Anyone closely connected to
racing is pretty much obsessed with the weather. The fact is that weather conditions can
ruthlessly dictate outcomes, leaving us mere mortals at its mercy with little
we can do to reverse or influence conditions.
Such was the story this month at
Pitchcroft. Not one of us who care so
passionately about hosting our race meetings for the maximum enjoyment of the
whole spectrum of our customers, could have dreamt we would stage 2 such
diverse meetings in 5 days. On the first
day, the ground quickened to the point that 33 horses were withdrawn on account
of it, and the second was a meeting transferred at just 4 days’ notice from
neighbouring Hereford racecourse, whose ‘firm’ ground rendered their going too
risky for jump racing.
For the first of these meetings,
the forecast rain did not materialise. Had we watered the ‘good’ ground the day before and then rain had fallen
on the watered ground, it is likely that numbers of horses would also have been
withdrawn. I have seen that happen. Opinions have differed considerably and much criticism has been levied
in our direction, but the one important factor on which everyone is agreed, is
that horse welfare comes first and foremost, and if trainers are not happy with
the ground for the horses entrusted into their care by owners, they must act
accordingly, in the best interests of the horses.
The first race on this card was a
very decent mares’ novice chase, sponsored by the European Breeders’ Fund. Of
the 8 mares who lined up, 5 were proven black type mares over hurdles, all
rated 135 plus over the smaller obstacles.
Chase debutante, Rene’s Girl,
trained at Alcester by Dan Skelton made all and cruised to an 11 length victory
over Alan King’s Dusky Legend, who was placed at the last 2 Cheltenham
Festivals. We may soon see Skelton’s
Presenting mare in a listed race at Bangor, according to her trainer.
The atmosphere at our second
meeting last Tuesday was far more positive.
Interestingly, the feature race of the day was another mares’ only race. This mares’ handicap chase was the opening
heat in the 2017/2018 Challenger Series, aimed at mid-tier level horses, with a
£300,000 finals day at Haydock on Easter Saturday next year. The £20,000 heat was won by one of the
outsiders, Sheer Poetry trained by Richard Woollacott.
Barry Geraghty made his first
visit to the course for a while a double winning one, riding as retained jockey
for owner, JP McManus. Geraghty
partnered Above Board for the Jonjo O’Neill yard in the opening beginner’s
chase, and also Scoop the Pot, a Worcester winner in August, for Philip Hobbs
in the handicap hurdle.
