Liverpool John Lennon Airport Family Fun Day

Fun, fun, fun in abundance was the call of the day during Chester’s Liverpool John Lennon Airport Family Fun Day fixture. The feature race of the afternoon came in the Queensferry Stakes (Listed) at 4:05pm, whilst the highlight on the Open Course was an appearance from kids TV stars Bluey and Bingo! Ground conditions remained Good To Soft on a mostly sunny afternoon on the Roodee.

Race 1 – Liverpool John Lennon Airport Runway Sprinter Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 1m 2 ½f)

In a thrilling end to the opening race, Bosc Girl (9/1) came out on top in a three-way photo finish, flying down the stands-side rail to edge home by a short head for Oisin Orr and Richard Fahey. Not the quickest away from the starting stalls, Bosc Girl raced towards the rear in the early stages, the field headed by Royal Dream (12/1) and market leader Princess Nyla (2/1F) through the first three quarters of a mile. Shuffled back to last place around the final turn, Bosc Girl still had a lot of work to do in the final two furlongs, switching out wide in order to find some room. However, as the pace collapsed in front, Bosc Girl really found her stride in the final furlong, scorching down the near side rail to hold off Golden Melody (33/1) and Royal Dream in the shadows of the post. Having another good season together, Fahey and Orr also took the Nell Gwyn (Group 3) this year with Pretty Crystal!

Race 2 – Arthur May Memorial Nursery Handicap (Class 5, 2yo, 7f)

Improving dramatically on his recent starts, New Bombay (9/1) scored in emphatic style on handicap debut in the second race, scooting clear down the straight to score by 4 lengths for David Probert and Andrew Balding. Keen to keep his mount switched off, Probert was quick to manoeuvre New Bombay towards the inside rail upon leaving the starting stalls, the eventual winner sitting towards the rear of midfield through the half-mile point as Anthropologist (4/1) led the way towards home. Sticking to the rail as those in front began to falter, New Bombay found the perfect gap around the home turn to steal a lead with just under two furlongs to travel, Anthropologist unable to maintain the gallop. Moving well and kicking on strongly at the furlong marker, New Bombay was in a different league down the straight, easily holding off runner-up Tuscan Point (11/1) in the closing stages and proving himself to be yet another shrewd purchase from Australia-based owners Teme Valley!

Race 3 – British EBF Newcomers’ Restricted Maiden Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive) (Class 4, 2yo, 7 ½f)

Despite being the outsider of the field, Neardown (7/1) finished off his race well on racecourse debut in the third race, ridden out by Saffie Osborne to secure a ¾ length victory for her father and trainer Jamie Osborne. Slowest away but travelling strongly, Neardown stuck to the inner rail behind market leader Captain Harry (85/40F) in the first half-mile of the contest, the tempo a modest one as the quintet headed for the home turn. Biding her time and waiting for the gaps to appear, Saffie Osborne delivered her challenge aboard Neardown upon entering the straight, four rivals now in line as the field entered the final furlong. Staying on powerfully under a strong drive, Neardown quickly found his stride in the closing stages, muscling into the lead to hold off Hot Dancer (9/4) in a close-fought finish. Another success for the Osborne’s and Barratt Racing now in the bag, winning connections could now turn their attentions to their Group 3 winner Emaraaty Ana in the very next race!

Race 4 – Liverpool Airport Faster, Easier, Friendlier, Queensferry Stakes (Listed) (Class 1, 3yo+, 6f)

Rediscovering the form that saw him win seven handicaps last season, Quinault (9/2) was a brilliant winner of this year’s Queensferry Stakes, leading from pillar to post to score by a length for Marco Ghiani and Stuart Wiliams. Nicely into stride out of the starting stalls, Quinault quickly took over at the head of affairs through the first couple of furlongs, Ghiani setting a solid pace out in front as Al Shabab Storm (13/8F) and Emaraaty Ana (8/1) lurked in behind. Yet to be asked a serious question, Quinault still travelled on the bridle with a couple of furlongs to go, his rivals gradually coming off the bit as the field swung into the home straight. Now in the clear, Ghiani kicked for home aboard Quinault with just over a furlong to go, his mount responding instantly before staying on to deny the plucky Al Shabab Storm a third Roodee victory in a row. A go-to jockey for many, Ghiani also scored aboard previous Roodee winner Great Generation in the Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) in May!

Race 5 – Barbara & Geoff Everall Memorial Handicap (Class 2, 3yo+, 7f)

Building on an impressive second place at York last time out, Yanifer (11/1) wrapped up a second Roodee victory in the fifth race, coming home a tidy 1 ¼ length victor under Oisin McSweeney for trainer Harriet Bethell. Taking a keen hold in the early stages of the penultimate contest, Yanifer raced in midfield for the most post, travelling in the slipstream of market principal Never So Brave (13/8F) as Roodee regular Percy’s Lad (16/5) led the field towards the final quarter mile. Pushed along at the two-furlong marker, Yanifer switched to the widest position of all upon entering the home straight, a wall of horses still in front as the winning post loomed. Building up a head of steam with a furlong to go, Yanifer readily found his stride under McSweeney, surging down the outside of Paws For Thought (14/1) to steal victory in the final 50 yards of the contest. A solid apprentice, McSweeney also scored in the Mercury Stakes (Group 3) at Dundalk last year aboard Dun Na Sead!

Race 6 – Ladies Day On 31^st August Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 1m 4 ½f)

Rewarding strong support in the market, Cambria Legend (9/4F) ran out a comfortable winner of the sixth race, ridden out to score comfortably by 1 ¼ lengths for Daniel Muscutt and James Fanshawe. Positioned in fourth place for much of the contest, Cambria Legend moved well under Muscutt through the opening mile, racing alongside recent dual course winner Sea Grey (11/4) as Swordstick (6/1) set the pace out in front. Making ground on the outside of Dreams Adozen (4/1) as the field made their way around the home turn, Cambria Legend soon had clear daylight with two furlongs to negotiate, his market rival Sea Grey now on the wane having been hampered along the inside rail. Delivered to strike at the furlong marker, Cambria Legend willingly extended in the closing stages, kicking clear and readily seeing off his rivals in impressive style. Often successful when teaming up, Daniel Muscutt and owner K K Ho also had Group race success with Deauville Legend in 2022!

Race report by Adam Perkins