A fantastic effort by Warne's Way at Sandown to finish 2nd in the 2.35 Totescoop6 Heroes Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 Class 1 for the owner Nigel Stafford and ridden by Warren Marston at 20/1.
Courtesy of The Racing Post:
Warne's Way had run well when 8lb wrong at Ascot last time and confirmed that effort was no fluke with another sound performance over this longer trip. He led at the fifth and had shrugged off most of his rivals going to the last, but was found out by a rival who has clearly plenty ofpotential. His handler has his team in fine form and he could soon go one better over a slightly shorter trip.
Well, what can I say about today? Before I start waffling on endlessly about Bay Hawk and Mick Fitzgerald the biggest plaudits of today have to go to Bob Gunn and Les Gilbert owners of Wild Ground and Take a Mile. Bob had some bad news about one of his horses this week and so no one deserved a win more than he did today and he got the double with WILD GROUND winning under an impressive ride by JAMES DAVIES to win by an astonishing 15 lengths!
Courtesy of The Racing Post:
WILD GROUND comprehensively turned round recent course placings with Massini Sunset under different riding tactics.
Few got into what looked a weak heat as Wild Ground set her seal on affairs early in the home straight and survived her only mistake when well clear at the last. Her trainer Brendan Powell said: "I probably gave James Davies the wrong orders last time when they were in front a long way out. We were better off with the winner that day."
Well done to all the connections. Straight after his champagne, Mr. and Mrs Gunn then shot off to Kempton to watch TAKE A MILE run in the 16:50 hrs where Richard Quinn landed the TFM Networks Handicap at a very healthy 8/1! Clearly the win with Wild Ground added to Brendan's total of NH wins but unfortunately the one on the allweather didn't.
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OK, most of you now know that I have a soft spot for the way Mick Fitzgerald has taken to the lovely Bay Hawk and how he seems to have found the key to settling him. As modest as ever Mick always seems to find someone else to take the credit, but as the owner, I know that Bay Hawk just seems to click with Mick!
Hence, with only one ride booked at Fontwell today, I was thrilled it was Bay Hawk he was due to ride. He did not disappoint. Bay Hawk only won 5 days ago at Folkestone so carried a 7lb penalty today but with another patient ride Mick proved again why he is so many people's favourite jockey!
Well done to the whole Powell team. It's clearly a real team effort and yet again their hard work has paid off with a magnificent treble from 5 runners today.
Brendan is now only two NH races away from equalling his 2006 NH total of 47 wins. I have a sneaky feeling he will beat that total this season and he certainly deserves to.
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Courtesy of The Racing Post:
Brendan Powell moved to within 3 wins of his previous best tally of 45 NH wins when posting a double with Wild Ground in the handicap chase and Bay Hawk in the handicap hurdle.
Wild Ground strolled home by 15 lengths under James Davies and Powell observed: "I bought her after she'd won a selling hurdle at Folkestone because her dam is a half-sister to Cool Ground."
Bay Hawk and Mick Fitzgerald came home four lengths clear of Tavalu after which owner Kathy Anderson said: "Since Mick's been on board he's got better and better. He'll go novice chasing in the summer on the proviso Mick is on board."
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MICK FITZGERALD AND KATHY CELEBRATE BAY HAWK'S FIRST WIN AT A NIGHTCLUB IN FOLKESTONE!
James Davies, possibly worried that the mare wouldn't get the distance today, rode a cracking race on the in form mare, Wild Ground. There was certainly no evidence she didn't get the trip on todays performance. A great result to the connections for a mare brought out of a seller at Folkestone only a few weeks back. Another very canny buy by Brendan.
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Wild Ground
Courtesy of The Racing Post:
A poor quality handicap chase which was at the mercy of last week’s easy Fontwell winner WILD GROUND, who had been raised 17lb for that success but got in here with just a 7lb penalty. In a race in which most of those ridden prominently dropped rightout, she took it up approaching three out and was always in charge thereafter. Brendan Powell has done really well with her since buying her out of a selling hurdle here only last month, but she is due a break now.
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