REPORT – SOUTH SHROPSHIRE – EASTER MONDAY 21ST APRIL

There was a good declaration of thirty-eight runners on the day, racing on ground that was on the soft side of good. There had been extensive watering up to the meeting, and with the assistance of showery weather beforehand, the ground was ideal. The highlights of the meeting were training doubles for Neil Gittins courtesy of Blagthebookies and Great Valley, and Rhiannon Lodge who trained Gaelic Silver and Fayrely Fruitful.

In the Mixed Open, Gina Andrews sent Loughan into the lead a mile out closely pursued by Iola Sankey on Blagthebookies and the latter stayed on well from three out to win by fifteen lengths, supplementing his Bangor victory last month. Gittins said that the horse has loads of stamina and might be aimed at staying hunter chases, eventually.

Gittins only other horse in training, Great Valley, led throughout and Iola’s husband Guy Sankey won with consummate ease by twenty-five lengths from Bobs Dream. The five-year-old has now completed a hat-trick and appears to have great potential.

Galileo Silver, under Daniel Cherriman, led Premier Fantasy into the straight in the PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2) for Grass Roots Riders and stayed on well to win by ten lengths, supplementing his Ampton win earlier in the season.

Rhiannon Lodge’s double was courtesy of Fayrely Fruitful in the Maiden, where Henry Crow came with a well-timed run two out to beat Huw Edwards on Brockrock Roxie by two-and-a-half lengths. The six-year-old Dartmouth mare had previously won a bumper at Alnwick in December. Her dam Fruit Fayre won her Maiden at this track thirteen years ago and went on to be a prolific winner. The trainer’s father Robin Lewis who owns and bred the winner is hoping she can give his family further enjoyment.

Lodge also declared Count Frollo in the opening four-and-five-year-old Maiden and the gelding passed the post first under Henry Crow from Le Roi Remi, ridden by Jack Andrews. However, the race was declared void as there was confusion at the third last fence where the bypass arrows were visible but not in place. It resulted in two horses bypassing the fence and the remainder jumping it. After a lengthy steward’s enquiry, the race was declared void.

There was a first winner in her second season for Gillian Anderson in the Restricted, where she came with a well-timed run between the last two fences to pass Gina Andrews on Can Daddy Dance and win by seven lengths. The jockey who runs a horse transport business, bought the gelding as a store at Goffs and trains at Chipping Norton. The seven-year-old had previously won a Maiden at Chaddesley Corbett two seasons ago.