Beverley Races

The 3:45 had the joint favourites Seamster and Sandra's Secret batting it out towards the end. In the early stages Sandra's Secret was quickly away and always near the front, it was being tracked by Seamster and Flicka's Boy with Socialites Red prominent, as the fight began in the final furlong between the two favourites Sandra's Secret was easily driven clear by 1/2 a length. It seems Seamster couldn't continue his winning streak after his win at Catterick earlier in the week.

Miningrocks keeps rocking up. In the last race, the Tom O'Ryan memorial race, jockey Ger O'Neill was an incontestable winner having a clear exit from the starting gates, he soon took the lead, Ger kept extending his lead on the Declan Carroll trained 4 year old while the rest of the field battle for positions amongst themselves, coming round the last bend leading 6 and a half lengths it was clear that Miningrocks couldn't be caught. Jockey Ger O'Neill managed to beat the rest of the field by nine lengths. As said in a previous post this jockey certainly is one to watch. Ingleby Spring finished in second and Paddy's Rock in third. This win for Miningrocks is just after his win at Ayr.

Despite the great day a dampener was put on it by the stormy weather and the frequent torrential downpours, this still didn't stop the ice cream van from making numerous sales (sadly for me I didn't have time to get one after the last race as they packed up and left for the day).

Catterick racecourse- family day

A scorching day filled with family fun, ice-cream vouchers and a double for Daniel Tudhope.

The 2:50 had An Fear Ciuin leading the whole way, making the rest all track and chase, making his presence be known. As the race progressed it became clear that he couldn't be caught even though Arthurs Secret tried creeping closer, with two furlongs out An Fear Ciuin kept on strongly and ran clear by 1 length.

The fourth race had a easy win for the favourite Baron Bolt which bolted up, for most of the race he was help up in the rear along with Like No Other, as the race went into the closing stages he was pushed by P J McDonald and when he was asked soon started making head way, comfortably driven clear. Second was Like No Other and third was Hijran which only kept on at the same pace.

It's a sad week for racing as Tom O' Ryan sadly passed away after a battle with lung cancer, he will be missed greatly. He was a fantastic influence pushing on the young jockeys and supporting the older ones. Tom's great writing style and presence will be a tough position to try fill. I will always remember the selfie I had with him, when I asked he simply replied, 'of course as long as you get my flat cap in'. This is a tremendous loss for the world of racing. Rest in peace Tom.

Pontefract family day

The family day was fully of fun activities including rides, face painting and watching the racing.

The second race, was controlled and led by Mysterial, however this was only until two furlongs out when they came up the final straight he was quickly overtaken. Regal Monarch, the Mark Johnson trained favourite was always tracking along with Plane Song. When the race was in its final furlong Regal Monarch and Mainstream both kept on, the winner Regal Monarch who had previously won by seven lengths at Newmarket had plenty to give. This is a horse to watch in the future! Mainstream, a horse owned and bred by the Queen finished second by a length.

A very interesting race was the 3:15 as it clearly seemed that Rocktherunway, the favourite, had got the race over two furlongs out, yet Another Lincolnday made a surprising challenge when starting to go clear. Riptide who had been held up in the rear, started to move up the field, then over 1 furlong out began to chase, this gave the race an intersting finish as the battle between Another Lincolnday and the unlikely Riptide held everyone in suspense. In the end Riptide didn't quite manage to beat Another Lincolnday who won by 1/2 a length.

Catterick Ladies Day

With plenty of entertainment after the bucks fizz was given out on entry and a good level of racing the night meeting was soon in full swing, the Jazz band kept spirits high.

The first race was an amateur riders race had Aldreth taking charge for most of it, with Zamoyski and Russian Royale chasing him, the rest of the field not far behind apart from Neuf Des Coeurs however when it got to six furlongs out it started making headway as the five year old couldn't get a clear run jockey, Mr B Lynn had to switch him. Approaching the final furlong Neuf Des Coeurs managed to keep his lead, going on to win by 1 3/4 lengths, the second horse Cliff Face (the favourite) got hindered and boxed the whole way round, the outcome could have been different if he had given more in the final furlong.

The Oops A Daisy Florists Selling Stake had a tiny field of four horses because two runners were pulled before the meeting. This race had Smiley Riley leading but over three furlong out two horses, Bismarck The Flyer and Forster Square who had been tracking the leader soon battled, however Amy Gardener rallied in the final furlong resulting in a finish of a neck between first and second. The winner, Bismarck The Flyer has been in good form over his past few runs usually being placed. Amy Gardener was just unlucky in the race and was continuously prominent.

Next update will be on the family day at Pontefract on Sunday. 

Ayr races

With good to soft, good in places ground, and a whole day of changeable weather it was a challenging meeting. Unfortunately Ayr didn't have its usual ice cream van. ( it was a bit of a pain I couldn't get an ice cream, I always enjoy it)!!!!

In the 3 O'clock race it was a tight bunch of the field, and in the closing stages many horses had to chase. Character Onesie was prominent and the favourite Tadaany ridden by Daniel Tudhope led and in the end was driven clear by 3/4 of a length, Character Onesie in the end finished second. The horse in third Mustaqbal, a Michael Dods trained four year old after being slowly away took a while to get its stride, if he hadn't of continuously got boxed and got a clearer run maybe the race would have had a different outcome.

The last race on the card had a great ride by apprentice Ger O'Neill (read his interview) on Miningrocks for boss Declan Carroll, he led the whole way round not ever being contested by the rest of the field, in the final furlong it had him drifting a fair amount also him jinxing a bit. However Ger easily managed to keep Miningrocks on to win by 1 3/4 lengths. This takes Ger's win total to 5 out of 33 runs. The favourite Dea Dia that travelled from Ireland finished 3rd.

Interview with Ger O'Neill

Apprentice jockey Ger O'Neill is a seven pound claim for Declan Carroll

Ger Charles O'Neill loves horse due to his dad, from speaking to Ger you can get an understanding of how important his dad has been in his career. His dad got him his first job riding out at Jim Bolger then he moved to Johnny Murtagh, this lasted six months before his boss decided to ring up John Quinn and send Ger to England.

The usual conversationalist when asked about his first winner on Pull the Plug for boss Declan Carroll was speechless, the feeling was indescribable and amazing, he had the greatest struggle putting it into words. He has lots of goals and knows where he wants his future to go and is surely someone to keep your eye on. His next ride is on Save The Bees at Beverley, a horse which he has won on twice before.

Ger is adamant that being a jockey is the only thing he could do and would never want to be anything else however if being a jockey doesn't quite work out, you may well find him either in aisle  number two or at the checkout at Lidl.

Catterick races- salute our heroes family day

A family day to remember! With good to firm ground many horses were non-runners, but the favourites didn't fair so well only winning three of the eight races.

The fourth race had a marginal win by favourite Project Bluebook ridden by Jason Hart and trained by John Quinn, the three year old looked as if he was going to get beaten by Tartan Bute which niggled and chased throughout the race. Project Bluebook tracked the leaders and 1 furlong out challenged and soon led, with the others giving chase. The close fighting finish between Project Bluebook and Tartan Blue left the rest of the field far behind with a 4 1/2 length distance between second and third.

In the 4:45 race Monjeni went very quick from the start and took the lead, he had many horses tracking him but went too fast. Lightning Steps the 66/1 longshot was always just behind the leaders and over 1 furlong out began to move up the field, as he took a prominent lead and was driven clear of the rest. Lightning Steps went on to win by 3 1/2 lengths, David Allan rode this winner well and his fall at the end of the race was bordering on gymnastics.

Catterick was a good meeting with interesting racing. Thanks to Josh Doyle and Tom Eaves, who happily complied to having a selfie with me.

            

Chester Racecourse

Chester Racecourse has fantastic facilities and is well set out, everything neat and organised. There was high class racing and interesting results. Only one favourite won however the favourites were knocking on the door. Richard Kingscote had a double on the day.

The 3:15 feature race had last years winner Eastern Impact, Danzeno and Hillbilly Boy along with the rest of the field battling for the lead. Hillbilly Boy managed to hold his lead throughout even when pressured by Danzeno. Hillbilly Boy won by half a length, Danzeno second and Eastern Impact third. The rest of the field weren't far behind.

The 4:25 had only three horses in the field, one was withdrawn at the start. It appeared as though the joint favourite Lonely The Brave was going to have an easy win when leading the whole way only to be closely chased by the other favourite Super Julius. The horse in the rear of the field, Leontes ridden by Oisin Murphy managed to take the lead and went on to win well by 4 1/2 lengths and looked like it could have gone on further.

Thank you to Richard Kingscote and Stevie Donohoe for letting me have a selfie with them. Next update will be on the meeting on the 2nd of August at Catterick.