An early start for all as racing got under way from 11.25 at Bangor with the team having a runner in the opener. A truly phenomenal amount of work done by all the team at the track who produced great ground that understandably rode a little tacky. Early morning course walks in the sunshine are still awesome by the way.
STAITHES only has 4 starts under rules to his name and we continue to learn lots with each run. For his handicap debut he was noticeably more relaxed in the preliminaries and jumped well from the front throughout the early stages.
He had jumped markedly out to the left at Huntingdon previously but we saw him to better effect over hurdles and Bangor's left hand turning track. Given freedom to bowl along in front he began to tire and made a mistake at the second last, it was a miraculous sit from Tabitha whose tenacity to stay on board meant the 6 year old completed for the first time for us.
"raced keenly, led, headed before mistake 2 out, weakened quickly"
We're sure there's an opportunity for him in time and will speak to his owners to plot our next steps.
A smattering of winners and placed efforts from the Market Rasen Bumper and Exeter Novice Hurdle suggested the Haydock run of JUST A WHIM should be respected and she ran true to form. Best turned out in the parade ring she travelled and jumped well throughout, Tabitha commenting on a lack of room on the turn for home but that once she found a gap she ran on comfortably through the line for second place at 33/1.
"she jumped really well and travelled superbly, we got boxed in between the 3rd and 2nd last fences, when she found more we needed a gap, when it came she ran on nicely"
The 7 year old daughter of Gold Well is just a really straight forward horse and should be plenty adaptable when it comes to trip and ground, we'll see what the handicapper gives us on Tuesday and plan from there.
Coincidentally, her dam, Redunderthebed, won the only race she ever ran in at Bangor, as for us, we've now had three seconds at the track over the years so more visits to North Wales no doubt on the cards to break that trend.
It was fantastic to see owners Lynn and Martin Redman enjoying the sunshine as well, as ever, a real team effort and we couldn't be more thankful.
