Rebecca Curtis provided the Welsh highlight as the Dan Skelton juggernaut rolled into Ffos Las for the most valuable race day in our history.
The champion trainer maintained his incredible early-season momentum with a double courtesy of two classy novice chasers – at least one of whom could have major festival targets in the spring. But the day was arguably just as important for Curtis.
The Pembrokeshire trainer had not had a runner since May, a situation largely caused by the summer drought and a drier-than-usual autumn. But she made her mark again quickly as rain in West Wales turned the Ffos Las going soft.
The veterans’ chase was dominated by Welsh-trained runners, with Curtis bagging a one-three courtesy of the Sean Bowen-ridden winner The Boola Boss and Fanion d’Estruval, who was running for the first time in three-and-a-half years. Debra Hamer, who trains close to Ffos Las, saddled Hold Your Fort to fill second spot.
Sinnatra got the afternoon off on the right note for Dan and Harry Skelton when taking a two-mile novice handicap chase with tremendous ease. He sauntered past his two main rivals between the last two fences and eased home seven-and-a-half lengths clear. It is not difficult to imagine him turning into an Arkle contender come the spring.
Captain Teague provided the second leg of the champion trainer’s double. He was a long way adrift for most of the two-and-a-half mile Listed novice chase as Tutti Quanti set a strong pace up front. But the leader’s stamina began to give out as Captain Teague’s was kicking in, and the eight-year-old stretched clear on the run-in to claim the first prize of more than £23,000.
The richest race of the day, the £50,000 Native River Handicap Chase – named in honour of the former Welsh National and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero – went the way of Ballycamus from the in-form yard of Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies. The nine-year-old took up the running before the final fence and kept on strongly on the run for home.
Another highlight was the valuable two-and-a-half mile handicap chase, won by Jamie Snowden’s Torneo. The improving six-year-old was following up a runaway win at Chepstow in April and could now be headed for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham next month.
The race also featured Il Est Francais, probably the most talked about horse before the meeting got under way. The Grade 1 winner and former King George runner-up, who made a summer switch to the Skelton stable, ran encouragingly in fifth.
Ffos Las stages another two jumps meeting this month. The first is a newly-arranged fixture this Thursday (October 22), while there is also racing on October 29.
Bowen carried his winning form from Ffos Las into the remainder of the week. Wales’s champion jockey landed a double at Perth on Thursday on two fancied Olly Murphy runners – the victory of Thunder Rock in the three-mile chase was the highlight – then
took a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter on Irish raider Bryson.
But he saved the best until Saturday, riding a fabulous four-timer at Market Rasen. Another two of them came for Murphy, while he also collected the bumper on the promising Nostrae De Cougny for Stuart Edmunds.
Christian Williams made the long trek to County Durham on Sunday where he saddled three runners at Sedgefield. And the return journey to Ogmore-by-Sea must have seemed altogether quicker as two of them won.
Royal Time won a handicap chase for conditional jockeys under Troy Walsh before Williethebuilder – who ran in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival two starts ago – was a comfortable winner of a 2m 1f handicap hurdle.
Finally, it’s been announced that Lermoos Legend (photographed), a nine time winner for Bowen yard and owner Jonathan Martin, has been retired. The ultra consistent chaser was also second an incredible 17 occasions. Four of his wins were at Ffos Las.
