Soul Sunset Racing Featuring Craig Charles DJ Set

Course experience proved to be a winning formula at the inaugural Soul Sunset Racing fixture, with no less than three previous Roodee winners repeating the feat across an exciting six-race line-up. On an afternoon accompanied by a DJ set from Craig Charles, ground conditions were Good To Soft throughout, with the feature race coming at 6:05pm in the prestigious City Plate Stakes (Listed).

Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Stakes (3yo+, 7f)

A remarkable story emerged in this year’s Arabian race at Chester, with 9-year-old gelding Izenterisky (4/1) scoring on his first racecourse outing in almost five years, securing the victory under John Fahy for trainer Philip Collington and owner Sheila Collington – a magnificent team effort all round!

Race 1 – Soul Sunset Racing Apprentice Handicap (Class 5, 4yo+, 1m 4 ½f)

Runner-up at the track just under a month prior, Grey Fable (6/4F) got the meeting off to a flyer for favourite backers when storming home to take the first race by 2 lengths, delivered perfectly by Sean D Bowen for Irish trainer Karl Thornton. Despite breaking away slowly, Grey Fable soon settled into a prominent position through the opening mile of the extending mile and a half contest, ranging up alongside Natchez Trace (7/1) in fourth place as Green Team (20/1) led the way. Ridden along but steadily pulling back the leader, Grey Fable made his move around the home turn, battling away alongside Green Team before edging into the lead once entering the straight. Although a brief rally from Hot Team (9/1) looked threatening at one-point, Grey Fable saw out the trip well in the end, staying on stoutly to provide Sean D Bowen with his 20^th winner of the season; a career-best so far!

Race 2 – Roodee EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4, 2yo, 5f)

Midfield at Royal Ascot a couple of weeks earlier, Fuji Mountain (11/4) scaled new heights in the second race of the day, leading the field a merry dance to score by 2 ½ lengths for Zak Wheatley and Declan Carroll. Blitzing out of the starting stalls and straight into the lead, Fuji Mountain soon had matters in hand under Zak Wheatley, taking the field along at a good clip and still travelling best of all by the time they reached Castle Bend. Pushed along to stay in front of market leader Zabeel Road (2/1F), Fuji Mountain cornered the home turn in stylish fashion before kicking over a length clear a furlong from home, responding really well for his rider’s urgings and eventually coming home a tidy winner under hands and heels. Racking up a total of 14 winners last season, Wheatley has continued in fine fettle this year, now successful on four of his last seven rides in the saddle!

Race 3 – Horseradish Catering & Events Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 1m 6 ½f)

Recording a second course victory in a row, the drop in trip proved to be no hinderance for Sea Grey (8/1) in Race 3, the 5-year-old bravely battling it out under Franny Norton to edge home by ½ a length for the Donald McCain stable. Racing out wide for the majority of the first mile, Sea Grey moved well in mid-division under Franny Norton, always keeping close tabs on recent course winners Dreams Adozen (9/2) and Rich Belief (7/2F) as the field made their way around the final couple of bends. Gradually gaining ground on the outside passing the three-furlong point, Norton launched his attack on Sea Grey around the final turn, sneaking into a narrow lead as the home straight loomed. Keeping on gamely all the way to the line, Sea Grey was not for passing in the final furlong, knuckling down to hold off Gibside (8/1) and provide Franny Norton with his fourth Roodee winner of the year!

Race 4 – Raymond & Kathleen Corbett Memorial City Plate Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1, 3yo+, 7f)

Another to add a second consecutive Roodee victory to their CV, Al Shabab Storm (6/4F) achieved his biggest victory to date in the feature race of the afternoon, keeping on stylishly to score by 1 ½ lengths for the red-hot Jason Watson and Andrew Balding team. Settling into third place early doors, Al Shabab Storm moved well throughout the feature race, effortlessly gliding into a share of the lead around three furlongs from home, with his rivals now all gradually coming off the bridle. Stealing first run around the home turn, Al Shabab Storm kicked home impressively in the final furlong and a half, putting distance between himself and his rivals before powering on in taking fashion to hold off recent Group 3 winner Breege (5/1) in second place. Now on 83 winners for the season, six of which coming here at Chester, 2024 is looking to be another brilliant year for the Andrew Balding stable!

Race 5 – Horse PWR Handicap (Class 4, 3yo, 6f)

Despite the double burden of a wide stall and top weight, Stop The Cavalry (11/1) made the long trip up from Hampshire a worthwhile one in the fifth race, scoring in comfortable fashion by 2 lengths for Edward Greatrex and Ralph Beckett. Moving across from her wide berth in Stall 9, Stop The Cavalry settled towards the back of the pack in the early stages, biding her time as course winner Knicks (9/1) blazed a trail out in front. Ridden along but making rapid headway through the field, Stop The Cavalry soon found herself in a challenging position in the home straight, her rivals under pressure as Knicks began to weaken. Eating up the ground, Stop The Cavalry quickly ascended in the final furlong, bounding clear to an impressive victory ahead of Balon D’Or (8/1) in second. Fresh from a brief stint in retirement, Edward Greatrex has now marked up 14 winners in his comeback season!

Race 6 – Craig Charles DJ Set Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 5f)

Already a dual winner at the track, King Of Tonga (14/1) added another course victory to his tally in the final race of the afternoon, seeing off his rivals by a cool 1 ¼ lengths and providing Zak Wheatley and Declan Carroll with a double on the day. Always travelling widest of all, King Of Tonga certainly went the long way round in the finale, settling into third place through the opening quarter mile as Ecclesiastical (11/2) led the field towards the final two furlongs. Travelling notably well around the home turn, everything fell into place for King Of Tonga as they made their way through the final two furlongs, the 8-year-old running on strongly down the straight to hold off a late burst from fellow veteran Count d’Orsay (11/1) in the closing stages. An owner with a knack for Chester winners, Mrs Sarah Bryan also scored on the Roodee back in 2015 with fellow Declan Carroll inmate Mysterial!

Race report by Adam Perkins