Warwick Racecourse: Success for local trainers on Wednesday
The six-race card at Warwick on Wednesday afternoon was a competitive affair but it was the track’s local trainers who came out on top; Alcester-based Dan Skelton celebrated a double, while Wilmcote-based Olly Murphy also had a winner.
Read on for a full report of the Warwick card, courtesy of Boyle Sports, who provide all the latest Leopardstown betting.
In the first race, a two-mile novices’ handicap chase (12.55), we had just a trio of runners. Spirits Bay was the hot favourite at 13/8, but he made a bad jumping error which cost him the rest of the race and allowed the 7/4 shot Excelero to make all, go clear and win by nearly 10 lengths under Ciaran Gethings for trainer Jane Williams.
Next was a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle (1.25) run over two miles and three furlongs. We had joint favourites here; Onewaywest and Oh My Johnny, both at 11/4. It was the former, though, who made all and went clear in the closing stages for trainer Ben Pauling to eventually win by an impressive 12 lengths under Elliott England, who claimed 10 pounds. 33/1 shot Vocito was second for Olly Murphy.
A novices’ hurdle followed, run over two miles and five furlongs (2.00). We had six runners, one of which pulled up and one of which fell at the second last, which left Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls’ Sogna In Grande to keep on into the lead. He did just enough, and won by three quarters of a length to the runner-up, Ben Pauling’s Dig Deep, who was favourite at 5/6.
Race four was a handicap chase over two and a half miles (2.35). Here, the Skelton team brought in their first winner of the afternoon, courtesy of 11/10 favourite Chuggy. He took the lead from the fourth fence from home, going clear of the rest to win by eight lengths. Jane Williams’ Another Folly was next home, followed by Thruthelookingglass.
The penultimate race was a stayers’ handicap hurdle run over three miles and a furlong (3.10). Here, Olly Murphy had his winner, in conjunction with rider Lewis Saunders on board Gwennie May Star. The son of Masterstoke had to battle for the win, though, with Stuart Edmunds’ Getaway Theatre, who was delivering a strong challenge, but was just held off by a nose.
Finally, we had a two-mile handicap chase (3.40). Here, the Skeltons brought in their double with 7/1 shot Kykorock, who made steady progress from the rear of the field to the front, taking the lead before the finish to win by over a length to Bobbi’s Beauty, who was followed home by Superstylin and the favourite, Dromlac Jury, back in fourth.
Warwick results - Wednesday (via Sporting Life):
12.55 - Excelero (7/4)
1.25 - Onewaywest (11/4J)
2.00 - Sogna In Grande (15/2)
2.35 - Chuggy (11/10F)
3.10 - Gwennie May Star (100/30)
3.40 - Kykorock (7/1)