HEADLINES
TRIGGER AND GREEN SHOOT DOWN THEIR RIVALS
A good crowd turned out for the first day of the PPORA Meeting at Barbury Racecourse on Saturday. The going was good to soft and 86 runners turned out for an 8 race card. The highlight of the day was Gaye Triggers impressive performance in the Mixed Open Race.
The first race started at the earlier time of 11.30 due to the amount of entries and this race looked very competitive. They sent off Milton Du Tresor the 7/4F but he was never travelling throughout the race making several jumping errors along the way, soon had to be pushed along by Richard Burton just after half way. The site selection and Nap of the first day Flying Fuselier travelled kindly throughout the race but as the pace quickened along the back straight and he could only stay on to finish 3rd and looked on this occasion to be rather one paced. This left View Hollow and Candlelight Valley to fight out the finish. View Hollow was just in front jumping the last but was strongly challenged by Candlelight Valley who rallied gamely but View Hollow would not be denied as the post came to his rescue hanging on by only a head. These 2 horses pulled 10 lengths clear of the staying on Flying Fuselier in 3rd. It looked as if this was not only going to be a testing afternoon for the horses but for the punters aswell.
Phillip York had the opportunity to ride either Balau of Harum Scarem in this race. Harem Scarem was entered up and sent off the 6/4 Favourite. All seemed to be going well as Harem Scarem jumped and travelled nicely and looked the winner throughout the race. As they came down the back straight for the second time the writing was on the wall and Phillip York quickly pulled him up. The horse obviously needed this first outing of the season but looks a good bet next time out when the going should be better and fitness will now be assured. This left the race up for grabs and Holly walk and Buckingham Bill who had been out in front most of the way were set to fight out the finish. Holly Walk stayed on the stronger but Buckingham Bill battled on gamely eventually going down by 5 Lengths behind the winner. This was a vast improvement from Holly Walk who seemed to get his jumping together on this occasion and should score again in his present mood. This was also a good opening performance by Buckingham Bill and he should be backed next time to take a similar event.
The Members Conditions race saw Premium First sent off a short priced 5/4 favourite. Premium First took them along for the majority of the race but quickly backpedalled when challenged by both Knighton Coombe who was always close up and Gillie's Nephew. Knighton Coombe who has looked a quirky customer in the past showed no signs of his temperament on this occasion to stay on strongly and coast home by an ever increasing 25 lengths. This was a good first run from Gillie's Nephew and he looked the winner from 3 out but lack of fitness proved the decisive factor. I think Gillie's Nephew is going to have another good season on the evidence of this performance. Premium First did manage to cling on for 3rd and could also have a good season as he was off the track last year and must come on for the run next time out.
The mixed open race was a slightly disappointing event when many of the highly rated horses stayed at home. This gave Gaye Trigger who only ran once last year winning well at Tweseldown a good opportunity to strut her stuff and she did it in impressive style. Always up with the pace and travelling comfortably Took up the running on the turn into the home straight and never looked in any danger of being caught. It will take a very good horse to lower her colours and lets hope we see more appearances this season as she looks set to mount up a sequence of victories.
The Maiden for 5,6, and 7 year olds was split and the first division was taken in good style by Jaunty Journey who was making his first appearance over the sticks after running quite well in Bumpers last season. Always up with the pace and stretching the pack with some good jumping stayed on well to record a clear-cut victory. This horse clearly has lots of ability and should easily make the grade in Restricted company. Jaunty Journey's main rival on the track and in the betting ring was Coombe Hill but he never looked like collaring the winner who galloped on to a 12 length success in a 16 second quicker time than the second division. Coombe Hill should not have much trouble taking a maiden but will need to improve on his jumping before going through the grades. Lolo Trail plugged on for 3rd.
The Second division of the Maiden for 5,6 and 7 year olds looked a competitive affair. They sent off Iphar the favourite for this race with the likely drop in trip looking to suit but Geoffrey Barfoot-Saunt tried to hold the horse up in this race after setting a suicidal pace and running out of petrol at Tweseldown in December. Unfortunately these hold up tactics did not reap any better rewards as Iphar again ran out of petrol and was pulled up quickly along the backstraight 2nd time around. Clearly Iphar does not stay the trip and connections may now find it difficult to get a win out of him. The other horse which looked to have decent chances was Kinsford Cowboy and he did not let his supporters down as he galloped his rivals or should I say rival as the rest of the field had either fell or pulled up and won easily by a distance. The time of the second division was 16 seconds slower than the first but Kinsford Cowboy did not have any opposition to race against. I don't think he will have any trouble in taking a restricted but will need to improve, as this was a poor race. Delayed in Dublin jumped well on his debut and looks a horse for the future although they did seem to go a little to fast for him at the business end of the race. I reckon he should be backed next time out after this education and would of finished in 3rd place but James Tudor pulled him up before the second last fence. This was a good first run nevertheless and a bright future looks in store for him.
The restricted race as discussed in the preview of this meeting was split on the day. In Division one they sent off the Richard Barber trained Barneys Mate with Rachael Green on board as favourite around the 5/2 mark. Barneys Mate went out in front from flag fall and coming down to the 3rd last it looked a match between Barneys Mate and Case Equal. Case Equal jumped well throughout under a confident ride from Chloe Roddick and quickened up nicely to swiftly hit the front on the turn into the home straight. Barneys Mate was unable to quicken with Case Equal and was well held by the winner when falling at the last fence. This left Neophyte to come home in second place 20 lengths behind with Clover Bay finishing in 3rd. This was not the greatest of races but Case Equal did the job well and should be able to score again before the end of the season.
Worship the stars won impressively at Dunthrop in December and was sent off favourite for the 2nd division of the Restricted Race. Jeremy Mahot had the horse settled at the back for most of the first circuit but gradually worked his way towards the front on the turn into the back straight second time around. The jockey seemed to have plenty of horse underneath him but was reluctant to go to the front to soon. Tracking the leader Titanic Quarter over the 3rd last fence and then eyeballing his rival until being pushed to the front on the approach to the second last. A good jump took him to the front and then sealed it with another good leap at the last, to record another bloodless victory. This horse is really improving at a rate of knots and it would be know surprise to see him record another victory in the near future. This result at least gave some relief to the punters for the earlier races and sent them home happy to come back fighting for the second day. Titanic Quarter lost nothing in defeat and looks sure to take a Restricted in the near future. Especially when you consider the winner had already had a run this season and the time of the race was 12 seconds faster than the first division.
Selections :
Race 1 Flying Fuselier (NAP) (Milton Du Tresor) 3rd
Race 2 Balau (Flax Hill) NR
Race 3 Mouseski (Irilut) NR
Race 4 Harum Scarum (Noakarad de Verzee)NR PU IN 2ND RACE
Race 5 Tres Bien (Not In Thyne)NR
Race 6 Port Talbot (Present of Flame)NR
Race 7 Worship The Stars (N.B) (Shady Hollow)1ST
On the betting front we unfortunately did not have many runners. This was down to the high amount of entries. I will try and do better in the future. I hope you all managed to back the Next Best Selection Worship the Stars and at least go home with a smile on your face. Unfortuanately, we are unable to supply any pictures from this meeting.
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