SANDOWN PARK | LEOPARDSTOWN | WETHERBY RACING 1-2 February

Dolos could return for the end-of- Bridgend, has proved with Potters season Celebration Chase after a Corner in both the Welsh and good win in handicap company, Midlands Nationals. BATTLE OF THE BAILEYS while there was another lucrative In the day’s richest prize, the WETHERBY also staged one of its showpiece meetings of the winner for jockey Harry Cobden Grade Three Heroes Handicap calendar, although the result of the feature William Hill Towton 24 hours later as Thyme White Hurdle, he turned again to his Novices’ Chase was a shade unsatisfactory. In a battle of the took the Listed bet365 Scottish crack amateur Jack Tudor, whose Baileys, trainer Caroline Bailey’s Boldmere looked well in command . priceless 5lb claim proved decisive before tumbling over the last and handing it to the Kim It is never a smart idea to for Limited Reserve’s prospects in Bailey runner Newtide. underestimate a Christian the same Potters Corner colours. TALKING The faller, who was reported none the worse for Williams runner, as the popular “It never feels like he handles POINT wear the following morning, will surely have a big former jockey, who trains that [heavy] ground, but he’s good staying race in him somewhere down the line. his horses on the beach near and tough,” said Jack.

Limited Reserve (Jack Tudor, left) takes the Betway Heroes Handicap Hurdle for trainer Christian Williams Old favourite thrills the crowds The -trained comes up trumps at Leopardstown Dublin Racing Festival, ground after a heavy fall in the prompted deafening roars as he here, I was worried he’d have a Leopardstown, Ireland before being thwarted stablemate Easy Game, bad fall or be injured, but he just led away gingerly, and the former a rival half his age, with guts and comes up trumps.” THE Dublin Racing Festival hero looked determination. Even the feature Paddy Power featured an array of home-grown a shell of himself for most of Even his multiple champion found itself a little stars and two of Ireland’s principal last season. trainer, who won two of the other overshadowed despite developing jump races, but there is nothing Willie Mullins took the Grade One prizes with exciting into a thriller. It went to Gordon quite like an old favourite to get decision to put him over fences on hurdler Asterion Forlonge Elliott’s Delta Work, Ireland’s the crowd going. the eve of his 12th birthday and he and classy chaser Chacun Pour best staying novice last year, who Little over a year ago on has been an absolute revelation, Soi, was emotional. confirmed placings with many of the same Leopardstown track, swatting away the gilded Samcro “I thought it was probably one the same horses from the Savills Faugheen’s future looked in the at Limerick. On Sunday, in of the best, most special winners Chase at Christmas and will balance when he was on the the Flogas Novice Chase, he I’ve had,’ said Willie. “Coming command a good deal of respect iinn tthehe CCheltenhamheltenham GoldGold CCup.up. Saturday’s card belonged to RRachaelachael BBlackmore,lackmore, wwhosehose GGraderade OOnene doubledouble wwasas ccappedapped bbyy a ggrittyritty eeffortffort f rfromom t hthee m amarvellousrvellous a nandd uunbeatennbeaten HHoneysuckleoneysuckle oonn hherer fifirstrst ttryry atat tthehe mminimuminimum ddistanceistance fforor somesome timetime inin tthehe PPCICI IIrishrish CChampionhampion HHurdle.urdle. “She has a massive heart and a mmassiveassive wwillill ttoo ddoo iit,”t,” ssaidaid RRachael,achael, wwhilehile ttrainerrainer HHenryenry ddee BBromheadromhead aandnd connectionsconnections nnowow hhaveave tthehe iinterestingnteresting cchoicehoice betweenbetween tthehe CChampionhampion HHurdleurdle aandnd kkeepingeeping hherer inin mmaresares oonlynly ccompany.ompany. H&H

Left: Jack Kennedy pilots Delta Work to top spot in the Paddy celebrates aboard Faugheen with lad John Codd Power Irish Gold Cup

68 Horse & Hound 6 February 2020

RA 2.5pp report [6Feb].indd 68 03/02/2020 15:09