Kim Bailey saddled a treble at Towcester on Tuesday night although he needed some help from racecourse stewards.
The former Northants handler, now based near Cheltenham, was on the mark with Twelve Roses (6/4 fav), Bishophill Jack (7/2 fav) and Ruby Crown (4/1), with three different jockeys in the plate.
Twelve Roses took the night’s opening 2m 3 1/2f maiden hurdle in the hands of Jason Maguire while Bishophill Jack (3m 1/2f handicap chase) was ridden by Nick Scholfield. The concluding bumper saw Ed Cookson come up trumps on a mare who is now retiring to the paddocks.
Bishophill Jack, a course winner in November, and third on his previous visit to the track behind Noble Witness, actually passed the post a head behind Rebel Swing and Samantha Drake.
Yet Scholfield immediately lodged a complaint to the stewards’ and after a 15 minute inquiry, the placings were reversed due to interference caused by Rebel Swing as the Jo Foster-trained gelding lent into the Bailey runner on the lunge for home.
Bailey has his string in fine fettle having also scored on Towcester’s previous card with Mrs Peachey and the Andoversford handler has made two entries on Friday evening’s card (5.55pm start).
County followers were cheered by the success of Thoresby in the 2m 3 1/2f handicap hurdle, as the Ben Case-trained seven year-old scooted up by three lengths from Bob Lewis. The latter, trained by Case’s neighbour Tony Middleton at Culworth is now looking like the perennial bridesmaid as he has now been second on three trips to Towcester in little more than three weeks.
Thoresby, running in the colours of Case’s principle patron David Allen, was successful at Towcester’s opening 2012/13 fixture in October but the trainer wasn’t entirely certain beforehand that the son of Milan would be able to deliver again. Yet with Jacob plotting a canny route on the inside in the slipstream of the leaders, he launched his challenge between the last two flights to score a decisive victory.
Case said: “The secret of the horse is to give him space between his races. He had gone up to a mark of 105 after winning at Huntingdon and was coming back to hurdles after running third at Stratford over fences last time.”
In-form trainer Fergal O’Brien made it 11 winners from 21 runners when Dark Energy (11/2) landed the 2m claiming hurdle under Paddy Brennan for the cricket-loving Yes No Wait Sorries partnership.
O’Brien said: “I thought this would be a tactical race and Paddy would be the man for the job. The horse is badly handicapped but it is about seizing opportunities and getting another winner on board.”
Kineton trainer Laura Hurley fielded two of her five strong stable in the 2m handicap chase but they came home a close second and third behind short head winner Crack At Dawn, trained by Michael Gates and a previous course winner practically two years ago.
Moscow Mule was two lengths clear over the last fence but then wandered across to the comfort of the stands’ rails while the winner carved out a straight course down the centre of the track.
The Nicky Henderson-trained Thanks For Coming (9/4 second favourite) came home a three and a half length winner of the 2m 6f novices’ chase in the hands of Northamptonshire jockey David Bass.