What a great night at Uttoxeter last night with two winners and each of those horses winning their third race in a row too – brilliant. Mozzaro kicked off proceedings for our team in the best positive way with a gutsy win over fences retaining his unbeaten status over the larger obstacles. We felt he’d come on for the run after 5 months off the track as he’s done really well and he definitely looked bigger than usual in the paddock but Sean Bowen, deputising for injured James Best, got him into a great rhythm and got him jumping well. Turning into the straight, as the pace quickened,it looked as if he’d be shuffled back but he continued to jump superbly and showed how brave he is – getting back into the race with the help of his fabulous jumping and his tenacity too – hitting the front after the last to go on and win by 3/4 length.
Absolutely thrilled for all his patient owners and especially for Deb Butler who not only owns shares in him but mucks him out, rides him out, leads him up at the races and whose colours he was running in for the first time. Her first winner in those colours so a very special day.
Cloud Formation was also returning from a break and made a really bad mistake at the second fence which basically knocked him out of the race. Adam Wedge got him jumping again and his confidence back but his chance was gone and he pulled him up before 4 out.
Our next runner was Ollie & Irene Ryan’s lovely mare Found On who’d won there two weeks earlier and whom I hoped the race wouldn’t come too soon. She’d seemed really well at home and clearly loves Uttoxeter. Sean Bowen gets on so very well with her – it’s almost poetry in motion watching them both – he gets her jumping superbly and they understand each other. A competitive little race where they tried to not let her have it all her own way however she made all and won by 7 lengths and 83 lengths … pretty impressive! So disappointed that Ollie & Irene couldn’t be there to enjoy her win with us though as although they are back from their Honeymoon, Ollie has unfortunately contracted Covid so is housebound. Hopefully her win cheered him up and we can’t wait to celebrate both her recent wins with them soon. That’s three in a row for Found On now so a fabulous result.
Windy Cove only had to negotiate two hurdles and she is such a good jumper that the more hurdles the better for her. Frustrating but a necessity these days due to Health & Safety and the low sun in the way. She pulled hard early on which didn’t help her cause and we remain confident she is much better than this so look forward to a run with all the hurdles in soon and her hopefully learning to switch off.
It’s fabulous to be in mid May, just two weeks into the 2022/2023 season and to have four winners on the board – well done to everyone concerned, let’s keep it going!