Moscow Mule kick started a busy spell of three Towcester meetings in 11 days to leave punters punch drunk on Monday evening.
The ten year-old showed spirit in abundance by romping to a five length victory in The Jimmy James Novices’ Handicap Chase, over 2m, belying his 22/1 odds in the hands of Ed Cookson.
Trainer Laura Hurley, based at Kineton, only has five horses in training at her Warwickshire base but celebrated a deserved family success on her mother’s birthday, Bronwen Hurley having also bred the Moscow Society gelding.
This was only Hurley’s third winner as a trainer under Rules although she has had plenty in point to points and her debut success with Orang Outan came at Towcester in February 2011 before that horse followed up at Huntingdon last month.
Bronwen Hurley said: “I always thought the horse had the ability after he won his point to point but he had genuine excuses on the last two runs when the surcingle broke and then a shoe was pulled off.
“I just hoped he wouldn’t get disheartened.”
Vodka cocktails were unlikely to be the poison of Haverfordwest trainer Dai Rees but the Welsh handler reputedly likes to enjoy his victories and an overnight stop at the Brave Old Oak in Towcester promised to be lively after the success of Molon Labe (9/4 fav) in the 2m selling hurdle, the winner being bought in for 4,600gns.
Molon Labe was produced late by Adam Wedge to defy another Welsh raider Paddy Partridge by four lengths, after Seaquel gave Lee Edwards a fall at the final flight.
Rees said: “The horse has had a wind problem but it suits him to come here.
“On a fast galloping track there is nowhere to hide but he can get a blow in here.”
There were two Pembrokeshire-trained winners on the card as Lucy Jones ran away with the 2m 3 1/2f amateur riders’ handicap hurdle with Prince Pippin (17/2) after a plot dreamed up at the Ascot Sales.
Jones has been seen to good effect at Towcester almost exactly four years earlier on the hunters’ chase winner Fruitfull Citizen and reported: “The mare has just had her first foal.”
There was a thrilling climax to the 3m Enjoy Your Retirement Stuart Plaskow Handicap Chase when the wandering Queen Of Mantua threw away her chance after the final obstacle, presenting success to 8/1 chance Noble Witness, representing the father and son pair of Charles and Adam Pogson.
Favourites Castlemorris King (9/2) and Mrs Peachey (6/4) took the 2m handicap hurdle and the Towcester Tea Rooms 10th Anniversary Mares’ Maiden Hurdle although coincidence punters were left scratching heads why Tea Caddy did not score in the latter. The concluding bumper was won by Ulzana’s Raid (9/2) for the trainer-jockey combination of Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson.