Friday Huntingdon review including wins for Dibble Decker, Shallow River and Raffles Gitane

Decker has connections dreaming of Aintree

Dibble Decker (8/1) moved a step closer to giving his connections an end of season trip to the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree in April after opening his account under Rules with a front-running success.

After finishing third on his hurdles debut at Newcastle earlier this month, the Jet Away gelding made the most of a drop back in trip when taking division one of the Pertemps Network Novices’ Hurdle (2m) by 10 lengths under Stan Sheppard.

Following the race, which formed the second leg of a 35/1 cross-card double for trainer Tom Lacey, who was earlier on the mark with Nocte Volatus at Doncaster, connections hinted at the Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on April 8 as a target for the six-year-old.

James Couldwell, racing manager for ValueRacingClub.co.uk, said: “I was really pleased with him. We ran him in the Listed bumper at Cheltenham (in November) as he had shown an awful lot at home. He came there but he couldn’t quite quicken with them.

“We then sent him to Newcastle over 2m 4f and we didn’t go all that way for the fun of it but the winner (Rafferty’s Return) jumped out and got a 20-length start and never came back. He cantered into the straight but then fell into a bit of a hole.

“Stan Sheppard came back in and said he didn’t stay the trip. Fair play to Stan as we dropped him back to two miles today and making plenty of use on him over that trip on decent ground has worked.

“He has got no fancy entries but you would like to think he could win another race like this we could look at the conditional jockeys’ race at Aintree.”

The 12-times Irish Champion Jump jockey turned TV pundit Ruby Walsh came in for plenty of praise from members of the Mick Fitzgerald Racing Club, which includes Professional Jockeys Association’ chairman Jon Holmes, following the victory of Shallow River.

The six-year-old gelding hit the target on his hurdles debut after running out an impressive three and a half-length winner of the second division of the 2m contest to move winner trainer Fergal O’Brien on to the 99 winner mark for the campaign.

Tim Hailstone, syndicate member, said of the 4/5 winner: “I think we are all delighted with that. Paddy (Brennan) said that is the fastest he has been over hurdles on one first time out over hurdles.

“Thanks go to Ruby Walsh who tipped us to buy this horse after he was third in a bumper at Naas for Margaret Mullins.”

Victory was especially special for Leicestershire-based Hailstone, who admitted he has plenty of fond memories of his previous visits to the Cambridgeshire track.

He said: “This is the very first racecourse I came to as a child aged four and 21 years ago I had my first winner here called Under The Sand and it has trapped me into ownership ever since.”

Bromley showcases talent ahead of Janika ride

Amateur jockey Ben Bromley - who rides Janika in Saturday's Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster - secured his first victory in the famous double green silks of owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede after Raffles Gitane (7/1) opened her account over fences by two and three quarter lengths in the Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap Chase over an extended 2m.

The winning rider, who hails from the Newmarket area and is the son of leading bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley, said of the Harry Whittington-trained winner: “I’ve done bits and bobs like pony racing around here. It’s a nice course but I’ve never had a success around here under Rules.

“That’s my first winner for Simon and Isaac and they have been such a big help in my career and I’ve grown up being around them so it is lovely to ride a winner for them.

“She got a little bit outpaced after three out but she is so tough and she just kept staying on and she was so tough up the run in.”

Amazing day for owner Mahon

Owner Frank Mahon admitted it was “wonderful” to back on track after celebrating being given the all clear from cancer on Monday in perfect fashion by watching his pride and joy Pink Legend (6/1) secure victory in the Pertemps Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase.

The 70-year-old, who was making his first appearance on a racecourse in three years, saw his four-hour drive down from Formby made worthwhile following the victory of the Venetia Williams-trained eight year old in the feature Listed prize over 2m 4f.

Although delighted to be back in the winner’s enclosure, the Merseyside based-owner admitted that it was only the results of his horses that had helped keep his “head up” during what has been a difficult 36 months.

Mahon said: “This is the first time I have been on a racecourse for three years as I’ve been unwell. This is first time I have been allowed out on my own.

“I had good news on Monday. I had cancer and I’ve come through the chemotherapy and I’m back on the racecourse now.

“The form of the horses kept me going right the way through as we have had some good winners with Venetia. This mare has now won at Cheltenham, Ascot and Huntingdon, which was the most valuable race of the lot.

“It has been a long haul but I’m here. If you are locked away for three years it isn’t great. The wife Elaine has been great and she has looked after me.

“It is the first time she has let me out on my own. She only let me out as my two pals escorted me here.

“When I was really poorly Pink Legend won at Bangor and that really gave me a lift as I was half way through chemotherapy which doesn’t make you feel very good. It just gave me that fillip to keep my head up.

“Everyone where we will live backs her and they call her “The Legend”. I know my two pals backed her but I didn’t bother myself.”

Turning for home it looked as though Pink Legend would have to settle for a place at best with 4-6 favourite Vienna Court appearing to have her rivals in trouble. However, her Grade One winning-handler was confident she would prevail.

Venetia Williams said: “I am so thrilled for Frank as he has bred her, and her full-sister Eleanor Bob who recently won a lower key race at Exeter.

“She wasn’t going forward at one or two of her obstacles but what was giving me hope that they had been going a good gallop. She doesn’t give up and I thought they might just come back to her.

“They’ve gone a good gallop all the way and that gave me encouragement that they will get tired. I have to say jumping the last down the back I turned to Frank and said she is going to win this and then she nearly gave it away on the run in.”

Pink Legend was introduced at 33/1 for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Festival at Cheltenham in March, which Williams hinted could now be an option.

She said: “If you had asked me an hour ago about Cheltenham I would have probably said no but I would probably say yes now. She is going to go up in the handicap and that reduces her alternative options.”

Looking beyond the current campaign Mahon, who was making his first visit to the Cambridgeshire track, admitted that he is likely to keep Pink Legend in training next season alongside her full sister Eleanor Bob, who he hopes could reach a similar level in time.

Mahon added: “We will look after her as hopefully she will make a nice broodmare. Her full-sister is pretty good.

“She had been ill for a couple of years but we got her back last week so we are looking forward to her.

“I think we will keep her in training now as we were thinking about retiring her as she is an elite mare as she has her black type but when you see prizes like this you have got to have a go.

“I’m really impressed with this place. Hopefully we will come back here. If you get soft going here, we could come back with Eleanor Bob next year.”

Risk worth taking for Evans

Trainer James Evans insisted the surprise success of Risk And Roll in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3m 1f) was tribute to late Grand National winning jockey Liam Treadwell.

The eight-year-old proved a cut above his rivals when running out a decisive seven-length winner of the 3m 1f contest which Evans was quick to dedicate to Treadwell, who passed away in June 2020.

Evans said of the 33/1 winner: “His owner Barry Preece asked us to buy a horse that could hopefully be a Saturday horse. This is a little bit of a tribute to Liam Treadwell as he was a big mate of Liam’s

“Liam rode Trackmate to win a Pertemps qualifier at Cheltenham in 2013 and that was the first proper horse Barry had but Liam was a very lucky jockey for us.

“Matt Sheppard recommended this one at the sales and we were hoping he was a decent horse. He had a run in the autumn but something was amiss.

“We kept our fingers crossed he would win a big pot but it has arrived earlier than we thought.”

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