REPORT – North Shropshire at Eyton-On-Severn Easter Monday 18th April

The first meeting at Eyton for three years took place on good ground which had been watered. Highlights of the day were riding doubles for Toby Wynne and Immy Robinson, and Phil Rowley had a training double…

Wynne’s first win came in the opening four- and five-year-old Mares Maiden over two-and-a-half miles aboard My Virtue, who had eleven lengths to spare over the only other runner Amidnightstar at the line. The four-year-old winner was a first training win for Katie Ayres and was home bred by her owner Steve Flook.

Wynne’s double came in the Intermediate aboard Spectacular Rival who took it up about a mile out and was always repelling the challenge of the hot favourite Francesco de Flos, eventually winning by three and a half lengths. The Heidi Brookshaw trained gelding had previously won a Larkhill Maiden and looks to have plenty of potential.

Robinson rode a waiting race on Champagne Lilly in the Lorna Brooke Memorial over two-and-a-half miles with Drakes Well and Azzuri cutting out the running. She made steady progress from six out to lead at the second last and won by three lengths from Drakes Well with Azzuri a half-length back in third. The winner had won four points for Phil Rowley up to two years ago, and after a spell with Nigel Twiston-Davies the mare came back to the Bridgnorth yard for owner Cynthia Bibbey. The win was a great tonic for the stable, as when she fell in her last race at Larkhill in February, the horse broke her nose and Michaela Tallett broke her back.

Robinson’s double came on Ballymac Boy in the Conditions Race, trained by her mother Caroline, and owned by Steward David Heys. The winner, who had previously won a Restricted at Larkhill, went on from six out and finished fifteen lengths clear of the fast-finishing Top of the Charts.

The Mens Open was a match and the Tranwell winner Wonderoftheworld, ridden by Henry Crow, worked hard to repel the challenge of Kashmir Peak at the third last and win by four lengths, which justified the long journey for owner/trainer Hannah McMahon.

In the concluding Maiden, Moon Hunter took it up a mile out and steadily drew clear to win impressively by twelve lengths from Bestfriend Barnaby. Billy Chatterton rode the winner which was the second leg of Phil Rowley’s training double. The five-year-old gelding by Yorton Farm stallion Pether’s Moon, was acquired two years ago by the stud owner David Futter and the trainer for £15,000. The horse was bred by Simon Crank and Will Kinsey.