Thursday Report - Action from Newcastle and Valley
There were six open races on Thursday night, split three each at Newcastle and Valley, with Adrian Rawlings picking up a double at the latter track.
Bookem back to winning ways at Newcastle
After a few months over six bends, the return to 480m looked like a bit of a shock to the system for Droopys Bookem last week, quickly regaining the winning thread back up to 640m with a strong-running display that saw him get on top on the run-in. He went to the opening bend in fifth but trouble saw him slip around into second heading into the straight for the first time, running down the leader late on.
There was a close finish to the sprint contest on the card as Jimmy Fenwick's Ballymac Shontae just ran down Slingshot Gazza, the pair pulling miles clear of their rivals. It was the best that the winner has trapped in a sprint for a while which helped him win the day with his stamina for four bends just telling late on.
Made To Measure caused a 14/1 surprise in the other open for Ben McPhillips. It was a classy 480m affair but he had more than enough solid form in Ireland that in hindsight he was sent off far too big. He showed by far the best early pace to the first bend and that won him the race.
Rawlings with a Valley double
Adrian Rawlings was the man to beat at Valley, picking up two of the three opens on the card, including another six-bend contest with Ashway June. She has been a real force to be reckoned with over 645m, getting up late on to grab the win for the fifth time in eight starts over this far. Ballymac Madgie and Face The Storm have won the other three races she has been in, no disgrace at all being behind that pair.
Rawlings double was brought up by Ohtherejet in a 460m race. He had the inside of the track to himself in the pouring rain with his four rivals all steering a wider course. He picked up the lead into the opening bend and pulled clear with his rivals struggling to get clear of one another behind.
The other open on the night was also over four bends and went to Loughside Oisin for Shaun Chappell. In a race with some slow sectionals, he had little problem leading up through the middle and gradually pouring on the pressure from the front to run out a comfortable six-length winner.
