David Probert landed his fourth Group 2 of the year when riding The Foxes to victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
The winner is owned by Leicester FC supporters King Power, and they had reserved the club’s nickname “The Foxes” for a special horse. That plan seemed to go awry when he was fourth and ninth in his first two outings, but a much-improved performance winning a Goodwood maiden gave hope. He was pitched into this much more prestigious race, but only faced three opponents, as the favourite Flying Honours had scared off many others. Understandably, he was the outsider of the party at 17/2. A muddling pace led to a sprint in the last few furlongs and a blanket finish, in which they The Foxes came out on top.
On Sunday Probert chose Epsom in preference to Ffos Las, and he steered Ndaawi, another Andrew Balding-trained two-year-old, to win by a neck. It was the colt’s second success, both by narrow margins, but the form is useful as he had three previous winners behind him.
Meanwhile, at Ffos Las John Flint’s With Pleasure excelled himself by dead-heating for second place in the final of the Bath Summer Stayers Series, only to be disqualified and placed third for interfering with the other runner-up.
Flint gained quick compensation when stable companion Rival won the next at 18/1 (happy owners photographed). Down 15 pounds in the handicap for five disappointing starts since joining the yard, he was ridden prominently and appreciated the good to soft ground. The trainer has run twelve horses on the flat this year and nine have won. One of Rival’s part-owners, Viv Williams, is the brother of ex-jockey John Williams, who remarkably rode in three Grand Nationals and three Epsom Derbys.
Judge Earle has done Peter Bowen proud since June, his form in that period reading 12131112. Now 38 pounds higher than when he started that great sequence, he goes again at Southwell on Tuesday, where he has top weight in a novices handicap chase. Seeing as he’s ten years old, has had twelve runs over fences and won five of them he has a huge advantage in terms of experience. He could give Sean Bowen, who’s been riding with a 27% strike rate, his 62nd winner of the season.
We are now preparing the £50,000 DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle fixture on Sunday 9th October. The meeting also has a ‘Gentleman’s Day’ theme so please dress to impress! Details are on the website.
