By Peter Moore at Newbury 18th December 2024

Jockey Jonathan Burke rode just his second treble in his riding career at Bet Victor
Christmas Raceday at Newbury on their final meeting before Christmas.

Burke kicked off his treble with victory on the Emma Lavelle trained King Califet who
was winning on his rules debut in the 2m ½ furlong maiden hurdle.

The race itself was very eventful after the odds on Roysse looked every inch the winner
approaching the last more than 25 lengths clear.
However, drama was to follow with the five-year-old falling at the last with the race at his mercy.
This left a straight fight between King Califet and Mistress Emma with Burke getting up
to win by ¾ length.

Burke, had to wait for the fifth race on the card to bring up his second winner of the
afternoon with bottom weight Javert Allen taking the 2m ½ furlong Class 3 handicap
chase by 2 ¼ lengths for trainer Jane Williams.

Williams and Burke teamed up 35 minutes later by capturing the 2m 4f handicap chase
on the six-year-old Saint Segal.
The gelding has had his jumping problems in the past but today jumped well and
managed to put 11 lengths between himself and second placed Beau Balko.

The double for Williams has given her five winners from the last 17 runners with a strike
rate of 29%.

Looking for a treble the South Molton trainer saddled Yeld To Call in the finale, with the
three-year-old finishing fourth in the bumper won by the Alex Hales trained Chatty Girl
who got up on the line to beat Arfursgal by 1 ½ lengths on the fillies rules debut.

A large contingent of owners from the Owners Group were on hand on the winners
enclosure to welcome Believeitanducan in the opener on his first start over hurdles for
Alan King.

Warren Greatrex’s yard are flying at the moment with another winner for the Upper
Lambourn trainer when Herakles Westwood was victorious in the 2m 7 ½ furlongs
handicap chase, going one better than his previous second at Taunton 20 days ago to
give Greatrex his sixth winner from his last 20 runners he has sent out at a strike rate of
30%.

Greatrex was denied a double on the card when Buckna lost out to the Paul Nicholls trained Captain Bellamy by a head in a thrilling finish to the 2m 4 1/2 furlong novices hurdle.