Violet Dancer topples L’Ami Serge at Warwick
Trained by Gary Moore and ridden by his son Jamie, he made all the running to topple odds-on favourite L’Ami Serge, who could never mount a serious challenge.
Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins is becoming a regular visitor to Warwick and he took the opening Caroline Bermingham & Claire Gibbs Birthday Novices’ Hurdle with Open Eagle, a classy performer on the Flat in England when trained by David O’Meara.
Open Eagle has taken well to hurdles, finishing second to his stable companion Thomas Hobson here in January, and he was sent off the 4-7 favourite to go one better this time. Always travelling well, Open Eagle took over from leader Kilcullen Flem approaching the second-last flight and proved too good for market rival Mystical Knight from there on, coasting to an easy success.
Just three lined up for the 7bets4free.com Novices’ Chase and there was another easy winner in outsider Vivaldi Collonges, who had disappointed in the Betfred Classic Chase here last month, but had no difficulty in seeing off Dawson City to score by 62 lengths.
Mullins had taken the 2015 running of the OLBG.com Mares´ Hurdle (Listed Race) with the classy Glens Melody, who went on to success at the Cheltenham Festival. This year, he was represented by Petite Parisienne, who was sporting a hood for the first time, but she never looked like adding to his record, finishing only fourth.
Jessber’s Dream had been runner-up in a similar contest at Taunton and Noel Fehily took her straight into the lead. She was still in front going to the last flight, but made her only mistake, handing the advantage to Flute Bowl, who ran on strongly for an 8-1 success.
Longest race of the afternoon was the Guy Salmon Land Rover Handicap Hurdle over three and a quarter miles and it produced the best finish, as Extreme Impact, who had been up the front from the off, came to collar 3-1 favourite Saint John Henry, who had looked the likely winner when leading into the home straight.
Taquin Du Seuil had not been seen out since finishing unplaced in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival eleven months ago, but he made light of his absence, putting up an impressive display under Leighton Aspell to defy top weight in the 7bets4free.com Warwick Castle Handicap Chase, becoming only the second winner of the year for trainer Jonjo O’Neill.
Aspell made it a double when landing the concluding Whitson Bloodstock Ltd Handicap Hurdle when Clyne proved too strong for Catchin Time, who belied his odds of 25-1 to run a good race for Kineton trainer Laura Hurley.
