Peter Moore at Epsom Thursday 12th September 2024
Jump jockey David Noonan having just his seventh flat ride and first at the Surrey course, guided the 11-2 shot Miller Spirit to victory in the Jump Jockeys Derby at Epsom on Thursday afternoon.
The Gary & Josh Moore trained four-year-old got the better of Big Bear Hug by half a length and the front running Parramount. The winner, owned and bred by Paul Reed, was recording a third win of the season.
Miller Spirit, was the first leg of a quick fire double for the Horsham pair after Tom Queally steered Small Fry to a comfortable /two and a half length victory over Bittalemon in the 1m 4f handicap.
Local trainer Jim Boyle won the Quickslide Quick Ride Handicap at the Surrey course two years ago and duly repeated the fete once again when Hodler took the second race on the card under claimer Luke Catton by two and a half lengths from Redredrobin.
After the race, Boyle said that he had been waiting for the soft ground to come, despite the five-year-old struggling in the heavy ground at Ffos Las a fortnight ago.
Imperial Cult has been a revelation since joining Rachel Cook and John Bridger and picked up a third win of the season in the 1m2f handicap.
The five-year-old gelding has always been somewhat of a quirky character and had to be mounted on course after going to post early. He was also reluctant to enter the stalls, but once in the stalls he went about his work under Gina Mangan who pressed the leaders over 2f out before eventually finding extra to lead in the closing stages to get the better of Thursday by a head.