Moore enjoys happier time at Lingfield
Jamie Moore’s week took a dramatic turn for the better at Lingfield today as he steered It Takes Time to an unexpected success in the £100,000 totesport Chase.
Less than 48 hours after he was handed a 21-day suspension for breaching the non-triers’ rule aboard another Martin Pipe-trained runner, an offence which he still vigorously denies, Moore was bringing the prize home on the 14-1 chance.
Much attention in the race surrounded the return to action of Iris’s Gift, but despite jumping well in the main, last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle winner tired badly turning for home and had nothing left to give over the last couple of fences, weakening badly to finish a long last.
Another novice – albeit one with far more experience – Ollie Magern had blazed a trail up front, but he was being stalked on the home turn by It Takes Time and the winner of the race 12 months ago, Hand Inn Hand.
The trio held every chance at the last but it was the enigmatic It Takes Time who came out best as he ran on strongly close home to get the better of Ollie Magern by two lengths, with Hand Inn Hand a further two and a half lengths away in third.
Reflecting on a difficult week, Moore said: “It’s been very bad. This is great but it doesn’t make up for 21 days without a ride, because all I want to do is ride horses.
“He travelled nicely, and although he missed three out and two out, he sprinted away nicely on the run-in.”
Moore added that he was yet to make a decision over whether to appeal over his suspension, knowing that a failed attempt would almost certainly rule him out of the whole of the Cheltenham Festival.
It Takes Time has a number of options at that meeting, with the two-and-a-half-mile Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy an obvious potential target.
But nearer to hand, next Saturday’s Racing Post Chase at Kempton could appeal as a possible stopping point given that he will have just a 3lb penalty to add to his current weight of 10st 10lb.
Pipe, speaking at Wincanton, was giving little away.
“He did it well,” he said. “He’s in plenty of races at Cheltenham but I suppose two and a half miles seems to be his trip now.”
Connections of the runner-up were delighted with Ollie Magern’s performance and confirmed him on course for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
“He’s jumped brilliantly again and he’s done absolutely nothing wrong,” said owner-breeder Roger Nicholls.
“I am delighted and we’re looking forward to the SunAlliance now.”
