Ripon’s opening day belonged to Mark Walford and Harriet Bethell, in some intensely competitive races that had spectators with hearts in mouths race after race: the best advertisement for our sport.
Sixty-four runners turned out for the seven race card under cloudy skies and a temperature that was far from Spring-like. But a warm glow was given to spectators in the form of four winning favourites, the longest-priced of which was the first leg of Mark Walford’s treble, all within a magical 90 minutes.
The Sheriff Hutton handler has enjoyed a respectable Jumps season to date, but his 15 runners in the nascent Flat season had only produced a single winner to date. Five horses sent to his local track were anticipated to run well, perhaps not quite this well however.
Empress Olivia set the ball rolling in the 6f sprint handicap for 3 year olds only. Winner of a maiden here last August, she’d shown good evidence she was ripe for a winning outing when beaten a neck at Catterick in a similar event 8 days previously. With 5lb claimer Rhys Elliott aboard, she was able to reel in long time leader Mighty Magnus close home to win by a head at 9/2.
It was only half an hour before the same trainer-rider combination was back in the winner’s enclosure, this time with 14/1 shot Kodiac Thriller in another 6f handicap heartstopper. The field split into two groups, and the far side had the best of it, American Style leading until challenged by Wild Clary and our winner a furlong out, Kodiac Thriller prevailing by a neck again. The winner may be aimed at the William Hill St Wilfred Handicap back here later in the summer.
Walford’s golden hour wasn’t quite concluded, however. In the following race, the nails were bitten down still more as the winning distance was narrowed to a head by Jason Hart on 6 year old Spioradalta in the middle distance handicap, reeling in the favourite Spoken Truth who will surely be winning shortly.
This was a first treble on the flat for Walford, and certainly surpassed expectations, improving the season tally by 400%. When a yard hits form, it’s always as well to follow them, so take note over the next few days.
Nothing lasts forever, so whilst anticipation might have been high that Gwen’s Girl could bring up a four-timer in the sixth race, she had to settle for 7th place behind Harriet Bethell’s Domination, who fought out a sustained final furlong duel with Fickle McSelfish in the mile Racing Bet Builder at Spreadex Sports Handicap, before Joanna Mason found extra on the favourite to win by another neck. Favourite backers sighed with relief but their nerves had been sorely tested this afternoon.
As if to serve notice Walford is not the only one to run up sequences at Ripon, Bethell was back in the winner’s berth 30 minutes later for the concluding apprentices race, this time with 5 time winner Milteye. The drop in class from a Class 2 £39,000 handicap to open Doncaster’s turf season at the end of last month proved worthwhile, Ethan Tindall getting up in the final strides to win by a head to beat stable companion On The River.
The day had begun in more predictable fashion with a restricted novice race populated by the major stables – Hannon, Easterbys – both, and Fahey. And it was the Hannon candidate The Untamed who delivered on promise shown at Chelmsford late in March to win by a comfortable 4 3/4l under Joe Leavy to justify his even money favouritism.
Favourite backers were lulled into a false sense of security in the second as Karl Burke’s Urchin made all over the 1m 3f Novice to win unchallenged by 11l. Easy work if you can get it for rider Sam James. But thereafter, hearts were in mouths through our sequence of Walford and Bethell minimal winning distances. This is the very essence of the sport, and if this is a taste of the season to come, bring it on.
