A treble for Connor Brace (photographed) and a double for Callum Pritchard at Huntingdon were part of an eight-winner bonanza for Welsh racing on Saturday.
Brace began in a maiden hurdle on Horaces Pearl, a partnership which was unbeaten in three bumpers last season, culminating in the valuable Grade 2 on Grand National day. The Fergal O’Brien-trained six-year-old was a 1/5 shot and apart from a moment or two on the home turn gave his backers no cause for concern.
He then won on stablemate Lilting Verse in the three-mile mares chase. Her previous two wins, over shorter trips, had come with Brace in the saddle. She did herself no favours by jumping to the left at times, but after losing the advantage on the run-in she was very game to regain it in a head-bobbing finish. The treble came up with the front-running William Cody for local trainer Pam Sly.
Pritchard took the conditionals’ hurdle on Grove Road, the even-money favourite. He’d been raised only four pounds since winning last time out in July. His double was completed by Gold For Alec, another favourite. He’d run well on his seasonal reappearance a month earlier and though he won this by only a length and a quarter he did so with a bit in hand.
At Haydock Dr T J Eckleburg scored for Evan Williams and Conor Ring, cruising to the front after the third last. His lead was reduced on the run-in, but he wasn’t for catching. The doctor is very consistent, having finished in the first four in his last thirteen races.
Off a career high mark in a competitive handicap, Welsh Champion Hurdle runner-up Steel Ally appreciated the step up to 2m3f to win for Sam Thomas and Dai Walters, continuing their purple patch since Chepstow’s Jump Season Opener. Their popular grey Al Dancer, recent all-the-way winner of the Badger Beer Chase, has been retired. He picked up a minor injury that precludes him from running in the rest of this season, and it’s been decided that the eleven-year-old has done enough. He’s won ten of his 31 races, including the 2019 Betfair Hurdle, when trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, and the 2022 Grand Sefton Chase.
David Probert secured his customary Saturday evening winner at Wolverhampton on Arlecchino’s Rex, having his first run in a nursery over seven furlongs on the all-weather.
There were a couple of vintage Sean Bowen rides at Uttoxeter on Sunday. First, he dented the hopes of a pair of Henderson and Nicholls horses in the three-mile novice chase. On Olly Murphy’s Roccavango an all-or-nothing leap at the final fence got him in front and he stayed on tenaciously to win.
Later Bowen conjured up a flying finish on stablemate Coastal Rock, despite fluffing the last two hurdles. Having only his fifth start, he benefitted by the step up to 2m4f. With this Wales’s top jump jockey led the title race by eight.
Our next race meeting at Ffos Las is Monday 2nd December.
