Sometimes it literally pays to
make a quick decision. Droitwich based race
sponsors, Chess Plastics and their guests arrived in the paddock just in time
to choose the Best Turned Out horse in their handicap hurdle at Worcester
recently.
With moments to spare before the
horses left the paddock for the start, they chose Amber Flush as the tidiest
horse, making the day of birthday girl and groom, Amy Myatt.
In the excitement, some of the
sponsors’ guests hastily placed a bet on Amber Flush, whose racecard form read
0P0PP-P.
The 8-year old took everyone by
surprise, including her trainer, Clare Ellam, by bolting up in a decent sized field
of 14 horses and winning at odds of 66-1!
Not only were the sponsors and
their guests delighted, but so was their trainer who has had a rough time in
the past few weeks.
In April, Ellam ran Too Many
Diamonds in a Taunton selling race where he was claimed by Dan Skelton and went
on to win 4 races for his new trainer in 7 days. In June Ellam’s mare, Just Marion was sadly
put down after an injury sustained from running loose with a blindfold on at
Brighton.
The Bowen Family who train in
Haverfordwest have always supported Worcester with runners, so it was good to
see brothers Sean and James both riding winners on the same card.
Sean won the handicap chase on Dr
Robin, trained by his father, Peter and co-owned by his mother, Karen, and 16-year
old James rode his first winner under rules aboard Get Home Now.
The recent Racing Staff week
highlighting the important jobs done by all staff in racing was celebrated at
Worcester with a free hamper draw, the contents of which were donated by the
Racecourse staff.
The prize was won by Trish Smith
and Jodie Buck who both work for Ledbury based trainer Matt Sheppard.
It was with sadness that we
learned of the death of Mercy Rimell at the age of 98 last week. I met Mercy on a number of occasions when she
visited Pitchcroft for her husband, Fred’s annual memorial race. A point to point winning jockey at the age of
just 14, Mercy was also the first woman to train a Champion Hurdle winner after
she took over Fred’s training licence at their Kinnersley yard on his death in
1981. Mercy’s first winner as a trainer
was with Tru Mar at Worcester a month later. A very forthright lady, her
extensive knowledge and wisdom will be sorely missed by many.
Dan Skelton’s useful mare Whatzdjazz
followed up her May Worcester win with an impressive victory in the
7bets4free.com novice hurdle last week, reconfirming her qualification for the
Fixed Brush Hurdle Series final at the track in October. The 5-year old was one of 3 winners in a row
for Coolmore stallion, Yeats.
It will be Leprechauns and
Shamrocks to the fore tomorrow evening when the first race on Irish night is
due off at 6pm.
