The Racecourse's Fireman Sam day last Sunday was promoted at the Malvern Royal Three Counties Show, resulting in the largest crowd for a family raceday since 2010. Royal Ascot was nothing short of a delight. To see our Queen watching her filly, Estimate win the Gold Cup was heart warming to say the least. Alongside her racing manager John Warren, who was unable to control his infectious enthusiasm as the filly approached the line, the Queen's smile spread like warmth on a cold day and it was simply a pleasure to witness.
Another person delighted with his winner at the royal meeting was Worcester's leading trainer, Jonjo O'Neill. Defying odds of 9-1, Well Sharp beat the Lady Cecil trained favourite, Tiger Cliff.
Summer specialist, Peter Bowen celebrated a treble at Worcester in the week, to help cement his position in the national trainer's table. The day began with decent stayer Buachaill Alainn winning his first novice chase. Bowen rates the horse highly and has aspirations he may be a Grand National prospect for the future.
King's Theatre filly Handmaid, related to Ascot Chase winner Hand Inn Hand, won the first division of the mare's bumper, while first time visored Mighty Clarets took the handicap hurdle giving Bowen his 10th winner from the last 19 runners - five others having been placed.
High profile owners continue to win at Worcester. Bloodstock agent to Quatar Racing, David Redvers was represented at the course last week by his mother Mary, who stepped up to receive the trophy won by Redvers' Pectora in the second division of the bumper.
Diana Whateley added to her recent success at the course with Tornado Bob when the Philip Hobbs trained Keki Buku won Wednesday's feature chase under Richard Johnson.
It is rare to see an Andrea and Graham Wylie owned horse run at Worcester, so it was good that Roger Beantown trained by Paul Nicholls won the recent feature novice chase in the hands of Daryl Jacob.
Claines trainer, Richard Newland has his small string in superb form at the moment. Anton Dolin had two visits to the course in three days, coming a close second at the first attempt and going one better at the second time of asking. Sam Twiston-Davies is riding a number of the Newland horses now and he was on the mark with the trainer's Changing the Guard, the first leg of a local double at Newton Abbott in the week.
Changing the Guard was having his debut over fences and they must be to his liking as he saw off Tom George's smart horse, Baby Mix by 7 lengths in the 2 mile novice chase. The second leg of the double went to Green Lightning trained by Martin Weston at Hindlip, who has been placed at Worcester twice this summer. Ridden by son, Tom, Green Lightning won the selling handicap hurdle on the bridle and was subsequently bought by Peter Bowen for 7,400 gns.
Weekly Wednesday racing at Worcester continues tomorrow afternoon when gates open at 2.20pm.
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Buachaill Alainn (Jamie Moore)
