have held the advantage but for idling in front, and alternative riding tactics might be brought into play next time around.
Those who follow Fergal O’Brien’s fortunes through his social media will know Saturday mornings are a dieter’s nightmare at Ravenswell Farm, with cakes supplied by the sponsor of the opener, Broadway’s Cotswold Larder. So it was no great surprise to see F O’Brien listed against the winner with Eagle’s Realm, a comfortable 1 1/2l winner of this Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, under Liam Harrison, one of the array of riders now affiliated with the pioneering Withington trainer. He may well take his percentage in cakes instead.
Come racing back on Sunday 17th for Ladies Day, which promises to be a scorcher, whatever description you apply it to.
