A Gina Andrews riding and training treble was the highlight of a cold, blustery and rainy day at Horseheath. Andrews winners' were Fairly Famous (Mixed Open), All Is True (Conditions) and Always Groovin (Maiden Conditions).
The latter is owned by a group of former East Anglian jockeys who would have been accustomed to riding in the miserable conditions during their careers but are all finding watching their horse run, from the sidelines, is far more nerve-racking than actually being in the saddle.
The quintet of William Wales, Tim Moore, Nigel Bloom, Simon Cowell and Perry Harding-Jones all carry injuries from their riding days with the latter recuperating from a second hip replacement undertaken just 2 ½ weeks ago. However, there was definite spring in all their steps as they proudly collected the winners’ trophy at the post-race presentation. Always Groovin winning distance was 3½ lengths having overcome Avichi In The Park and the form looks reasonable, for subsequent races.
Fairly Famous completed a third course win, for the Signy and Marriage Families, after a combative duel, with Law Of Gold on the run-in with just a length separating them at the finish. Gina explained afterwards that Fairly Famous “had hardly had a race at the December meeting but this was more of a test and will bring him on”. Fairly Famous will now go straight to the Foxhunter’s Hunter ‘Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, in March, and will not run again till that date where ‘Good to Soft’ ground conditions would enhance his chances.
All Is True went one better to complete his fourth win over the undulating Horseheath course and came with a typical perfectly-timed challenge by Gina, jumping clear at the last. This was only the second time Gina had ridden the 8yo, as her brother Jack normally takes the ride for the owners Oak Partnership, but Jack was competing at Alnwick. The partnership had three lengths to spare over trainer Nick Wright’s Mount Pleasant.
Wright had earlier saddled the winner of the Restricted race with his new acquisition Clashhill who according to winning jockey, Alex Chadwick, showed decent potential for the future. The Irish form of the 7yo was not too special after having won his Maiden on his debut. Wright explained the Irish yard had suffered a virus and he was able to acquire the horse for a reasonable price and has given him extensive schooling. Chadwick confirmed his jumping had improved markedly and was even better today and it was a pleasure to ride him.
Barrington John was an impressive all-the-way winner for trainer/rider Bradley Gibbs in the Maiden contest and could easily progress through the ranks. Gibbs explained he had intended to go to Chipley Park which would have been a 4 ½ hour journey, the Horseheath journey is considerably less and of course the decision was vindicated with the Somerset meeting being cancelled, prior to the first race.
Aramax and Cian Murphy supplemented their success at the December 31st meeting when taking the opening PPORA Conditions race for novice riders. Employing different tactics to their previous success when they arrived on the scene late, Murphy took up the running from Young Rich and Myth Buster approaching three out and went on to score a comfortable victory by a 7 length margin. This young man, Murphy, has a very impressive strike-rate of 38% with seven wins from 18 mounts and hopes to partner Aramax once again at Higham, in a fortnight’s time, before obtaining his conditional licence during late February.
A difficult day for racegoers but some interesting contests to make up for the abysmal weather.