REPORT: ALBRIGHTON & WOODLAND (SOUTH) AT CHADDESLEY CORBETT – MONDAY 27TH MAY

The West Midlands season ended on a high note, with four impressive front-running performances sealing victory for their connections at the Albrighton & Woodland (South) meeting at Chaddesley Corbett.

The last race of the season provided the most popular winner of the day, and probably the season, when Round Robin finally broke his duck in the Maiden. The eight-year-old made his racecourse debut back in 2016 and has been placed 18 times in the intervening period. The horse has tested the patience of owner/trainer Christine Banks, who has persisted while others may have given up hope.

Abi Banks took her mother’s gelding to the front from the drop of the flag but they were shadowed by Jack Savage on Dover The Moon until the latter began to beat a retreat on the final turn.

The final two fences have seen Round Robin succumb to rivals on numerous occasions in the past but this was his day and he began to distance himself from his rivals in the home straight.

James King and Felton Bellevue did reduce the deficit on the run-in but Round Robin clung on gallantly to secure his first success in the colours of his Worcestershire-based owner.

Ballyboker Breeze started at very short odds for the Ladies’ Open, but Jo Priest’s runner eventually had to settle for second place behind his market rival Tb Broke Her.

Hannah Lewis was keen to make the running but she must have been surprised to approach the first with a 10-length advantage, and it could be argued this made the difference between victory and defeat.

Tb Broke Her set a searching gallop before easing down along the back straight, which allowed her rivals to get back into contention. Although the lead was reduced, they still had a five-length advantage as they went out onto their final circuit.

Ballyboker Breeze made a mistake at the 12^th, coinciding with the moment that Hannah decided to quicken the pace, so the gap had increased when they reached the 14th.

The first two were well clear of their rivals on the climb into the home straight, and with Tb Broke piling on the pressure, the 14lb weight concession took its toll and the mare was able to extend her advantage over the final two fences.

“She’s a superstar and seemed to enjoy being out in front” said trainer Sam Jukes afterwards, while owner Will Gaskins commented, “That is the highlight of the season for me, she is so genuine and has only been in work for two weeks after being sidelined following her run at Cheltenham. Hannah gave her a super ride”.

Miss Lewis combines her Point-to-Point rides with training several horses at Holdfast Stables, near Upton on Severn. Ballyboker Breeze is based at the same facility, so no doubt this race will be discussed at length over the coming days.

Four horses lined up for the Men’s Conditions, but as has been proved so many times in the past, you don’t need a lot of runners to provide exciting finishes. With Alex Edwards suspended, Noel George took the ride on Phil Rowley’s Knight Batchelor, who was vying for favouritism with Sam Jukes’ mount Stone.

These two horses set a moderate pace, allowing Gallox Bridge and Get Rhythm to stay in touch until the pace quickened at the 12^th before they quickly dropped out of contention.

Knight Batchelor and Stone battled for the lead until the former made a mistake at the 13^th, which allowed Stone to establish a small advantage which the favourite struggled to claw back over the final four fences.

The pace quickened as they turned for home, with both jockeys asking their mounts for maximum effort. They responded courageously, with Stone’s more efficient fencing proving crucial over the final two obstacles.

This win provided the second leg of a double for Dymock trainer Jukes, while owner Clive Bennett is now within shouting distance of recording a century of winners between the flags.

Seven runners were due to line up for the Restricted, but Gogetthat proved difficult at the start and was subsequently withdrawn, Black Frost departed at the first, and Charlie Dando had to pull up Brass in Pocket after encountering saddlery problems at the fifth.

Jeans Lady and R Bren were vying for the lead from halfway but could never shake off the attentions of Master Hide. The race changed dramatically on the home turn where Jeans Lady and R Bren looked set to fight out the finish, but Master Hide got a good run through on the inside which proved a race-winning manoeuvre as James Jeavons’ mount hit the front at the 17th and held off his rivals’ renewed challenges on the flat.

Ballina Lady’s past record indicates she has trouble staying three miles, so the opposition were not unduly worried when Lilly Pinchin had established a 20-length lead by the third and were a fence clear with a circuit to go.

However, the mare showed no signs of stopping down the back straight, and her rivals realised too late that the situation was irredeemable.

Ballina Lady was slowing when she made a mistake at the last, but this made little difference as she scooted home 54 lengths clear of the opposition.

Stow-on-the-Wold-based Seanin McPherson trains the winner for her husband Graeme, with the latter praising Lilly Pinchin for her judgement of pace.

Asked if it was the plan to make the running, McPherson commented: “Yes – but I did not expect her to be so far in front at halfway. I don’t think she stays three miles, so I said to Lilly ‘you should be OK if you can hang on until the top of the hill'”.

The horse is normally ridden by Callum McBride but he has had a recent operation on his jaw, so Lilly has been the beneficiary.

The meeting started well for favourite backers when Summer Sounds and Luke Scott led throughout the Conditions. Carrig Dubh ran his usual honest race in an effort to provide Brooke Gardener-Wollen with her first success but had to give best to Fran Nimmo’s runner in the home straight.