A Catterick Double from Fiveandtwenty & Beechwood Jude!
Wed 26 Aug 2020
Our 43rd Winner of the year: FIVEANDTWENTY trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Franny Norton: The Brokes Fillies' Handicap over 1m 4f, at Catterick.
It was pretty attritional yesterday at Catterick after so much rain, thanks to Storm Francis and the going was heavy. Our daughter of Farrh was having her sixth start, but only her second on turf, although that was a winning one on good ground over this trip, at Ripon! Franny had her midfield and began to ask her for an effort 4f out, with the mud flying around her. Moving to the rail, she kept on well inside the final furlong, always doing enough to win by 1.5 lengths, as the commentator said "pushed out and wins a touch snugly!"
Watch the race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/288969-catterick-bridge/25-Aug-2020/1455
Timeform rate it a career best 82 and syndicate manager Mike says "Once Franny got her balanced on the rail she saw her race out very well. She clearly relished the ground so she could have a productive Autumn. Seeing her come home like that, over that trip, in those conditions, brought to mind that she could have a decent future over hurdles too."
She clearly caught the eye as shares were sold in her after the race and there's now just 10% remaining. See these details here: http://www.middlehamparkracing.net/horses/view,fiveandtwenty_256.htm
And completing our 4th double of the year, winner 44 is: BEECHWOOD JUDE trained by Keith Dalgleish and ridden by Shane Gray: The Whitwell Handicap over 1m 4f, also at Catterick.
Coming off a 260 day break, we thought he might need this, but indeed Jude was having his first start back on the flat after winning in soft conditions over 2 miles at Musselburgh. He ended up making all, just coming off the bend Shane began to ask him to continue his effort and he kept on resolutely to the line to win by 3/4 of a length.
Watch the race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/288970-catterick-bridge/25-Aug-2020/1525
Shane said in his post race interview "He loved the ground and had his ears pricked out in front. He was lobbing along and did it well, picking up when I asked him to."
His win was also rated as a career best 91. Mike says "We asked Shane to pop him out and see how far he got and he went so slowly that he never got out of his comfort zone and got in to a lovely rhythm and they rest of the field was happy to let him do that. He’ll come on for that fitnes wise and it’s good to see him back on track."
Congratulations to both sets of owners and thank you to Catterick for their winners goody bags and hospitality yesterday, particularly to Charlotte at the track for liasing with us to make sure they were all rewarded with champagne! Owner Andy said "What a brilliant day we had at Catterick this afternoon topped off with Jude winning. My granddaughter, Charlotte, was thrilled to bits. We have a framed photo of Jude going past the winning post. I must say it would look lovely on my mantel piece. Again, many thanks for the tickets and for a wonderful day."
Now that's why we do this syndication lark! It also appears that certain owners have had three winners in two days....
BOOM #TeamMPR!