Andy Irvine claims his first win of the season, with legend Birdman Bob doing the honours

Radio Woking Sport 21 Views

By Peter Moore at Plumpton Monday November 3rd 2025

Trainer Andy Irvine celebrated his first winner of the season after Birdman Bob landed the 2m 4f novice handicap chase on Racehorse Sanctuary Raceday at Plumpton on Monday afternoon.

The eight-year-old course favourite has been winless over hurdles since 2023, but the switch to the higher obstacles on his seasonal return has worked wonders with the gelding going clear before two out before going further ahead of the field to win readily by ten lengths from Gone in Sixty who missed out on getting his head over the line for the fifth time in a row.

Ridden by Caolin Quinn, the Irishman went on to record a double on the card after producing the perfect late run to deny Jorebel who was seeking a fourth successive win for the Chris Gordon yard.

After being held up in the rear, Quinn pressed the leader two out before going away to score by three lengths for Gary & Josh Moore.

Racing can give you so much pleasure as a trainer but can also bring you such grief. Paul Nicholls was represented by Maldini Milano in the 2m 4f maiden hurdle. With Harry Cobden aboard, the horse was always travelling well before challenging two out. Approaching the last it was a three way contest for the eventual winner, but Cobden led over the last to stay on and beat Daylatedollarshort by three and a half lengths.

Barely half an hour later, last year’s winner of the 2m 4f handicap hurdle race Irish Hill, going for a repeat victory fell heavily at the fourth flight and suffered a fatal injury.

The race was won by the Harry Fry trained Walk On High, to make it three wins in a row for the eight-year-old.

Chris Gordon took the opening race of the day, the 2m maiden hurdle after Poet Laureate kicked for home to score impressively by 21 lengths from Golden Circet.

The longest race of the day run over 3m 1f featured only three runners with James Owen saddling two of them and Dan Skelton the other.

Bottom weight Shantou Lucky took the honors for the Owen yard to get the better of his stablemate Ivane by three and three quarter lengths with claimer Nathan Howie in the plate.