Major prize money on offer at latest Warwick meeting

THERE'S a whopping £272,000 in prize money on offer at Warwick's Classic Chase Day on Saturday topped by the £100,000 Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase run over three miles and five furlongs, reports David Hucker.

Last year saw a win for My Silver Lining, who beat Galia Des Liteaux by three-quarters of a length in a thrilling finish. The Emma Lavelle-trained grey mare provided an emotional success for jockey James Best, being owned by his mother-in-law, Celia Djivanovic. This was Lavelle’s third victory in the race, having won previously with Shotgun Paddy (2014) and Eclair Surf (2022).

Second most valuable race of the day is the £75,000 Trustatrader Hampton Novices' Chase over three miles which is the target for Handstands, winner of a Grade 2 contest at Sandown Park last month. The seven-race card gets underway at 12.42pm and gates will open two hours before.

There was a party atmosphere amongst the sell-out crowd of over 8,000 at Warwick's New Year's Eve meeting and, despite the gloomy weather forecast, it stayed dry with racegoers in good voice throughout the afternoon.

Trainer Harriet Dickin equalled her score of six from last season when Lord Of All Saints followed up his Leicester win with an easy success in the opening Poundland Novices' Handicap Hurdle. Taking the lead turning for home, he was brought to the stands rail by Bradley Harris to put 16 lengths between himself and Definite Dream who had been up with the pace from the start, but was no match for the winner.

Disappointment of the race was the well-backed Elle Est Beau, but favourite backers didn't have long to wait to collect as Crazierthandaisy, returned at 7/4, produced a strong late run to land the following Poundland EBF Mares' National Hunt Novices' Hurdle to continue the good form of trainer Nicky Henderson. Runner-up Come On Nia had veered off a straight line after the final light, crossing in front of Two Fingers West, who had made much of the running, but the result was allowed to stand.

Young jockey Freddie Gingell is only in his fourth season of riding, but has a 21 per cent strike rate this campaign and landed his 67th career success when Special Acceptance struck for the first time in four years when taking the feature Poundland Conditional Jockeys' Veterans' Handicap Chase. Top Ville Ben had made the running over the three mile trip, but gave way down the back straight to Supervisor and Special Acceptance and the two had a good battle right to the line.

Although they had company for part of the race, Noche Negra and conditional jockey Jamie Brace were always at the head of affairs in the Poundland Handicap Chase and they finished 9½ lengths clear of their rivals to make it five wins at the course this season for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. Previously trained by Laura Morgan, Noche Negra was making his stable debut here and won with a fair bit in hand.

Leading hurdler Constitution Hill wasn't at Warwick but his half-brother Land Genie was and he ran out a ready winner of the longest race of the afternoon, the Challenger Stayers' Hurdle Series Qualifier over three-and-a-quarter miles. Harry Skelton didn't leave the outside rail as he searched for the better ground, completing a stable double for brother Dan after the trainer's Don Hollow was successful at Uttoxeter earlier in the afternoon.

Ideallko overcame an absence of 288 days to land the Poundland - Proud To Support Warwick Racecourse Handicap Chase, leading on the home turn to beat Stick With Me Sam by two lengths before point-to-point winner No Drama This End, the choice from three entries for trainer Paul Nicholls, took the closing National Hunt Flat Race in some style