Leicester, unusually, staged an all chase card and being half term the crowds were larger than normal at a midweek jumps meeting.
Fortunately the crowds were not disappointed, although there had been an earlier scare when the course had to pass two inspections due to low overnight temperatures. Fortunately the fog which had been predicted failed to materialise, although hazy conditions did make viewing of the first race rather tricky and, perhaps, underlined the desirability of providing a big screen at the course.
The opener saw the improving Richatd Mitchell trained Massini Sunset beat the 11/4 favourite Zacharova. The winner was held up for most of the race, unleashing a challenge four out and comfortably holding off the favourite by three lengths. The favourite had tracked the leaders for most of the contest and although briefly rallying after the last, offered no real threat to the winner. There was a strange incident when jockey Paul O’Neil was unshipped from Thenford Flyer before the fifth fence, landing awkwardly the jockey was taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle.
1st |
15 Massini Sunset (IRE) |
13-2 |
2nd |
10 Zacharova (IRE) |
11-4 F |
3rd |
9 Muttley Maguire (IRE) |
22-1 |
4th |
6 Donald Will Do (IRE) |
11-1 |
Tote Win £9.70 Place £2.50, £1.90, £2.90, £2.60 Exacta £35.50 |
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The second race saw plenty of support for Scotland Yard from the Pipe / Scudamore combo, backed from an opening 11/4 into 9/4. However he ran a stinker making a mistake at the fifth before throwing in the towel at the seventh. Farmers Lad ensured the race was run at a reasonable pace, however by the end of the back straight the front running tactics told and he was overhauled by the second favourite Le Burf who looked to be the winner coming into the home straight, however Ferdy Murphy’s Majorca, friendless in the market drifting from 3/1 to 9/2.
Majorca had been quite content tracking the field before beginning his challenge three out, finally jumping into the lead at the last and keeping on well ran out the 2½ length winner.
1st |
4 Majorca |
9-2 |
2nd |
2 Le Burf (FR) |
5-2 |
Tote Win £3.20 Places £3.60, £2.70 Exacta £12.20 |
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Mokum, who loves the course, justified favouritism in the third with a hold up performance, taking the lead in the home straight and holding off the late challenge of Lindsay.
1st |
8 Mokum (FR) |
7-2 F |
2nd |
3 Lindsay (FR) |
8-1 |
3rd |
9 Paxford Jack |
25-1 |
Tote Win £4.80 Places £1.80, £3.20, £5.00 Exacta £34.30 |
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By the fourth race a clear trend was developing with another hold up performance from a winner. This time the Pipe / Scudamore combination did claim the prize in the shape of Cadolitique. As in Mokums race Cadolitique was happy to track the leaders until making a challenge coming into the home straight. This time it was Brave Villa who was overhauled two out and despite the winning clouting the last he won by a comfortable nine lengths.
The win was so comfortable that connections were asked by the stewards to explain its apparent improvement on its last run at Folkestone when it was pulled up.
1st |
6 Cadoulitique (FR) |
11-2 |
2nd |
2 Brave Villa (FR) |
12-1 |
3rd |
1 Miss Pross |
7-2 |
Tote Win £6.20 Place £2.00, £3.90, £2.10 Exacta £74.40 |
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The Hunter Chase has a well backed favourite with Whistling Straights being backed in to 11/8. Those who backed him were given a roller coaster ride as he made several mistakes during the race and coming out of the back staright for the final time he looked beaten. However this is a horse who does not seem to know hen he is beaten and he managed to regain the lead with a good jump at the last and held on by a diminishing neck to a challenge from Euryalus.
1st |
13 Whistling Straits (IRE) |
11-8 F |
2nd |
4 Euryalus (IRE) |
7-1 |
3rd |
5 Highland Vasco (IRE) |
20-1 |
Tote Win £2.50 Place £1.10, £2.40, £7.00 Exacta £14.20 |
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The final race a 17 runner handicap over nearly three miles was a hard one to fathom out before hand and even harder to decipher as the race progressed with the complexion of the race constantly changing throughout. Of the 4/1 joint favourites Kisha King was well backed, having touched 11/2 at one point, whilst Whistle Blowing was a drifter having opened at 3/1. As it happened neither had any real impact in the race which was won by Charlie’s Double under a good ride from Mattie Batchelor.
1st |
9 Charlies Double |
25-1 |
2nd |
17 Aheadofhistime (IRE) |
8-1 |
3rd |
1 Dillay Brook (IRE) |
16-1 |
4th |
14 Black Smoke (IRE) |
28-1 |
Tote Win £32.30 Place £6.00, £2.40, £2.70, £9.20 Exacta £148.00 |
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