Wetherby Christmas Jumper Race Meeting
Chadwick Media yesterday visited Wetherby Racecourse for their Christmas Jumper race meeting which featured seven races. It was a bright clear day and warm in the sun despite snow laying on the ground in the local area.
The first race which started at 12.30pm was the National Hunt Novices Hurdle over two miles, which featured eight horses including Mount Mews, Creep Desbois, Cyrand Star, Eaton Hill, Emerald Thief, Hollins Hill, Melrose Boy and Ronn The Conn.
The winning jockey was Will Kennedy on Eaton Hill who finished by a neck ahead of the race favourite Mount Mews and in third place came Melrose Boy ridden by Niall Madden.
The second race of the afternoon was the Glorious HD Novice Steeple Chase which was again just over two miles, this was a small field of just four horses including Actinpieces, Never Equalled, Rock Gone and Chic Name.
The winning jockey was Daryl Jacobs on the favourite Rock Gone who finished by a neck ahead of Actinpieces and third placed Never Equalled ridden by Robert Williams.
The third race of the day was the 1.40pm Handicap Hurdle over two miles, which featured seven horse’s after eleven year old Back To Balloo and Murray Mount didn’t run. The race started with the following horse’s El Massivo, Middlebrow, Catching Shadows, Rocky Two, Green Zone, It’s A Long Story and Dragon De La Tour.
The race was started on the home straight passing the finish line before going out to the far side of the course which runs level with the main road, the race was a fairly slow race which had an excellent finish with three horses running for the finishing post.
As the leaders took the final fence it was Rocky Two that landed safety in the lead before second favourite El Massivo came back in an excellent sprint finish to out pace Ricky Two and win the race.
Jockey Danny Cook timed El Massivo run to perfection as they went on to win the race by three-quarters of a length with Rocky Two finishing second and race favourite Middlebrow coming in third.
The final race I watched was the 2.15pm Handicap Steeple Chase again over two miles which included the following horse’s Just Cameron, Grey Gold, Sew On Target, Raven’s Tower, Rathlin with Make The Difference pulling out before the start.
The winner of the race was joint favourite Just Cameron ridden by Henry Brooke who won by two lengths from Grey Gold and in third Sew On Target. I really enjoyed my day at Wetherby races and will be visiting again on the 4th February 2017.
Chadwick Media 