There were doubles for David Evans and Jordan Williams at our Country & Western meeting on Saturday evening. Level Up (photographed) got up in the last few strides of the five-furlong handicap, though was slightly fortunate in view of the leader My Genghis’s ducking away from the whip one way and then the other in the final furlong. Williams seized his opportunity, darting left of the wandering My Genghis and urging Level Up on so as to pinch the race. The horse is a battler, having won nine times in the past, nearly all in a higher grade, and had form on that evening’s rain-softened ground.
Later the combination struck with Ultramarine, raised five pounds for a recent course and distance win over seven furlongs. He was impressive taking the lead passing the three pole and moving further ahead without much difficulty. His four-length victory was a new personal best.
The unstoppable Sean Bowen rode five more winners at the weekend to extend his lead in the jockeys’ championship to sixteen.
On Perth’s eight-race card on Sunday he rode three winners. Statuario won the Perth Gold Cup for the second year in a row, staying on stoutly to hit the front on the run-in after looking in trouble and coming under pressure turning into the home straight. It was Sean’s fourth win in the race, and Statuario’s fifth at the course, which went down well with the crowd. The Summer Plate at Market Rasen will be next on his agenda.
Bowen began the day on Emily Love for Gordon Elliott, who trotted up in a novice hurdle like a 4/9 favourite should. Schmilsson, his mount in the Perth Silver Cup, may have been a lucky winner. He was left in front at the final fence when the four-length leader met it all wrong and came down.
There’d been two winners for Bowen at Worcester on Saturday. The Olly Murphy-trained mare Nana Noodleman came out on top in an exciting finish to the bumper. Then he rode the twelve-year-old I’m A Starman to complete a four-timer for Mark Rimell. The old horse will now get a handicap mark similar to the one he had in his prime four years ago.
Also at Worcester, James Bowen’s productive spell with Nicky Henderson’s summer jumpers continued when riding Ile De Jersey to a wide-margin success in a four-runner mares’ chase. However, the result was still in the balance until one of her rivals fell at the penultimate fence. James Davies won on the 20/1 shot Calli Black, in a 2m4f chase. Hard to fancy on most of her last two years’ form, trainer David Weston told the stewards that the mare had been schooled since her debut over fences and her jumping had improved as a result.
On his way to Perth Mickey Bowen called in at Hexham on Saturday with All Inn Hand, which gave Lorcan Williams the opportunity to ride his first ever winner for the Haverfordwest yard.
Our next meeting at Chepstow is on Monday 16th June. There are six races from 2.30pm.
