The season is under way here in the South West and it couldn’t have come soon enough!
Warwick kick-started the season with The Heart of England two day meeting last week and what a great two days racing we had. Food and drink was at the fore with the Michelin Star chef Adam Bennett cooking up a storm on Tuesday demonstrating his mastery culinary skills to racegoers.
With 104 horses competing over two days, it was great to see so many runners this early in the season. Huge credit must go to the Warwick Ground Staff and all the work they do throughout the summer to provide the best possible ground.
Charlie Longsdon stole the show winning both feature races. Day one of their two day meeting saw Vivas driven home by Aidan Coleman to win the Jason Waites 50th Birthday Handicap Chase, beating the game favourite Potterman. On Tuesday, 12/1 shot Treackle Tart, ridden by Paul O’Brien, repelled the efforts of For Good Measure to win by half a length. It’s always worth noting a Charlie Longsdon-trained horse early on in the season, he boasts a very impressive 27% strike rate in September – very impressive! I know his horses return to training earlier than most so come this time of year they are fit and raring to go.
One to watch: It isn’t a horse it’s actually a Jockey! Jonjo O’Neill Jr rode Write It Down perfectly to win the Hook Norton Brewery 170 Conditional Jockeys Handicap Chase for Dad, Jonjo O’Neil, and owner JP McManus. His 3lb claim will be very handy this season so don’t be surprised to see more of him in the Winners’ Enclosure. It’s also great to see him getting rides elsewhere; he seems to be Colin Tizzard’s go-to claimer this season and we all know the arsenal the Tizzard’s have in their stable so if he maintains this form he should get a spin on some very nice horses.
You don’t have to wait long for the next Warwick raceday as we go again on Thursday 3rd October. It still isn’t too late to secure hospitality for this meeting, we currently have one course-facing box available from £105 per person. Please call Charlotte Parkins on 01926 405560 for more information.
Last week we also celebrated the annual McCoy Awards and celebrated Ruby Walsh taking home the Outstanding Contribution Award. The McCoy Awards is the chance to celebrate everything great about racing in the South West so I’ll be sure to share the highlights with you on my next blog.
Be lucky!
For further information or to enquire about Hospitality at either Cheltenham, Exeter, Warwick or Wincanton Racecourse, please email mark.pearse@thejockeyclub.co.uk, Regional Hospitality Sales Manager for the South West Racecourses at The Jockey Club.
