PERTH, 11 June (Good to soft) 2m7f207yds (+92yds) 0-110 Handicap Hurdle (class 4)
On an afternoon which saw Gordon Elliott and Sean Bowen swat away most of what was put before them, second place behind their Mrs Paisley was always perhaps going to be the best outcome on offer for SEA PRINCE in this routine stayers’ hurdle. Mike Smith’s son of Great Pretender enjoyed the return to Scone Palace all the same, and all the more so a switch to assertive tactics that kept him interested for longer. Although a near-3l second here represents a vast improvement on all previous attempts at 3m in Irish points (4PPPP), he didn’t hit the line so strongly as to suppose this necessarily represents his optimum trip all of a sudden, whereas it takes little to imagine him holding on if a similar strategy to today’s is deployed back at 2m4f next time.
SOUTHWELL, 12 June (Good) 3m60yds (+257yds) 0-100 Handicap Chase (class 5)
Only four were still meaningfully involved on the turn for home in this low-grade stayers’ handicap but they still managed to get in each other’s way somewhat from that point on, with MISTER MEAD, far from done with at the time, the chief sufferer when left short of room and unseating two out. It had been a highly encouraging chasing bow up to that point for Alexandra Dunn’s Malinas homebred, whose dam Double Mead had been booted to victory in all bar two of her 19 point-to-point/ hunter chase wins by Dunn herself. Less able to stand his racing thus far than his younger sibling Toad Of Toad Hall, twice already a Fontwell 3m2f chase winner for the same connections, he is at the right end of the weights to pick up a few bottom drawer summer 3m handicaps if able to keep sounder longer from here on.
Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton