With Stratford’s season drawing to a close, there’s further evidence of the top yards flexing their muscles as their autumn and winter horses enjoy a first outing. The unseasonably wet weather this past fortnight has produced soft ground earlier than would otherwise be the case, delivering 56 runners across the seven races for Monday’s meeting.
The most valuable race of the day produced the most exciting finish, even if not necessarily the best horses. Seven year old Balkardy, trained by Evan Williams and ridden by daughter Isabel, outstayed 4 others to win by a head over Mumford’s Magic in the C S Recycling Handicap Chase over 2m6f. But for a mistake at the last, this might have been the second leg of a double for Dan and Harry Skelton, but take nothing away from the winner. His record over fences stands scrutiny: four from eight, even if the last few runs in the Spring wouldn’t have had you rushing to back him.
It’s rare for Dan Skelton to leave Stratford empty-handed, and this meeting was not the exception to the rule. The well-backed Denzil had scared off most of the opposition for the Peute EBF Junior National Hunt Hurdle which opened the card. Faced by just two other runners, Harry Skelton opted to make all, and was fully in control of the race when nearest rival, 6l down, Wallquatari, tipped up at the last. The winner strolled home 55l clear of the second, Celestial Ruby.
Denzil is a Skelton home-bred, running in Dan’s name, but in all likelihood, not for much longer.
Alice Stephens showed a neat finishing style on the staying-on Copshill Lad in the subsequent 2m 6f Conditionals Handicap Hurdle for Harry Derham. Flashy Boy and Eurash had put 7l between them and the remainder turning in, but Copshill Lad and Emma Lavelle’s Rebel Intentions ran on well together to surpass the both of them. On another day, the Lavelle runner might have held sway. In the event, a neck was the winning margin. Derham’s runners have been filling the places since the turn of the month, so expect more over the next few weeks.
Another conditional advertising his credentials through the winner’s enclosure is Jack Hogan, who scored his 10th winner of the term on Hard As Nails for Fergal O’Brien in the CWM Survey & Inspection Novices Handicap Hurdle over 2m 2f. We’ve become used to O’Brien blazing a trail in the early months of the season, so by his standards, this 20th winner of the term is a relatively slow start. It is to be hoped this is by design, through concentrating on higher quality stock, rather than by accident.
The Re-Gen Waste Novices Handicap Chase over 2m 3f attracted a field of 11, but little to get excited about. Bridget Mary was one of X runners at the meeting for Rebecca Curtis, and paid the petrol money the hard way, with an in-and-out run and some sketchy jumping, before quickening to lead at the last and win by 2l from Libor Lad. However, in contrast to her maiden status over hurdles, she is now 2 from 2 over fences, allowing for breaking her duck in a Ballyvadock Point-to-Point in January 2023, so perhaps she’s found her metier.
One who seems quite clear about their metier is Vocito, 6l winner of the Exim Routes Novices Hurdle. This was a comfortable victory for the Sean Bowen – ridden Olly Murphy charge, and a third in as many months, since joining the Stratford handler. With continued improvement, we may see him in Pattern company.
Time was when bumper races attracted full fields of 20+, but the volume of races means these are more refined contest now, where perhaps horses learn more, that being their objective after all. I’m not so sure this has converted into greater spectator interest as there is still a rush for the exit after the sixth race, but nevertheless, the races can produce competitive results.
Four year old Gore Point made short work of his four opponents under Sam Twiston-Davies for trainer Anthony Honeyball. Twiston-Davies had ridden him into second place in his first bumper 11 months previously, but the additional time has clearly allowed him to mature, and he showed good speed to put distance between him and the second. He may well graduate straight to hurdling now.
