Premier Magic returned to the scene of his Festival triumph with a convincing success over Rebel Dawn Rising in the Ineos Grenadier Mixed Open final to give trainer-rider Bradley Gibbs a 29th birthday to remember.
Few could have begrudged the ten-year-old victory following the well-documented Punchestown fiasco in which Bradley, having ascertained his eligibility to run in the Champion Hunters’ Chase, was, at the last minute, denied an entry due to the fact that he does not hold a full training licence.
Premier Magic, who has not been the best of travellers, was therefore subjected to an unnecessary journey. “He returned from Ireland nine days ago, so he’s had the worst preparation possible, although,” admitted his handler, “I didn’t think he’d take to the travel as well as he did. He didn’t show any ill effects and he worked very well on Tuesday.” Even so, to produce him in such good form despite his interrupted regime says much for the ability of both horse and trainer.
In a league of his own - Premier Magic draws clear to win the INEOS Grenadier Mixed Open Hunters' Steeplechase (Neale Blackburn)
The son of Court Cave, who has got quite a soft and sensitive mouth, but who pulls hard on the gallops, was recommended by Bradley’s Irish contact, Jimmy Kelly, who is responsible for sourcing all the Gibbs horses. “Jimmy had watched him working a few times and had no hesitation in advising me to buy him.”
Premier Magic was completing a Gibbs double initiated in the two-mile John Wyke aka Mr Guinness Memorial Chase by Fier Jaguen who, like his stable companion, was carrying the colours of Julian Sherriff, father of Bradley’s fiancée Claire, and owner of the Lemsford farm where the training yard is based.
Despite giving away many lengths by jumping right-handed, violently at times, Fier Jaguen made all the running, as he had done on every occasion this season, to withstand the challenge of Caryto Des Brosses, who was attempting the distance for the first time. The chestnut is not the easiest ride at home, and regularly tests Bradley’s horsemanship by fly-leaping a few times at the bottom of the gallop before dropping his head.
Fier Jaguen and Caryto Des Brosses set sights on the winning line (Neale Blackburn)
Dale Peters, rider of both Rebel Dawn Rising and Caryto Des Brosses, must have been sick of the sight of Bradley ahead of him on the run-in, but his moment came in the four-mile Remembering Gabe Mahon Open Hunters’ Chase when Law Of Gold gave trainer David Kemp his initial success at the track, after having previously saddled seven runners-up, including in his own riding days.
“Dale and I don’t discuss tactics,” said David, “though we agreed to go wide where the ground wasn’t so poached. Dale said he was cruising all the way.” Fortunately for the winner’s supporters, Dale is a far better jockey than he is an acrobat, as his attempt at a flying dismount in the unsaddling enclosure would hardly have had Frankie Dettori quaking in his boots!
“This is one you might like,” David was told by Sean Doyle, who provides the majority of the Kemp horses, and so the four-year-old Law Of Gold was purchased unseen by David and his wife Imogen, who plays her part in the training operation. A Bowen therapist, she is able to diagnose some problems which might otherwise go unnoticed, and her hands-on technique has helped Law Of Gold’s occasional tendency to slightly seize up behind.
Former Point-to-Point jockey Paddy Gerety was David’s go-to schooling rider, but since his return to Ireland the mantle has been taken over by Alex Chadwick. Dale, who runs his own successful yard, went to the Norfolk stable to ride out on one occasion, but, laughed David, “he and Alex both ended up on the floor so Dale hasn’t been back since!”
A well deserved win for Law Of Gold and his Trainer/Jockey combination of David Kemp and Dale Peters (Neale Blackburn)
Law Of Gold will now attempt to regain Stratford’s Pertemps Network (Horse & Hound) Champion Hunter Chase trophy he won in 2021, with David pointing out “If he’s in the form he’s shown tonight I’d like to think he can reverse last year’s placings with Vaucelet.”
It was not all good news for Bradley Gibbs, as the promising Theshoddytradesman sustained a serious injury in the Lycetts Insurance Brokers Intermediate Hunters’ Chase won by Quintin’s Man, whose four victories between the flags this season have helped put John Heard at the top of the Trainers (with 5 or fewer horses) table.
Owned by a syndicate of eight, six of whom were present to cheer him home, Quintin’s Man was held up for much of the trip by Darren Andrews, but when the jockey pressed the button turning into the straight he flew up the run-in to win going away. The one surprising thing about the triumph was the starting price of 18-1, which seemed generous considering the six-year-old’s form this season. Darren himself is enjoying an excellent campaign, with 19 Pointing victories to his name to date.
The giant son of Schiaparelli was bred by John out of his winning mare Roll On Rose, who ran in this corresponding contest in 2011. He was ready to run as a four-year-old but was put away when Covid intervened. “It probably did him a favour to have the extra time,” his trainer acknowledged.
Gently does it for jockey Darren Andrews (far left - red/yellow) as he tracks the field aboard eventual winner Quintin's Man (Neale Blackburn)
John was quick to give credit to Darren and to Julie Thomas, who rides Quintin’s Man at home. “He’s quite strong,” he said, “and you need to watch him in the stable. Not” he added hastily, “that he’s nasty, but he’s got such big feet that you’d know it if he trod on you!”
Stratford’s pointotpoint.co.uk (John Corbet Cup) Champion Novices’ Hunters’ Chase could be next on the agenda, although Quintin’s Man is also qualified for the Llewellyn Humphries Restricted final.
Another man looking to land a trainers’ title (6-14 horses) is Josh Newman, who partnered his own charge Paloma Blue to victory in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Open Hunters’ Chase. Josh, who had been out of action since being concussed in an Aintree Foxhunters fall, failed his first concussion test last week, but was signed off just 24 hours prior to the Cheltenham fixture, and it was only on the morning of the race that he decided to take the ride.
At one time a highly rated hurdler/chaser for Henry de Bromhead, Paloma Blue was purchased last year by Josh’s partner Kayley Woollacott through J D Moore at Tattersalls’ online auction. He is now owned by Simon Clare and his daughter Eloise with Kayley and her sister Stephanie Jones.
Josh Newman returns in style as Paloma Blue jumps alongside Solomon Grey (Neale Blackburn)
“He’s a good hunter, but he took a bit of sweetening when we got him,” admitted Kayley, and here there was no sign of anything but determination as, after being headed by Fix At All after the last, he fought back to land the spoils under a fine ride.
Every winner was enthusiastically cheered back into the unsaddling enclosure, none more so than Miss Seagreen, the fifth victorious generation bred by veteran owner Clive Bennett, and described by trainer Lucy Smith as “a firecracker at home.” The ten-year-old, the outsider of the five-runner field, who was sporting cheekpieces for the first time, appreciated the stiff uphill climb to the finish and battled on resolutely to take advantage of the 8lbs she was receiving from runner-up Sine Nomine.
Lucy, the daughter of three times champion National Hunt jockey Terry Biddlecombe, felt the 33-1 starting price in no way reflected her charge’s chance, as she considered the mare to have come up against some strong opposition in her previous outings. She will probably have one more season’s racing before going to the paddocks in the hope of perpetuating the line.
Rider Tom Broughton, who opened his account between the flags in 2015, had a spell as a Conditional, but reverted to amateur status when things did not go as well as hoped. He has now worked for Fergal O’Brien for more than three years, and this season has more than doubled his overall tally of Point-to-Point winners.
Miss Seagreen (middle) produced a tenacious performance for Trainer Lucy Smith (Neale Blackburn)
Miss Seagreen’s stable companion Marcle Ridge set out to make all in the KTDA Open Hunters’ Chase in an attempt to score a third course success, but had no more to give once the Tom Ellis-trained Fairly Famous came past two from home.
The six-year-old was dismounted by Gina Andrews after crossing the line and was kept moving while buckets of water were administered, but having been monitored by the vets was able to be ridden into the winner’s enclosure. “He was just very tired,” said Gina, who was less than impressed with her mount’s round of jumping, describing it as “awful.”
Fairly Famous drew right away to record a 15 length victory margin (Neale Blackburn)
A £70,000 store who ran over hurdles without distinction for Olly Murphy, Fairly Famous was purchased for £12,000 by Tom, and is owned by the Marriage and Signy Families, currently the season’s leading owners. “We asked Tom to find us three horses, and he bought this one and I’m Spellbound at the same Doncaster sale,” explained Simon Marriage, owner of the land on which the High Easter course is situated.
Simon’s delight was palpable to see. He has owned a Point-to-Pointer every year since 1983, but surprisingly this was his first Hunter Chase winner. Fairly Famous, described by Tom as “kind as a kitten at home,” was carrying the colours associated with the owners’ prolific Berties Dream, who was trained by Lauren Braithwaite to win ten Ladies’ Opens from 2014-16 with Gina in the saddle.