Sunday’s Open Race review from around the UK

Sunday’s Open Race review from around the UK

Towcester

As reported by Michael Smyth yesterday, Silverhill Freya was an all the way winner of the big race of the day on Sunday, the bet365 Empress Stakes final at Towcester, with the 8/15F landing the £10,000 winners prize for trainer Graham Holland in a time of 28.79.

There was just the one supporting open race on the card which went the way of the Heather Dimmock trained Signet Morgan (6/4), who ran out a comfortable four and three quarter length winner over the 500m distance when stopping the clock in 29.21.

Star Pelaw

Star Pelaw were due to host ten opens on their fourteen race card on Sunday evening and had completed seven of those, but unfortunately, due to hare issues, the track had to cancel the remaining three contests

Trainer George Walker was responsible for two of those winners, landing a 109/1 double courtesy of Keefill Rogue (9/1) and Mossend Max (10/1).

Keefill Rogue (below) made a winning debut over six bends when taking up the lead at the fifth bend, staying on well for a length and three quarter length victory in 36.67, while Mossend Max won what ultimately turned out to be the final contest on the card, getting the better of a close finish to deny Paul Philpott’s Toomevara Sheera and Tom Heilbron’s Madabout Peck by a neck and a neck in 25.91

Dean Blackbird’s Emers Becky (4/1) got the open race proceedings underway when losing her maiden tag with a comfortable all the way success, running out a two and a half length winner in 25.92 but it was Glenn Foot’s Marleypark Ken (11/2) who recorded the fastest time of the night over the 435m distance, leading out of the second bend to also lose his maiden tag when stopping the clock in 25.61 to record a length and a quarter victory.

Credit must go to the track for being able to get a marathon contest on the card, and favourite backers will also be thankful, as Fabulous Spell (11/10F) trapped well and made all the running in good fashion for trainer Ronald Knights in 48.64 for a three length victory (below)

Westfield Bullet (4/11F) has been in good form at Doncaster and here at Pelaw in recent weeks, and he made it four wins in his last five starts at both traps with an emphatic five length victory over the 245m sprint distance. Jason Smith made the journey a worthwhile one as his runner (below) blasted clear from the traps and made all the running in 14.43, three lengths quicker than the other sprint contest on the card won by Jason Ray’s Savana Flamma (9/4), who led at the halfway stage to score by a length in a half in 14.68.

Photo Credits- @Star_Pelaw X account

Sheffield

Sheffield hosted two opens and two invitational races on their twelve race card on Sunday afternoon which saw Monmore trainer Pat Curtin landing a double on the card

Timmys Hunter (11/4) led round the opening bends to land an invitational race over the 500m distance by a length and a quarter, recording a time of 28.71 (+30), while Longacres Noah (9/2)  won Heat one of the Owlerton Sprint Competition over the 280m trip, running out a comfortable two and a half length winner in 16.07 (+15) from Tee Emgee Foxy, with Drumdoit Gonzo also going through to next weeks final.

Heat two went the way of Rose Draper’s Crokers Harry (8/15F), who pinged the lids and made all the running in the slightly slower time of 16.15 (+15) by two and three quarter lengths from Wraysbury Band and Swift Rally also lining up in next weeks final

The remaining Invitational race went the way of Paul Prior’s Keady Touch (4/6F), who made it four wins from his five starts when making all the running to score by three lengths in a time of 29.05 (+30)

Valley

Four opens featured on Valley’s fourteen race card on Sunday morning, and aside from the first of those, there were a few upsets in the remaining contests.

Crokers Faye (4/7F) got favourite backers off to a good start, but had to overcome some trouble in running before proving too strong on the run for home for a length and a half victory for Steven Howard in 28.81. 

The remaining opens though went the way of the bookies, as Marcus May’s Hawkfield Tiptoe (5/1) pinged the lids and made all the running to score by a length and a quarter in 15.99 over the 260m distance

Tony Morgan’s Hawkfield Beebee (4/1) was the next to make all the running over the 460m distance for a two length victory in 28.51, and in turn, upset the 4/7F Bluejig Aoife, who could only finish third, while Quivers Rafa (6/1) was another surprise winner, when battling well to deny 6/4F Marinas Malta by a head over the same distance for James Danaher, with the winning time a fastest of the day 28.38