The
story of the day at Worcester last week revolved around the course's current
leading jockey, AP McCoy and 3 horses under the guidance of our leading
trainer, Jonjo O'Neill.
Things
started well with a winner in the bumper. Costing £20,000 as a three year old
in 2013, Ozzy Thomas runs in the same colours as John's Spirit who won last
year's Cheltenham Paddy Power Gold Cup.
In
the subsequent feature handicap hurdle, McCoy partnered the O'Neill trained
favourite, Flemenson. Approaching the second last in the lead with every
chance, the horse never took off and nose dived over the obstacle, firing McCoy
into the ground and putting him unavoidably in the path of the horses following
over the hurdle.
Thankfully,
Flemenson, who was momentarily winded was soon up on his feet and McCoy limped
back to the weighing room clutching ice to his chest. In obvious pain but ever
the professional, he paused to sign a fan’s autograph in the pre parade ring.
Racegoers
held their breath to see if McCoy would emerge out of the weighing room to take
his place aboard the Jackie O'Neill owned, Full Throttle in the next race. Ride
again he did and described by the19 times champion jockey as a 'steering job',
Full Throttle (pictured) duly obliged and came home clear of second placed, Man of Steel,
trained by Peter Bowen.
Grimacing
as he was led back into the parade ring, it was clear for all to see that McCoy
was in considerable discomfort. He struggled to dismount the horse, confirming
he was standing down for the day. Barely able to raise his arms to lift off the
saddle, and despite his obvious pain, he still posed for photographs at the
horse's head and stopped to give an interview to attheraces front man, Luke
Harvey.
The
irony is that although Full Throttle beat Man of Steel in the race, reversing
the result when the two horses met at Uttoxeter in a bumper last year, the man
of steel, which undoubtedly gives him the edge over his rivals on a daily
basis, is McCoy.
Other
results from the meeting saw wins for trainers presently in good form including
Lambourn based Warren Greatrex, and Richard Phillips who trains at Moreton in
the Marsh.
Jeremy
Scott and jockey, Nick Schofield enjoyed a double on the card, including Moorlands
Jack who also won a race at Worcester
last September.
In
further news relating to Worcester winners, The Romford Pele, trained by
Rebecca Curtis, who was successful at our recent Ladies Day meeting in the
Valerie Lewis Memorial Chase, followed up in the listed class 1 John Smiths
Summer Cup at Uttoxeter under Paul Carberry, earning decent prize money of
£34,000 for connections. He still heads for the Galway
plate.
Stratford's
meeting on Tuesday saw Bob Keown, on whom McCoy won his 50th winner of the season
recently at Worcester, and who is in the same ownership as The Romford Pele,
beat evens favourite, Mister Dillon who also won at Worcester in May.
Tomorrow
sees evening racing at Pitchcroft with the first race due off at 6.10pm.
