Huntingdon race voided on safety grounds

Officials at the Cambridgeshire course took the decision to stop the PricedUp Bet Handicap Hurdle as the field was halfway around their final circuit in the extended one-mile-seven-furlong contest.

A decision to stop the race was made by clerk of the course Kelly O’Boyle after the Alan King-trained Blues Singer, who refused to jump off with the field, was galloped back towards the entrance to the track by Tom Bellamy into the direction of the remaining runners.

However, although Blues Singer was down the chute, and clear of any danger, a decision had already been made to stop the race.

Tony McGlone, chief steward, said: “At the start the number three horse was withdrawn as it was unruly and it wouldn’t line up.

“The race was then started, but as the runners were coming around, Tom, because he couldn’t get his horse to go right handed then decided to take it left handed and go towards the runners coming around.

“I was upstairs, in the side on box, and I could see the horse galloping, quite quickly, against the flow of runners, so the clerk of the course decided this could be a danger because at the time he was on the hurdle bypassing area that there might be an accident, so she called the stop race flag.

“Was he in control of his horse, at that stage we had no reason to say he was in control of it, and as he was going at speed towards the runners the clerk of the course said that the safest thing, for horses and riders, was to do a stop race flag.

“The head groundsman follows around in a vehicle with the stop race flag, he didn’t have time to get in front and stop it slightly earlier.

“The danger had been averted, but the decision had been made slightly earlier.”

As a result of the incident no bans were handed out, however McGlone said that action could still be taken against Cheltenham Festival-winning rider Bellamy following the incident at a later date.

He added: “I will be sending a report into London. Is Tom Bellamy in breach of anything, probably, technically no, but should he have done what he did, probably no.

“He should have taken it off the track if he couldn’t have gone anywhere, but he made that decision, as in his mind he could get off the track before they came around.

“When runners potentially meet head on it has to be a safety first approach.”

Marvelous winner for Wenman

Owner Jimmy Wenman received a timely boost after Marvelous Dragones looked a potentially useful prospect when registering a decisive success on her debut over hurdles at Huntingdon on Tuesday.

After losing No More Teardrops on her hurdles debut at Market Rasen at the end of September, Wenman had his spirits lifted following the conclusion of the PricedUp Now With Best Odds Guaranteed Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Last sighted finishing down the field in a Listed 18-24 Get Your Racepass ‘Junior’ National Hunt Flat Race at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, the Jamie Snowden-trained four-year-old was sent off a 7/1 chance to capture the extended one-mile-seven-furlong prize.

All eyes before the race were on the Alan King-trained Seven Stars, who was sent off the 2/5 market leader having finished sixth in the Grade Two Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree in April.

However, as the field turned for home it was clear that the odds-on market leader was to have a fight on her hands if she was to make a winning debut over hurdles with Brian Hughes appearing to be going best on Marvelous Dragones.

And, having opened up a useful advantage on the run to the last, the daughter of Doctor Dino met the final flight on a good stride before bounding away to score by three and three quarter lengths to follow in the hoofprints of last year’s winner, and stablemate, Lady Tadita.

Wenman said: “I had a bit of bad luck the other day with a horse called No More Teardrops, who fell and died, which was dreadful, so that win was absolutely fantastic.

“She started off with Amy Murphy in some AQPS races, then we took her to Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, but she was probably just a bit weak. She only got the races late that day so it was a bit of a nightmare.

“We decided to put her away, and have slowly tipped away with her, and Jamie has done a fantastic job. She was a little bit slow over the first, otherwise she jumped them like a bunny.

“I was worried about the favourite as she had been sixth in a Grade Two bumper, and those she had run against had done well. I think it is onwards and upwards.

“She is a first foal out of the mare, and although she is not very big, she has got a wonderful pedigree, and hopefully will make a lovely broodmare in time.

“I’m just here for the ride, and Jamie will make the decisions, but we would love to get some black type for her pedigree.”

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