Peter Moore at Plumpton 6th November 2023
Trainers Chris Gordon and Joe Tizzard took the honours on Southern Cranes Raceday at Plumpton on Monday afternoon.
The pair both saddled two winners with Gordon successful with Blade Runner and Baddesley in the last, whilst Tizzard picked up a double with West Orchard and West End Boy in the penultimate race of the afternoon.
Gordon’s winner in the final race of the day Baddesley was quiet fitting as he also owned the eight year old gelding. With his son Freddie on board, the horse got the better of Copshill Lad by a length.
After the race the Winchester trainer revelled a special bonus to his full time staff. He said that the proceeds of his victory in the 2 mile 4 and a half handicap hurdle will be shared amongst the trainer’s full-time staff.
Baddesley was having his first start in the colours of Gordon, who said: “The prize-money goes to my full-time staff at home because it’s hard to get full-time staff now.
“Everybody wants to be part-time, so I thought I’d have a horse for those guys. They get a nice Christmas bonus anyway.”
Earlier, The 3 and a half mile I furlong handicap steeplechase was won by Rex Dingle on board Blade Runner who made it five wins from six starts over fences.
There was nearly £120,000 of prize-money on offer across Monday’s seven-race card and the Hampshire-based Gordon added: “It was brilliant prize-money. I’ve got Newbury up the road, I’ve got Fontwell down the road, but I keep going to Plumpton – when you’re putting prize-money up like that it’s madness to go anywhere else.”
Gordon just missed out on completing a treble but the 15-8 joint favourite Goodwin could manage just second place on his hurdling debut in the 2 mile 4 and a half furlong novice race won by Emailandy with Bryony Frost on board. A first winner for the Frost, Paul Nicholls combination this season.
The wonderfully named A Tickatickatiming was a popular winner in the opening race of the afternoon with Marc Goldstein on board the Sheena West trained five year old. The horse just got the better of Goodtimecrew by a neck, to give the Lewes trainer a winner at the track.
West who has a small yard with 15 horses in training was pleased how the horse is developing after a promising third of 9 at Fontwell a month ago.
Tizzard was the other trainer celebrating at the Sussex track with West Orchard a comfortable winner of the second race of the afternoon by three and three quarter lengths with Sean Bowen in the saddle.
West End Boy went to post as the odds on favourite in the sixth race of the day and duly prevailed with Freddie Gingell on board by three lengths from Parc D’amour.
The feature race on a very competitive afternoons racing was the Mannok Build GB Ltd Handicap Hurdle Race, with a total prize fund of £35,000. The race was won by the 14-1 shot Forever William with Tom Cannon in the saddle. The five year old was having his first run since 224 days but got the better of Monjules by half a length.