We have an additional fixture at Ffos Las this coming Saturday 10th September – it’s been transferred from Bath Racecourse where the ground is currently unfit for racing. The first race is off at 1.20pm and the last at 4.49pm.
Tickets are just £10 in advance and £15 on the day. The card features the £25,000 Summer Series Stayers’ Final. Our final flat fixture of the year is on Sunday 25th September.
The John Flint-trained Blaze A Trail (photographed) completed a hat-trick of wins at Stratford on Saturday.
When his current owners bought him just over a year ago it was apparent that he was well named, having a big white face and a headstrong nature. He then started breaking blood vessels, and after pulling up at Exeter in October was given a long time off.
During his recuperation he gradually learned to become more tractable at home. His first run back, in May, ended in another pulling-up, but fortunately this was due to a short-term lung infection. A corner was turned when a hood was tried, calming down the horse in the preliminaries, and dramatic improvement was forthcoming. He is now able to run prominently in his races without being over keen, and three wins in just over five weeks are a testament to Flint. Connor Brace has been on board each time.
Also on the Stratford card, Robert Stephens was on the mark with Turpin Gold, who has been knocking on the door in bumpers and novice hurdles. Despite failing to settle early, he was assisted by his chief market rival doing the same, but in the end he was a comfortable six length winner. It was the Penhow trainer’s first success over obstacles for a year, but he doesn’t have as many jumpers as he used to. The yard has had seven winners on the level in that period, three of them coming at Lingfield last winter with Melakaz. Back from a 202 day absence on Friday, he ran a pleasing second at Haydock.
David Probert got the Johnstons’ Urban Sprawl home in a desperately close finish to an Ascot nursery. Typical of a horse from that stable, he led some way out and kept on gamely when challenged on both sides. He held on by a nose and the same, his enthusiasm undiminished by having eight races in four months. This was his third win.
Rohaan was third in the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, which is his best placing at the very top level. He received a bump early on and never threatened to win, though he had nine serious sprinters behind him. Six furlongs may be sharp enough for him now, but he has to have a go at the Champions Day sprint next month. His odds for that range between 8/1 and 14/1.
