
By Peter Moore at Lingfield Park Friday 31st January 2025
Heavy ground specialist Sporting Ace relished the testing conditions at Lingfield on Friday to lift the Surrey National under Jack Quinlan for trainer Neil King.
The Nine-year-old had shown decent form on heavy ground, without winning.
Today, the headgear worn in previous races was dispensed with, which certainly benefited the horse.
Approaching the last in this 3m 5f marathon contest the field was well strung out, with three horses in line coming up to the second last. After the final flight it turned into a two horse race for Honours with nothing to choose between Passing Well and Sporting Ace.
It was left to the judge to decide the winner, with Sporting Ace getting up on the line to win by a head to give King his third consecutive win with as many runners.
On a day when owner John Hales was remembered after passing away this morning at the age of 85, with jockeys paying their own tribute by wearing black arm bands, it was fitting that trainer Olly Murphy bagged a double.
Hales owned Grandads Cottage who is currently trained by Murphy.
Pierrot Jaguen profited for the move up in trip by comfortably winning the opener and fully justifying his odds of 2-9. The six-year-old was pushed all the way up till the final flight by 125-1 shot Better Off Alone, before pulling clear to win by 4 ½ lengths.
“He’s a big, lovely horse, and probably one for next year more than this year,” said Murphy. “Robert was just saying we could have a look at Cheltenham or Aintree but I’d be leaning towards taking the chance of it coming up soft at Aintree and running in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.
“He’s got a bit of class and was very raw at Cheltenham. He travelled like the winner but got tapped for toe, he might have won with another 100 yards. He’s a lovely three-mile chaser for next year and Sean says he has a fantastic mind, which is a good quality with big festivals in mind.”
The Wilmcote trainer had to wait for the finale to claim his second winner on the card with Sean Bowen steering Eaton Avenue to the easiest of victories by 22 lengths easing down at the finish to give Bowen a double also.
Champion jockey Harry Cobden had just one ride at the Surrey course which proved a successful one after riding Havaila to victory by 2 ¼ lengths in the 2m 7 ½ furlongs handicap chase.
Disco Davis has been a horse who’s jumping has been questioned after falling twice in his last three races.
Today however it was a much better display from the gelding after recording an easy eight lengths success in the 2m maiden hurdle for the Skelton’s.
Harriet Dickin made it four wins from her last seven runners after Just Aidan took the 2m novice handicap hurdle with James Best in the plate to give Dickin an impressive strike rate of 57%.