JETS jockey awards add to Warwick raceday action

Un Sens A La Vie made all the running to see off sole rival Loriko in Warwick's Stan Mellor Memorial 'Chasing Excellence' Beginners' Chase, the highlight of Tuesday's seven-race card on a day which also saw the prestigious JETS jockey awards made.

Leading trainer Dan Skelton had four of the nine entries for the race, choosing Loriko, four times a winner over hurdles this season, but it was Un Sens A La Vie, trained by Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies who went off the hot odds-on favourite.

With both horses having the same official rating and carrying the same weight, it looked a close match on paper, but Loriko sprawled on landing at the final fence when challenging, handing the race to Un Sens A La Vie who won by 25 lengths.

Skelton had to settle for second place again in the following Alder Demain & Akers Juvenile Maiden Hurdle as all-weather flat winner Thisonesforyou, trained at Wilmcote by Olly Murphy, made all the running in the hands of champion jockey Sean Bowen to beat joint-favourite Kelly Burn, whose chance wasn't helped by a bad mistake at the penultimate flight.

Trigg, a winner at Uttoxeter and Newton Abbot already this season, was backed from 10/11 to 8/11 with Paddy Power in the morning to beat his five rivals in the Alder Demain & Akers Novices' Hurdle and he duly obliged, holding the persistent challenge of Nightflyer by a length to bring up Skelton's 128th winner of the campaign.

The largest field of the afternoon saw eleven line up for the Alder Demain & Akers Handicap Hurdle with the Skelton-trained Berry Edge heading the market.

He could only finish fourth, however, as Woodstock City, who had led into the home straight, comfortably beat second favourite Lucy The Wire to give Murphy and Bowen a double.

Court In A Storm, another morning market mover with Paddy Power, rewarded his supporters when, despite some indifferent jumping and dropping to last at one stage, landed the JETS Richard Davis Awards Handicap Chase, beating Ukantango by 2½ lengths.

Prior to the race, the annual JETS Richard Davis Awards, first hosted in 1997 in memory of the young jockey who had lost his life in a race fall the year before, were presented by Tom Scudamore.

Emma Stephenson, recognised for her second career in education at the Scottish Racing Academy, took the Jockey Club Achievement Award, worth £3,000 to the winner.

Runners-up Ed Barrett and Brian Treanor both received £500.

Andrew Elliott won the inaugural IJF Enterprise Award, carrying a prize of £2,000, which recognises a jockey who has demonstrated entrepreneurship, innovation and initiative in starting or developing their own business, freelance career, trade or enterprise activity.

Runners-up, who each received £500, were James O’Farrell and Lilly Pinchin.

Ellis Collier took the BHA Development Award, worth £1,000, for currently licensed jockeys who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their personal and professional development while riding.

Runners-up Ben Macey and Gregor Walkingshaw each received £250.

I Love You Sivola was another short-priced winner in the afternoon's longest race, the Alder Demain & Akers Handicap Chase over three miles, one and a half furlongs, before Ballymoreen became the fifth winning favourite in the closing Alex & Edward Alder Handicap Hurdle.