Doncaster races

The changing ground meant 16 horses were withdrawn, leaving slightly smaller fields than expected with plenty of close finishes and only two favourite winners.

The 3:35 saw apprentice jockey George Wood win on Prize Money (an ironic name as it was in the money). Soldier In Action was quick away from the start and soon took hold of the race, 4 furlongs out many of the horses who had been held up in midfield made headway. These horses included Prize Money, Erik The Red, Cape Cova and William Hunter who were all battling for the lead. Eric The Red with one furlong to go was still boxed in and had no space to switch, eventually he was switched when a gap appeared and he chased to make up the distance between himself and Prize Money. Prize Money just kept to his task, beating Eric The Red by 3/4 of a length. In third place was Cape Cova who seemed one paced.    

The final race had Sir Billy Wright leading for most of the race with Steel Train, Winklemann and Shouranour behind giving chase. With one furlong to go Steel Train took the lead, Briyouni made headway and Twin Appeal was switched right to move up the field. However Streel Train ridden by Shelley Birkett, trained by David O'Meara, stayed on well with no competition, winning by two lengths. Briyouni finished second not giving much challenge to Steel Train and Twin Appeal stayed on to finish third.

All our thoughts are with Freddy Tylicki and his family after his fall, please donate to help Freddy on the Go Fund Me page.
Thanks to Jimmy Quinn and Jamie Spencer for having selfies with me.

Redcar Races

An eight race card, made it a long day. Only one of the winners was favourite.

The 2:20 had two non-runners. Angel Palanas, the favourite led from the start with the rest chasing. Jorvik Prince was held up by Sam James, two furlongs out he started to make headway along with Dusty Bin. One furlong out Jorvik Price started to hang badly to the left keeping on at the same pace but Dusty Bin took the lead, passing Angel Palanas who kept on  at the same pace. Dusty Bin, trained by Kevin Ryan won by 2 1/4 lengths. Kevin Ryan had 2 winners at this meeting and a third.

In the 3:25 Miningrocks, from a poor draw, took a keen hold, quickly being switched to the left rail. Ger O'Neill kept extending the distance between himself and Ronya, ridden by Dale Swift, who gave chase. Over three furlongs out Devious Spirit, who had been in mid division, had a change of pace moving up the field. With one furlong to go Ronya found something extra that Miningrocks and Devious Spirit lacked. Ronya beat Devious Spirit who finished second by 1 3/4 lengths and Miningrocks by 4 1/2 lengths. These three horses were well clear of the rest of the field.
This was a selling stake. The winner, Ronya, was auctioned but not claimed. Devious Spirit was claimed by Iain Jardine for £6000.

I'm not sure when my next update will be but I will keep my twitter updated.

Doncaster Races

There was a high class of racing yesterday, with tricky fields and great finishes. A day when there were no favourite winners.

The first race with its huge field created some problems for the punters, with the favourite finishing  17th, Mysterial under jockey Phil Dennis took a quick lead just ahead of Ready, ridden by apprentice jockey of the year Josephine Gordon. However coming into the final 3 furlongs horses, who had been held up, towards the back of this large field started making headway. Laurence and Banditry two horses who managed to give  chase were joined one furlong out by American Artist. With one furlong to go and four horses in contention, the slightly hampered Banditry was beaten by a head by Laurence trained by Luca Cumani. American Artist was third and Sennockian Star fourth, the first four horses were reasonably clear of the rest of the field.
After the first race the going officially changed from good to good to soft.

The big race of the day (a class one), was very difficult, obviously all the horses had potential to win. Rivet, trained by William Haggas, set the pace, all other horses closely grouped giving chase. The favourite Yucatan was held up and tried to make headway 3 furlong out as did many others. Yet Rivet was too far clear and was allowed to quicken his pace eventually been ridden well clear by 1 3/4 lengths. The field was strung out. I personally found Yucatan and The Anvil very disappointing. The Anvil was never really in the running and weakened with two furlongs to go, a contrast from the last run at Newmarket where he finished third.

Thanks to Josephine Gordon for having a selfie with me. Next update will be after the meeting on Monday 24th October at Redcar.  

Redcar Races

Unfortunately the day involved a slightly injured jockey, the realisation that winter will soon be upon us and a super cute selfie with Jim Crowley.

The 3:15 created the opportunity for problems and much competition due to such a big field. With all horses so close together it resulted in positions changing rapidly. Two furlongs out was a big milestone for 2 reasons, the front of the group had Wicked Powell taking charge of the race and Whirl Me Round making progress up the field. At the back of the field, regrettably, Kieran O'Neill became unseated then sadly trampled by Outfox. Luckily O'Neill was fine and able to ride in the next race as he had no serious injuries. Meanwhile at the front of the race it was close between Wicked Powell, Whirl Me Around, Mazyoun and The Wagon Wheel. First place going to Wicked Powell by a neck, Second Whirl Me Around and a dead heat for third between Mazyoun and The Wagon Wheel.

The 3:30 had the trackers coming out on top after having Convey leading for most of the race with  the rest of the field giving chase. Two furlong out Convey was put under pressure by Certificate who came storming along one furlong out,  the favourite Latharnach ridden by James Doyle was driven clear and swiftly kept on beating Certificate into second place by 1/2 a length.

Father Bertie finished well having made all, after being placed frequently from his last few runs. The  4:25 produced success for jockey David Allan and trainer Tim Easterby.

Thanks Jim Crowley for the selfie, taking my total to 49 selfies now.

Catterick races

A day filled with great weather, slightly sickly ice cream and fab racing. Even with amazing racing all over the country there was a big turn out. To make the day even more memorable there was a double on the card for Silvestre De Sousa.

In the 4:10 Be Perfect, ridden by James Sullivan, clearly had a game plan and knew how good the horse he was ridding was. He broke well from the stalls  and soon took the lead, eventually setting mid-division behind the leader Dominada. He starting to make head way, over 4 furlongs out it was clear he had plenty to give, cruising home with ease and driven clear. No other horse finished in contention, Dew Pond a Tim Easterby trained horse was beaten by 2 and a half lengths.

The 5:55 had division one of the Book now for Saturday 15th October Handicap, with a close battle between Desire and Coolcalmcollected. The favourite was the ride of Silvestre De Sousa who quickly appeared in the lead and was driven clear seeming to make an effort to win until Desire started to give chase and 1 furlong out managed to start challenging the leader. Desire had plenty in hand but Coolcalmcollected  looked spent, resulting in a photo finish for first. Desire won by a head to Coolcalmcollected with Napoleon Solo in third. I believe that if Silvestre De Sousa hadn't have gone so fast early on then the outcome may have been different.
  
Thank you to George Chaloner for the selfie.

Remember to look at my twitter page for the last few days of the flat season.  

Newcastle races

A day with only one favourite winner and a double on the card for Sam James.

The 2:25 had a great ride from Adam McNamara on Lotara which was held up in the rear, the field clearly had leaders and trackers, with Corridor Kid and Redalani leading. As it came to one furlong out Lotara, Shine Likeadiamond and  Cool Angel made head way. In the final 75 yards Lotara had something that the other horses didn't and managed to hold onto a strong lead, winning by one length.

The 3:30 had Tinsel Town go quite far clear of the rest of the field, everyone else closely grouped together, the field travelled well. Two horses that were not far off the pace were Tyrannical and Masterson which started going forward over three furlongs out but Masterson carried on smoothly easily extending the lead at one furlong out. Judith Gardenier who was held up in the rear made up plenty of ground with a fast turn of pace however Masterson was too far ahead to catch and went on to win by two lengths, Judith Gardenier was second and Tyrannical was third.

Thankyou to the jockeys who I had selfies with Adam McNamara, Graham Gibbons, Jason Hart, Megan Nicholls, Dougie Costello and Patrick Mathers. This takes my selfie collection up to 47! Hopefully I will be able to get a selfie with William Buick at York.

Check out my new Twitter page for updates and quick feedback! Bryanhorseracing@bryanhorses1234

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).