Ffos Las’s pre-Christmas race day survived an inspection and went ahead with the going heavy. One fence and one hurdle on each circuit were omitted.
A violent downpour moved away just in time for the first race, a 2m4f hurdle. Debra Hamer’s Out The Glen (3/1 fav) was going best turning into the straight and kept on stoutly to hold off Ring The Moon, who challenged valiantly but to no avail. This length and three quarters winner for Tom Bellamy enhanced his 29% strike rate on the track.
A 2m maiden hurdle came next. The grey Flying Garry made the running and proved difficult to pass, but he lost a little momentum at the final flight and this allowed Freedelivery to take over with a hundred yards to go. He went on to win by three lengths. After three dismal runs this autumn, his 20/1 SP had seemed miserly. Tim Vaughan and Richard Patrick were the successful trainer-jockey combination.
The third race was a 2m5f novices chase. The Samuel Drinkwater-trained Some Can Dance led into the straight and a series of good jumps kept him ahead. His amateur rider Mr Harrison Beswick believes there’s more to come from him. Driftwood Haze ran equally creditably, harrying the winner through the last half mile, and though he never quite looked like getting on terms, he narrowed the gap to half a length at the line.
Thomas Macdonagh (1/3 fav) had won his last two races and had little bother making it a hat-trick in the three-runner novices hurdle over 2m4f. He alternated the lead with Colorado Doc, who was upsides at the penultimate flight but could not stay with Thomas, who drew away for a smooth six length success under Gavin Sheehan.
The feature event, a 2m handicap hurdle, went to Deja Vue (11/8 fav). Aidan Coleman set a brisk pace on the mare, who won by a street here last time out, and when shaken up two out she came eleven lengths away from her toiling rivals. Anthony Honeyball has a Listed contest in mind for the winner at Haydock on Saturday. Sirop De Menthe plugged on from well behind to pinch second.
They went a sensible pace in the 3m1f chase and all six were still in with a chance on the final bend. Tudors Treasure led to the fourth last, where John Flint’s Lac Sacre (4/1) took over and immediately put daylight between himself and his opponents. Partnered by Ben Jones, he galloped right away to win by 12 lengths, finishing full of running. Tudors kept on gamely for second.
Six debutants competed for the bumper and Easy As That (5/4) lived up to his name by making all the running for Venetia Williams and Gavin Sheehan. The J P McManus-owned favourite Fanfaron Dino was going well and unleashed a challenge just before the furlong pole, but Easy As That responded by dashing away from him in great style to score by four lengths.
