Virgin Bet Autumn Racing Food & Drink Weekend

Despite a damp week in the city, the first day of Chester’s Autumn Racing Food & Drink Weekend provided a thrilling eight-race card on a mostly dry afternoon. The feature race came at 5:05pm in the Chester Handicap Stakes (Class 4) with Heavy going underfoot throughout the day.

Race 1 – Autumn Racing Fillies’ Handicap (Class 5, 3yo+, 7f)

Rewarding market support in stylish fashion, Kindest Nation (9/4F) ploughed through the mud to score by 2 ½ lengths in Race 1, coming home strongly under Jason Hart for trainer Hugo Palmer. Quickly into stride and darting towards the inner rail, Kindest Nation settled in a prominent fourth place through the half-mile point, tracking the leader Takes Time (11/4) on the run towards the home turn. Short of room three furlongs from home, Kindest Nation lost ground and soon looked to be in danger of allowing Takes Time to slip the field around the final bend. However, responding nicely and soon within touching distance of the leader, Kindest Nation powered on tenaciously upon entering the straight, getting on top at the furlong pole and readily coming clear in the closing stages to score impressively. With 63 winners on the board and £1m earned in prize money, Hugo Palmer is currently enjoying his most successful season since 2018: a fine effort from the locally based trainer!

Race 2 – Horseradish Catering & Events EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Div I) (Class 5, 2yo, 6f)

Another good result for favourite backers came in the second race of the day when market leader Qetaifan (2/5F) routed his rivals by 3 ¼ lengths to take the spoils for Jason Watson and Andrew Balding. Duelling for the lead with Herb Flannel (100/30) for much of the early proceedings, Qetaifan ensured a good gallop towards the head of affairs, his rivals a good couple of lengths behind through the halfway point. Switched to the outside by Watson around the home turn, Qetaifan readily sauntered past the long-time leader Herb Flannel with a couple of furlongs to go, travelling much the best as his rivals gradually came under firmer pressure. Moving with ease into the home straight, the result was never in much doubt for Qetaifan, the new leader now stretching further clear with every stride to secure a commanding victory ahead of Herb Flannel in second. Successful with Balding’s 2019 Group 2 winner Shadn, Al Rabban Racing look to have another smart recruit on their hands!

Race 3 – Horseradish Catering & Events EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Div II) (Class 5, 2yo, 6f)

Extending his unbeaten sequence to two, Bob Mali (5/4F) added another nail to the coffin of bookmakers in the third race, coming home stylishly under Sean D Bowen to claim a 1 ¼ length success for trainer Ollie Sangster. Allowing Dark Rosa (16/1) some rope to set the pace up front, Bob Mali raced in midfield through the first three furlongs of the contest, racing one place ahead of a ridden along Top Bins (11/4). Travelling well enough as Dark Rosa led the field around the turn into the home straight, Bob Mali still had around six lengths to make up on the leader as Top Bins made a bid on his outer. Nevertheless, making stealthy headway in the final furlong, Bob Mali responded well to his rider’s urgings, gradually pulling back the deficit before taking the lead 100 yards out and going to win a shade cosily under Sean D Bowen. Now into his second year of training, 2024 has been a memorable one for Ollie Sangster, successful at both Group 2 & Group 3 level with Simmering!

Race 4 – Inkerman London Handicap (Class 5, 3yo+, 6f)

Despite being weak in the market, Hallowed Time (18/1) certainly proved his doubters wrong in the fourth race, flying down the centre of the track to steal a ½ length victory for Cam Hardie and Mark Loughnane. Ridden out of the stalls and nudged along for much of the contest, Hallowed Time raced up the inside rail in fifth place through the halfway point, the pace being set by Thornaby Pearl (5/2F) as the field descended on Castle Bend. Desperate for racing room after negotiating the home turn, Cam Hardie ran into plenty of traffic aboard Hallowed Time just over a furlong from home, his mount trapped in amongst horses as Run This Way (4/1) made a bold bid down the centre. However, finding enough of a gap to squeeze through at the furlong marker, Hallowed Time saw out his race in determined style, running on strongly to take a narrow lead shortly before the line. A reliable pilot, Cam Hardie’s career highlights include Listed victories aboard Tupi in 2015 and Stormy Girl in 2020!

Race 5 – Virgin Bet Handicap (Class 5, 3yo+, 2m)

Staying on nicely in the final furlong, Corsican Caper (11/2) ran out a brave winner of Race 5, handling track conditions nicely to score for trainer Kevin Frost and provide Sean D Bowen with a double. Slowly into stride, Corsican Caper raced in last place for the most part, kept out of harm’s way through the first mile and a half as Zivaniya (12/1) led the way. Catching the eye as the field made their way past the three-furlong marker, Corsican Caper rapidly appeared on the scene around the home turn, clinging to the rail as market leader Judgementofsolomon (7/2F) came under pressure. Switching towards the outside upon entering the straight, Corsican Caper briefly looked to be tapped for toe in the final furlong, but despite wandering under pressure, the grey stayed on strongly towards the line to steal victory from a weary Judgementofsolomon. A trainer known for his jumps exploits, Frost’s biggest victory came in the 2015 Red Rum Handicap Chase with Surf And Turf!

Race 6 – Camden Town Brewery Handicap (Class 4, 3yo, 1m 6 ½f)

Powering clear down the home straight, the most impressive victory of the day came in the shape of Who’s Glen (5/2JF) when destroying his rivals by 13 lengths in Race 6, bringing home the double for both Jason Watson and Andrew Balding. Sitting prominently, Who’s Glen travelled strongly amongst a very well-bunched field throughout the sixth race, the lead occupied by Far l’Amore (8/1) upon passing the four-furlong marker. Easing into second place and cruising clear of the remaining bunch, Who’s Glen was sent after Far l’Amore with just under three furlongs to go, the leader now coming under the pump as the strong early pace began to take its toll. Breezing into the lead around Castle Bend, Who’s Glen soon had the contest in safe keeping, ridden clear in the straight and extending away impressively to record a first victory under rules. Enjoying another fruitful season, both Balding (11 winners) and Watson (8 winners) currently lead our trainer and jockey leaderboards for 2024!

Race 7 – Chester Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 7f)

Adding a fifth Chester victory to his already impressive CV, Paws For Thought (7/1) once again proved to be a class apart on the Roodee, keeping on strongly under Charlie Maggs to score by 1 ½ lengths for Donald McCain. Smartly away from a wide berth in Stall 8, Paws For Thought soon adopted his usual front-running tactics in the penultimate race of the day, moving a couple of lengths clear of Berkshire Nugget (11/1) and Quest For Fun (100/30F) with half a mile to go. Having a sneaky glance in behind, Charlie Maggs seemed to have all angles covered aboard the leader as they made their way around the home turn, Quest For Fun now under pressure in second place. Still travelling best of all with just over a furlong to go, Paws For Thought made no mistake in the closing stages, staying on stoutly once challenged to run out an impressive victor. Now level with the likes of Roman Dragon on five Roodee wins, Paws For Thought is just one away from equalling the modern-day record of six!

Race 8 – National Racehorse Week Handicap (Class 4, 3yo, 1m 2 ½f)

Joining forces with the Johnston stable once again, Franny Norton notched a fifth Chester winner of the year when Aviemore (6/4F) took the finale, the 3-year-old gelding coming nicely clear by 4 ¼ lengths to land the spoils. Smartly away and quickly taken to the front by Norton, Aviemore set a decent pace through the opening mile of the contest, closely pursued by Celtic Warrior (3/1) as Phone Tag (18/1) settled in rear. Edging away from the rail around the home turn, Aviemore looked to be firmly in command with a couple of furlongs to negotiate, his nearest challengers all under pressure to maintain their positions. Given a couple of reminders shortly before the furlong marker, the reaction from Aviemore was immediate, rapidly kicking clear of his rivals in the closing stages to record an easy victory ahead of Phone Tag. A fan favourite, Norton has now ridden a record 153 winners at his beloved Roodee, putting him 78 winners ahead of Richard Kingscote in second place!

Race report by Adam Perkins