Until 3 runs ago Ten Past Midnight had run 9 race and his best placing had been two 4th placings – beaten about 10 lengths and 30 lengths respectively however his owners, who had remained loyal throughout lockdown, kept the faith and my goodness haven’t they been rewarded! His 2nd place at Uttoxeter at the beginning of October gave us so much hope that a win was just around the corner but who’d have thought in the same month he’d register not one but two wins?! What a dude he is – winning at Newton Abbot 10 days ago on heavy ground and then yesterday at Uttoxeter following up on good to soft ground in such gutsy style.
As I mentioned in the blog yesterday, his Newton Abbot win was in a Conditional Jockey’s race and the rules are that if you win one such race you don’t receive the usual 7lb penalty that all other race winners receive before their handicap mark is re-assessed. He is due to go up 5lbs so running yesterday he was 5lbs better off than if we’d waited until his new handicap mark kicked in so we couldn’t not run. In addition to that Deb, who rides him at home, was happy with him so we took our chance knowing he could have run a bit flat.
With Patrick Cowley in the saddle again, Ten Past Midnight didn’t make life easy for himself by not jumping as fluently as he could but he toughed it out under a great ride to lead inside the final 110yds and stay on bravely to win by a short head. It’s so satisfying delighting owners and Michael Chitty, although he couldn’t be there yesterday, who heads up the Serendipity Syndicate, was straight on the phone and suitably emotional and was then off to find his cats and dog who had vacated the room as he was roaring TPM home! Our 23rd winner of the season.
So pleased and he’s A1 today.
Sadly at the other end of the scale Fiddledi Dee disappointed again and showed us categorically that he doesn’t want to be a racehorse. So disappointing for his lovely bunch of owners and especially as he goes so well at home and had given us so much hope…. At least the run was so bad we knew there was no decision to make and we’ll find a lovely home for him as he’s a sweet horse and has lots to offer in a different discipline.
Biblical rain this morning but Tilly Jarrett and Paul Davis braved it and were rewarded by watching the first two lots thoroughly enjoying cantering up the grass – the horses don’t seem to notice the weather when they are on the gallops!
No runners today but we head to Lingfield tomorrow with 3 runners – more about them in the morning.