Edinburgh Gin Summer Saturday

A day in which the damp weather played a large part in proceedings, Edinburgh Gin Summer Saturday still proved to be a big hit at Chester Racecourse in 2024. The feature race of the day arrived at 3:20pm in a competitive 13-runner Class 2 Handicap Stakes, with ground conditions starting off as Good, before deteriorating to between Soft and Heavy by the fifth race.

Race 1 – Juddmonte EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2, 2yo, 6f)

Favourite backers got off to a flying start in the first race when market leader Asktheboss (100/30F) justified strong support under Hollie Doyle, scooting clear in tidy style to score by 1 ¾ lengths for Adrian Paul Keatley. Breaking away smartly, Asktheboss settled towards the back of the pack through the early stages, Hollie Doyle content to stalk the chasing vanguard before making her move passing the two-furlong marker. Switched out wide to challenge his closest market rivals The Flying Seagull (4/1) and Thecoffeepoddotco (4/1), Asktheboss accelerated impressively upon entering the home straight, staying on straight and true before hitting the front a furlong out and running on nicely to win a shade cosily. Achieving a career best of 24 winners in 2023, Keatley looks to be a trainer going places, having scored at Listed level with both Ballymount Boy and Francisco’s Piece since last year!

Race 2 – Edinburgh Gin Spritz Handicap (Class 3, 3yo+, 5f)

Successful in the same race two years earlier, 10-year-old veteran Copper Knight (4/1F) rolled back the years in the second race of the day, booted clear in the final furlong to bring home first prize for Tim Easterby, with Sean Kirrane in the saddle. A sprinter with a knack for breaking swiftly, Copper Knight stayed true to form out of the starting stalls, always prominent before settling behind rank outsider Never Dark (40/1) and course winner Dickieburd (15/2). Biding his time in the slipstream of the leaders, Kirrane pushed the button aboard Copper Knight after passing the cutaway just over a furlong from home, his mount responding brilliantly before striking the front half a furlong out and careering away to a comfortable 1 ¾ length victory. In a career best season, Kirrane also scooped the lucrative Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) last year aboard previous Chester winner Live In The Dream!

Race 3 – Edinburgh Gin Cannonball Handicap (Class 3, 4yo+, 1m 2 ½f)

A runner-up here at this year’s May Festival, Loyal Touch (10/1) went one place better in the third race of the day, staying on impressively to hold off Box To Box (9/2) in a pulsating finish, Joe Fanning in the saddle for the Charlie Johnston stable. Drawn widest of all and unable to reach front rank, Loyal Touch raced in last place through the opening mile of the contest, Joe Fanning not always looking overly comfortable with his position. However, as Box To Box led the field around Castle Bend, Loyal Touch travelled eye-catchingly well despite still being nearer last than first, the 4-year-old powering home down the centre of the track once in the clear and going on to score by a length, successfully wearing down Box To Box in the final 100 yards. Always a combination to be feared, Fanning and Johnston recently won Listed prizes with both Francophone and Madame Ambassador!

Race 4 – Horseradish Catering & Events Roodee Handicap (Class 2, 3yo, 7 ½f)

Always a man for the big occasion, Franny Norton took the fourth race of the afternoon in brilliant fashion, delivering a perfectly timed challenge aboard Richard Hannon’s Love Billy Boy (13/2) to wear down Pitney (16/1) by just a neck at the line. Racing prominently despite a wide berth in Stall 11, Love Billy Boy travelled strongly under Franny Norton through the opening half mile, never more than a couple of lengths behind early leader Sailthisshipalone (20/1) as the field made their way towards home. Cornering the final turn and moving notably sweetly, Love Billy Boy was merely nudged into the lead once entering the home straight, Norton rowing away aboard the new leader before holding off a staying on Pitney down the centre of the track in the closing stages. A trainer in fine form, Hannon recently enjoyed Group 1 Classic success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas with Rosallion!

Race 5 – Precision Facades Handicap (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m)

Third in unfortunate circumstances at the track on Roman Day, Rich Belief (7/2F) just about made amends with a tough performance in Race 5, holding on by a neck under Robbie Colgan for Irish trainer Karl Thornton. Starting off in a wide position towards the tail end of the field, Rich Belief travelled strongly through the first mile of the contest, steadily making headway on the second circuit to close down early leader Plus Point (11/2) around half a mile from home. Cantering on the bridle around the turn into the straight, Rich Belief soon looked to have the race sewn up under Robbie Colgan, staying on stoutly to hold off the valiant Wind Your Neck In (6/1) in the final furlong, who somewhat ironically went down by a neck at the finish. A jockey victorious at Group level on the flat and Graded level over jumps, today’s victory marked Robbie Colgan’s first ever British flat winner!

Race 6 – Edinburgh Gin Classic Handicap (Class 4, 4yo+, 6f)

Another 10-year-old veteran to seemingly turn back time, Hyperfocus (33/1) ploughed through the mud to see off market leader Mythical Phoenix (5/2F) by a neck in the sixth race, securing a double for Sean Kirrane and Tim Easterby in the process. Flying out the gates in tremendous style, Hyperfocus asserted his dominance very early on in Race 6, darting across to the inside rail to hold a comfortable advantage over market leader Mythical Phoenix and King Of Tonga (17/2). Still leading the way past the two-furlong marker, Hyperfocus ran on gamely out in front after negotiating the home turn, pushed along to maintain his lead all the way down the straight before just doing enough to hold on by a neck and see off a late challenge from Mythical Phoenix. Finally off the mark at Chester on his fifth attempt, Hyperfocus has now finished no worse than 3^rd in his last four runs here!

Race 7 – Edinburgh Gin Seaside Handicap (Div I) (Class 5, 4yo+, 1m 4 ½f)

Revelling in tough conditions on the Roodee for a second successive season, Dreams Adozen (5/2F) tenaciously rewarded market support in Race 7, staying on stoutly by a length to provide Joe Fanning and Charlie Johnston with a double on the day. Quickly away from the starting stalls, Dreams Adozen challenged Order Of Malta (5/1) for the lead through the majority of the opening circuit, never more than a length away from the pace. Always travelling comfortably under Joe Fanning, Dreams Adozen made his race-winning move just under three furlongs from home, moving stylishly into the lead as Order Of Malta began to feel the pinch. Now in the clear, Dream Adozen finished off his race in impressive fashion, relentlessly powering through the final couple of furlongs to come home a very comfortable winner ahead of Grey Fable (13/2). Owners often seen in the winners enclosure all over the country, Deva Racing also scored at Grade 2 level over jumps in 2021 with Captain Tom Cat!

Race 8 – Edinburgh Gin Seaside Handicap (Div II) (Class 5, 4yo+, 1m 4 ½f)

Making the long trip from Suffolk even more worthwhile, Eyetrap (9/2) ran out a stylish winner of the final race, keeping on nicely to score by 1 ¼ lengths under Jonny Peate for Jane Chapple-Hyam. Tracking early leader Gordon Grey (10/3) through the opening mile, Eyetrap raced in a share of second place for the most part, always well positioned. With many beginning to struggle in the stamina-sapping conditions, Eyetrap still travelled noticeably well along the inside rail with a couple of furlongs to go, the leader in his sights as he rounded the home turn and switched to the outside. Having found a nice strip of ground towards the stands rail, Eyetrap readily asserted at the furlong pole, gradually edging past Gordon Grey before staying on nicely to claim the spoils for P W Harris, an owner already successful with Chapple-Hyam at Group 2 level this year with Mill Stream!

Race report by Adam Perkins