Despite the short break in the
National Hunt calendar to allow the jockeys time away with their families, it
has been anything but quiet at Pitchcroft over the last 3 weeks.
In addition to hosting the annual
CAMRA beer festival, the days have been well spent working the racing surface
and checking over the chase fences following a quick succession of 12 race
meetings in just 3 months. This brief
rest for the track will see it in good stead for the next 8 meetings, two of
which fall in this week.
This is an excellent stage in the
season to review the Connellys Red Mills trainer’s championship, looking back
over the success stories that have led to the current table positions. Three trainers stand out
from the rest. Last year’s winner, Jonjo
O’Neill is again leading the way by some 46 points, followed by Tim Vaughan and
John Ferguson who, with just 2 points between them, are running neck and neck
as contenders for the runner up position. Flying the flag for
Worcestershire trainers is Claines based Richard Newland who is lying in 6th
position.
O’Neill started more
slowly this year, as the yard adjusted to the retirement of champion jockey
Tony McCoy in April, but with both Richard Johnson and Will Kennedy taking many
of the Jackdaws Castle rides now, the winning momentum is gathering pace and
the trainer achieved an amazing 1,125 – 1 four-timer on one Worcester card in July,
with his only four runners that day.
Unable to be present due
to a wedding commitment in Ireland, O’Neill missed watching his son, Jonjo Jnr
ride his first winner under rules when he successfully drove yard favourite,
Temple Lord, a previous Worcester winner, to victory in the concluding Amateur
rider’s handicap hurdle.
As we progress through the second
half of the season, it will be fascinating to monitor the tussle for the top
honours and to see who is awarded the Connolly’s Red Mills feed prizes.
Royal visitors are rare are the
Racecourse, but the recent Pershore Plum Festival racegoers were treated to a
glimpse in the paddock of the Duchess of Cornwall who arrived at the course on
a private visit to watch her mare, Mollyanna run in the Pickled Plum Pub
Pershore national hunt novices hurdle.
This is the Duchess’s first National Hunt runner with trainer, Jamie
Snowden and it was the mare’s first outing since coming over from Colin Bowe’s
yard in Ireland. She ran well for a
good way but faded into fifth place up the home straight and will undoubtedly
come on for the run.
Racing in earnest begins again at
Pitchcroft tomorrow evening with vintage style Ladies Evening, featuring James
in concert, and for the younger racegoers, Family Fun raceday on Sunday offers
plenty of entertainment to enjoy, both on and off the track. Gates open at 3pm
for tomorrow’s meeting.
