Easter 2023 – Another Winner
A nicely productive Easter time, without having to make any reference to eating of chocolate eggs. Oops. The highlight was an overdue success for GODOT at Plumpton, with Stan Sheppard riding. Back tackling maiden company rather than handicaps, he got his act together with his jumping, and was consequently able to make the job look rather comfortable. In a coincidence that is not as improbable as it first seems, the race sponsor was at school with Zoe, so it was a doubly pleasing victory.
Now, below, an act of Godot…
On the same day, FLEMEN’S TIPPLE had second consecutive half length loss in the staying hurdle. There was the added tension of a stewards’ enquiry as the winner had carried him right on the run-in, but there had not been any contact, and we did not really expect the result to be changed. If there is a suitable race, we will look to see if going on a right-handed track might be the little difference that he needs.
Flemen’s Tipple enjoying the sunshine after a rather blustery start to his day out
The other runner on Easter Monday was BIRDMAN BOB, who finished fourth, by about six lengths. He did find the race distance too short and was a little outpaced half a lap out, then kept on well over the last two hurdles. It was, however, a big step back in the direction of his encouraging debut and a good day out for the new syndicate that own him.
Given that the ground had become officially soft, Caoilin and Bob are both surprisingly clean after the race – no camera trickery at work
There were a couple of runners on Easter Sunday too. CLONDAW ROBIN took third in the two mile, one furlong chase and BEAUFORT WEST got a little bit caught out for pace in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle but was not beaten all that far – if his race had been run 24 hours later, it could have been a very different story, in a good way.
Not to stay that Clondaw Robin is fickle, but on Saturday, with a handful of carrots, you can be his best friend in the entire world, and the very next day you can be a nutter in the crowd and someone he needs to be wary of…
Between Easter and the last update, there were some other runners. BROWN BULLET made a quick reappearance after her win in order to beat the handicap rise that was coming, but it came a touch too soon due to lack of alternatives and she could not double up. A solid third was the result, and she could go to Cheltenham this month for the day of mares’ races. Then, at Fontwell, we had OSCAR ASCHE (fifth) and PRIVATEARING (sixth) in the same 2m 5.5f hurdle. Oscar ran a good race over a trip too short, came out of it sound and will be back over fences, where he belongs, next time. Privatearing will have a step up in race distance for his next race. In the bumper on the same card VINTAGE ICON had his second ever race. The first saw him implode mentally, but he was more in tune with expectation for this one and whilst dropping away after making the running, he had a good experience of what racing is all about.
Vintage Icon demonstrates his “get it right this time” face
