Unforgetable Double
Wed 09 Oct 2024
Winner 79 of 2024: UNFORGETABLE BELLE, trained by Alice Haynes and ridden by Lewis Edmunds. ‘Leicester Racecourse Ideal Christmas Party Venue Nursery Handicap’ over 7f at Leicester.
Fair to say, it wasn’t the most pleasant day at Leicester Racecourse. But neither Unforgetable Belle nor our owners did mind the conditions they were presented with. Our daughter of Dark Angel has shown great improvement with every run and handled softer conditions well last time out. After making great headway from the rear of the field, she disputed the lead with ease a furlong from home, and despite her showing some signs of inexperience when in front, she stayed on well to win impressively by 2 ¾ lengths. Unforgetable Belle's maiden victory marked our 18th 2-year-old winner of the season.
Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/2024-10-08/leicester/1423
Timeform rated her success with a 71, saying: "Showed improved form to get off the mark on nursery debut, still showing signs of inexperience but handling the very testing conditions well in the end; in touch, headway 2f out, edged left when led over 1f out, carried head bit awkwardly, kept on well; may do better still."
Watch her returning to the winners enclsoure and listen to jockey Lewis Edmunds:
Winner 80 of 2024: SERGEANT PEP, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Richard Kingscote. ‘Everards 175th Anniversary Handicap’ over 5f at Leicester.
A double on the day, our 80th winner of the season, and our 1600th winner overall. Sergeant Pep on a rainy afternoon in Leicester did provide just that. He travelled well into the race, despite being slightly outpaced in the early stages, but the stamina in those heavy conditions came to the fore inside the final furlong and he always looked the winner in the final strides. He produced a career best to secure his fifth victory for his owners and trainer Clive Cox.
Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/2024-10-08/leicester/1553
Timeform rated his victory with a 96, saying: "Who'd lost all chance at the start in the Ayr Silver Cup last time, broke better this time (although still awkwardly) and produced a career best back down in trip/returned to testing ground; in touch, outpaced over 2f out, headway when switched approaching final 1f, led last ½f, hung left, kept on; he's got plenty of ability but clearly comes with a few risks attached given his recent stalls issues."
Syndicate Manager Tom after the race:"It was brilliant to see him right the wrong of Ayr at the next time of asking and in the process of doing so, recording a career best in both Timeform and the Racing Post’s opinion, something I’d also agree with. He’s clearly a very talented horse and is very capable of big performances when things are in his favour, he does obviously have a few risks attached with his pre-race antics on occasions but there is plenty of fun to be had with him so I’m delighted that owners voted to keep him."