Friday 26th June 2009
Raggle Taggle returns to winning ways
CLOSE finishes were the theme of the evening with five races being won by a winning margin of a length or less.
Raggle Taggle gave in-form jockey Eddie Ahern another winner when taking the feature race on the card, the EBF Fillies’ conditions stakes at odds of 7-1.
The daughter of Tagula showed a good attitude when headed inside the final furlong to get back up by a head.
Trainer Ralph Beckett said: “She is a tough filly and really deserved this having been chinned a few times last year. It was a nice race to win tonight and she did a good job.”
Emma Dora took the EBF Fillies’ maiden in gutsy fashion for trainer David Elsworth and jockey Dane O’Neill.
The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro had clearly learnt from her two previous racecourse experiences to make all, staying on gamely to repel Water Biscuit by a short-head.
Elsworth said of his 11-1 scorer: “She was a little on her toes and is still learning. We’ll see what the handicapper does but we hope she can improve again.”
Summer Winds was given a good ride by Seb Sanders to win the Danwood handicap.
The runners were spread all across the track inside the final 2f with Sanders’ mount coming out on top by a length and a quarter.
Richard Ryan, assistant to trainer Terry Mills said: “It was a slowly run race and he quickened well. He just coped with the ground which was soft enough for him.”
Becausewecan battled in the style of typical Mark Johnston-trained horse, taking the Directa Winning Signs handicap.
The 9-2 chance made all in the hands of Richard Hills and pulled out more when challenged in the closing stages to get home by half a length.
The finale on the card, the Devil’s Dyke handicap, saw the progressive Mattamia record back to back wins at odds of 5-2.
The son of Makbul made all under James Millman for his father trainer Rod Millman and scored in good style by two lengths.
It was another close finish in the Directa UK handicap with jockey Tom Queally needing all his strength to get King Columbo to hold on.
The Julia Feilden-trained gelding responded well to win by a nose at odds of 6-1.
The Adcock Group Claiming Stakes went the way of 9-2 chance Fajita from the Gary Moore yard who came with a storming run up the outside under Ted Durcan to score by a length.
Racing continues tomorrow on the July Course with the first race scheduled for 1:50
By Jackie Jarvis
