HORSE RACING: Local Hero is the star at Market Rasen
Scamblesby trainer Steve Gollings (right) and Jockey Paul Bohan celebrate with stable star Local Hero and connections in the winners emclosure.
LINCOLNSHIRE trained Local Hero (9/2) claimed his second big prize of the summer jump season at Market Rasen on Saturday.
Trained by Steve Gollings in Scamblesby, the horse won the Bonus King Summer Hurdle in July and in an exciting finish he showed a clean pair of heels to the quality field in the £30,000 32Red.com Handicap Hurdle.
In so doing he made light of a 7lb rise in the handicap. Between the two big hurdle races the five–year–old stable star produced a good second on the flat.
Amazingly 10lb claiming apprentice Paul Bohan did not have a single ride between his big July day and now and was quick to joke with the large crowd after the presentation that he was “available for rides from Monday.”
Gollings was quick to praise the young jockey. He said: “He gave him a fine ride and bought him through at just the right time.
“They went a strong gallop and I hope the horse will still be competitive in the handicap despite having another penalty for this win.”
The other feature race was the 32Red Handicap Steeple Chace, a Class 1 Listed Race.
Top jockey Richard Johnson claimed a share of the £50,000 prize money on the Irish bred The Disengager. The eight–year–old won four handicap chases in the summer and his form in finishing a good fourth in a Grade 1 at Newton Abbot last time out was a pointer to here.
Trained by Philip Hobbs, the 17/2 shot made all and held on well towards the finish.
Johnson said the going was a key factor in the win: “He was a long time in front but kept finding more for me. He is a tough horse and deserves to be a winner, and it was particularly nice for him to win a good prize.
“The ground can get too soft for him but he appreciated the good going here. He will doubtless get options, but where he runs next will depend on the going.”
The opening race, the 32Red Handicap Hurdle, saw a win for 13/2 shot under jockey Kyle James, who claims 5lb. Trained by Philip Kirby at Castleton, the horse has managed a win on the flat and was well treated in the weights, judged on his best hurdling form.
The fourth race, the Jane Clugston Handicap Chase, saw a win for Hunters Lodge (7/2), who looks a stayer and is trained by Nigel Twistan-Davies.
He had Sam Twistan-Davies on board and the jockey held his charge up towards the rear early on, but was soon prominent when the business part of the race arrived and kept on well after leading two out.
There was a quality field of juvenile three–year–olds for the £15,000 32RedCasino Juvenile Hurdle. Grand Gold a 9-1 shot, had scored twice in juvenile hurdles earlier this summer and defied a double penalty to just get up by a neck to see off the Tony McCoy ridden Hilali.
Another to defy a penalty was Porgy (4/1) in the Singleton Birch Novices hurdle. Trainer Brian Ellison has improved the seven–year–old’s fortunes since he joined his Malton yard and his journey to Market Rasen was well rewarded by his win over 4/7 favourite The Romford Pele.
A quality field in the bumper at the bottom of the card saw 8/11 favourite Spirit of Shankly see off his rivals without too much bother. The legendary Bill of Liverpool FC fame would have had a double reason for celebrations on the day.
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Weather for Market Rasen
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
