LAST MEETING REVIEW

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Last Monday was very much a day for favourites and punters will have gone home happy with four out of seven favourites obliging. However the day was not a day to remember for everyone and our thoughts go out the connections of Theo who was sadly fatally injured.

Nick Schofield had one of the easiest winners he’s likely to remember as the 1/5 shot Small Bad Bob never came out of a canter to win the first. The eventual winning distance of the Visit attheraces.com Novice’s Handicap was just over six lengths but that doesn’t justify just how easy it was. Nick sat quietly in behind the leader and never even asked for an effort and instead just picked off his toiling rivals to bring home the first favourite of the day. Next came the Tigers Selling hurdle, which saw two rivals that could hardly be separated in the betting. Theo for the Doctor Richard Newland team was sent off the marginal outsider of the two and it looked set to be a straight boxing match between him and the even money favourite Coole Well. Unfortunately no-one could have predicted the end result and what looked set to be a great match between two talented hurdlers ended with a tragic 4 result after Theo went wrong after the 5th hurdle. Coole Well took the prize but it certainly wasn’t the way they would have liked to have won. Harry Fry got himself a winner in the third, overturning the Paul Nicholls trained Kilmington Rose. Black Mischief was having his second start after a 741 hiatus from the track. His third behind Proschema was an encouraging enough effort and he was certainly the unknown quantity in the race. Kilmington Rose is a

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DIV INE TARA LEADING THE FIELD IN THE FINAL RACE OF THE AFTERNOON

solid hurdler in his own right and for Black Mischief to dispose of him by an emphatic 23 lengths means Harry Fry might have a very talented horse on his hands. The fourth race was a controversial one and Phoneix Dawn was awarded the race despite not being first passed the post. Invincible Wish had been dropped 4lb and was returning from wind surgery, which looked to have finally been the key too opening his account after a positive ride. Invincible Wish had been in front a long way and hung left in the final furlong, which eventually resulted in the stewards awarding the race to short priced favourite Phoneix Dawn. Darling Du Large found just enough to give him his first win since entering the national hunt game. He has been frustrated to watch for punters as he can often look the winner but once asked the question has nothing left to give.

Those who stuck with him on Monday will have been overjoyed to see him just keep his head in front. The penultimate race of the day saw the biggest shock when the 33/1 outsider Candyman Can gave us one of the gamest performances you’re likely to see. He looked beaten after taking them along but despite Joly Makers best efforts to pull clear the Laura Hurley trained gelding just kept finding more for James Best. Laura suggested after the race that Candyman Can enjoyed the softer conditions underfoot and the race was a brilliant spectacle. The favourite was disappointing after finding two runs in two days all too much. Mattie Ross made sure the bookmakers went home empty handed, after she duly romped home in our final race of the day. Daniel Hiskett looked supremely confident when winning what looked a relatively poor race and she probably did not need to improve too much to win. Div Ine Tara ran a much better race from the front and appreciated the change in tactics. She should be picking up a race of her own shortly if she continues an upward trend.

5 PHOTOS: 1 - SMALL BAD BOB 2 - COOLE WELL 4 - INVINCIBLE WISH 5 - DARLING DU LARGE 5 - EVERY BREAKIN WAVE 6 - CANDYMAN CAN