Bux obliges for Brighton punters
Trainer Roger Ingram and jockey Robert Havlin will have left Brighton on Wednesday with rather different memories following the bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed On Every Race Handicap.
While the pair both landed a cut of the £2,838.60 (€3,480) prize through Buxton, it was a first winner in 113 days for Epsom-based Ingram but it cost Havlin a four-day ban (September 17-20) for using the whip with excessive frequency as he got the 17-2 shot up by a neck from H Harrison.
Ingram has not cared to be reminded of the dry run, explaining: “It does get on your nerves when you see the statistics in the newspaper.
“A lot of my runners, like this horse, have been placed but we just haven’t been getting a lot of luck.”
It was also a memorable afternoon by the seaside for Travis Block as the South African-born apprentice rode out his claim for the trainer to whom he is indentured, Hughie Morrison, in the EBF trainermagazine.com Maiden Stakes.
The 4-6 favourite Noble Jack had to be withdrawn after playing up in the stalls, leaving a 55p in the pound reduction on payout for My Kingdom, who obliged at 40-1.
There had been little to suggest My Kingdom on form from his first two runs but he had subsequently been gelded and looked a reformed individual as he strolled six lengths clear of Popiel despite drifting notably across the course.
“It’s all done and I am just going to have to put my head down now,” said Block.
“Hughie has been good to me and I have to just keep doing what I am doing.”
Avoca Dancer redeemed herself in the eyes of trainer Gay Kelleway in the Ian Carnaby Selling Stakes.
The five-year-old made her debut for the stable at Wolverhampton five days ago and was only eighth despite being backed into favourite.
Dropped down to basement level, she stayed on well to record a three-quarter-length verdict over Trinculo.
“I did my brains on her last time and should be just about even now,” said Kelleway, who could collect at odds of 10-1.
“I decided at Wolverhampton if she couldn’t win there, she’d be off to a seller. We put sheepskin cheek pieces on and got Neil Callan to ride, just to make her mind up for her.”
Callan later teamed up with Simon Dow’s Maybe I Will (12-1), who saw out a step up to 10 furlongs in the Matthew Clark Wines & Spirits Fillies’ Handicap.
David Probert provided the cure for the losing run of Ben Case’s 20-1 chance Siryrena in the Matthew Clark Wines and Spirits Claiming Stakes while Hadden Frost, who is starting out as a jump jockey and was 5lb overweight, came back to the level to take the bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed On Every Race Apprentice Handicap aboard The Gaikwar (6-1).
