Johnson winner extra special
Richard Johnson took the riding honours at Uttoxeter today with a double initiated when The Extra Man made all to land the Leek Brewery Novices’ Chase.
Johnson, who was later successful on Billyvoddan, enjoyed an armchair ride on The Extra Man, who put in some prodigious leaps on the way to a two-length victory from Glen Warrior.
Afterwards Gary Davies, spokesman for part-owners Extraman Ltd, said: “He’s been a fine servant, and has won over hurdles at Cheltenham, Sandown and Ascot. He’s game and genuine and a great jumper. He’s earned a holiday now.”
We should be hearing a lot more of Billyvoddan, who turned what looked a competitive Derby Evening Telegraph Novices’ Hurdle into a procession as he came home 23 lengths clear of Red Ruffles.
Trainer Henry Daly said: “He’s a classic Trevor Hemmings-owned horse who will make a very nice chaser in time. I’ll put him into the field now and may give him one or more spins over hurdles before we switch him to fences.”
It has taken Football Crazy a while to get his act together over hurdles but the five-year-old was gameness personified as he fought off Dante’s Back by three-quarters of a length under a powerful Warren Marston drive in the County Of Staffordshire Trophy Maiden Hurdle.
Football Crazy was a prolific winner as a three-year-old for Neville Callaghan before Peter Bowen bought him for 11,000 guineas at the Doncaster Sales.
Bowen, explaining that the gelding has had his share of problems, said: “We’ve just sorted them out and now we’ve got him right he should go on and win a few more.
“He was a very good horse on the Flat who got a mile and a quarter round Sandown, and that’s why I was sure he’d get the three miles today.”
Local trainer Jennie Candlish is enjoying a successful year and she provided the answer to the Margaret Douglas Birthday Memorial Selling Handicap Hurdle as Good Thyne Johnny and Alan O’Keeffe ran their rivals ragged to score by 14 lengths from Tsunami.
Good Thyne Johnny broke a blood vessel on his previous outing at Wetherby, and Mrs Candlish said: “He’s had a nice break since and is a lovely horse who tries his heart out. That’s our second winner over the jumps as well as four on the Flat this year.”
Previous experience of this course helped Lazy But Lively as he came home 15 lengths clear of Act In Time in the totesport Handicap Chase.
Trainer Roger Fisher was not present to unsaddle Lazy But Lively, who is owned by racecourse steward Simon Marsh. He was led up by Pat Kavanagh, who said: “He lost his confidence over fences and the ploy of giving him a run over hurdles has worked a treat. That’s our fourth winner in the last fortnight.”
The Bristan Family Raceday Handicap Hurdle was won in convincing style by Mike Simmons, who was out on his own in the straight to foil a double for Jennie Candlish, who saddled runner-up Major Shark.
