Oct 13, 2014

Abbot's Whispers - Friday 10th October

The British Stallion Studs EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) 2m 3f looked a fair contest, the Paul Nicholls trained Arenice Et Pictons was made a short priced favourite but sadly he had to be pulled up after the fifth. The Venetia Williams trained BURTONS WELL ridden by Aiden Coleman could have been called the winner two from home he jumped and stayed on very well to win comfortably on debut beating Buckhorn Timothy by 3 lengths.

The three runner Happy Birthday Aubrey Loze Novices’ Chase 2m ½ f threw up a cracking finish between two chasing debutants. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained LITTLE JON ridden by Ryan Hatch got off the mark at the first attempt with a gutsy effort. He had impressive form to his name over hurdles and soon showed he relished the bigger fences and battled it out with the Paul Nicholls trained favourite Solar Impulse ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies. Jumping well he held on when strongly pressed to win on the run-in by half a length, he will be one to note over fences.

UNCLE JIMMY got his new campaign off to a winning start and completed the task impressively in the Quadpot Four Places In Four Races Handicap Hurdle 2m 6f. Trained by Philips Hobbs and ridden by Richard Johnson once asked to go clear off the home bend he settled and was well in control seeing off the challenge of Sound Investment winning by a 4 ½ length margin. Don’t be surprised to see this strong stayer switch to chasing in the near future.

The inaugural running of the £30,000 toteexacta Pick The 1,2 Intermediate Chase 2m 5 ½ f, attracted a remarkably select field of runners to the Devon track including the first and third from last season’s JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and The Byrne Group Plate runner-up plus two Grade 2 winners representing champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

WONDERFUL CHARM trained by Paul Nicholls showed how good he is when fresh as he got back to winning ways. He was patiently ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies coming under pressure four out he had to avoid Double Ross who was brought down three out and as the runner-up Colour Squadron began to struggle he found second wind to win by a three length margin.

The Emma Birthday Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 6f was run at an ordinary gallop until the runners were five from home. The ex-Irish mare OUR MAIMIE trained by Graeme McPherson and ridden by Wayne Hutchinson went third three out and was ridden to lead at the second last and came right away from the penultimate flight staying on well to draw clear and win by nine lengths from Chris Down’s Russie With Love.

The Racehorse Owners Association Jackpot Handicap Chase 3m 2 ½ f was run at a fair gallop. It was the Evan Williams trained ABBEYGREY who had won five days earlier at Huntingdon who landed the prize monies. The winning connections had jockey Adam Wedge to thank, as the winner looked beaten when turning for home but the jockey galvanised him seeing of the challenge of Milosam on the run-in to win by three lengths.

The runners went a steady pace in the totetrifecta Pick The 1,2,3 Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race 2m 1f and the dash for home was on leaving the back straight. The Harry Fry trained DASHING OSCAR ridden by Conor Brassil, tongue tied for his debut swept through on the outer to lead two furlongs out running on strongly to beat Act Now by 4 ½ lengths.