PACIFIC De Baune added his name to the roll of honour for Warwick’s Highflyer Bloodstock Novices’ Chase on Wednesday when winning an eventful renewal in the hands of Jeremiah McGrath, writes David Hucker.
French import Djingle, making his second appearance in this country, set off at a fierce pace, opening up a clear lead over the favourite Pacific De Baune.
His jumping was anything but assured, however, and he was a beaten horse when unseating Adrian Heskin at the final fence.
Given a patient ride, Pacific De Baune had been travelling much the stronger coming out of the back straight but, with the race at his mercy, put in a short stride approaching the last giving his supporters their only anxious moment of the race.
“He’s very professional and a lovely horse who could be very progressive” said the winning rider.
“He put in a short one at the last, but was clever on his feet.”
My Mate Mark was well-backed for the opening Sodick ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle, gong off the even-money favourite ahead of the forecast market leader Harambe.
Always at the head of affairs, My Mate Mark dug deep to see off the challenge of his rival on the run to the line, holding on by a diminishing margin of three-quarters of a length.
Six runners set out on the two and a half mile trip for the Fourpenny Plate Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase, the first of three races on the card restricted to fillies and mares, with hat-trick seeking Marienstar bidding to defy top weight.
Sent straight into the lead by amateur Jack Andrews, Marienstar made every yard of the running, jumping well in front to easily hold off the staying-on Black Tulip by five lengths.
Irish raider Biddy The Boss topped the weights in the Thoroughbred Breeders Association Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, carrying a penalty for her Wexford win.
She had every chance jumping the penultimate hurdle, but the weight began to tell as She Mite Bite and Maebh took the final flight together looking like fighting out the finish.
Making her debut under Rules, She Mite Bite veered sharply to the right after jumping the hurdle, leaving the way clear for Maebh to open up an unassailable lead and, despite idling close home, hold on by one and a half lengths.
After his success in the feature, trainer Nicky Henderson was looking to top-weight Malachite to double up in the Sodick Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, but he could never land a blow on leader Erick Le Rouge who made all the running with Chester Williams, riding for his mother Jane.
Just three lined up for the first running of the £30,000 Smarkets Carlow Veterans’ Handicap Chase, with Exitas and Beat That renewing rivalry after their run over Aintree’s Mildmay course three weeks ago.
Exitas won easily that day but, on 10lb better terms and given a positive ride by James Bowen, Beat That gained his revenge to bring up the Henderson double.
