Moonlight shines for Mann

Charlie Mann’s waiting game with Prairie Moonlight paid dividends after an impressive performance at Ludlow.

The six-year-old mare had some interesting types behind her as she went clear of her rivals with the minimum of fuss in the Church Stretton Handicap Hurdle, despite sharing top weight.

The 9-2 chance had five lengths to spare over favourite Predator, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, with a further two lengths back to the Nicky Henderson-trained Herakles in third.

Mann said: “We have been waiting for two months for the right ground for her.

“The race we have always had in mind for her is a mares’ only handicap at Punchestown in April, although she also has an entry in the County Hurdle.

“She is a good mare and she was second in a Listed race at Ayr and won a Listed race in Germany on the Flat.

“She will make a lovely novice chaser next season, but everything depends on the ground with her.”

Upper Lambourn trainer Anthony Jones had one his best wins – just two days before he hands in his licence.

His last runner will be Mr Whizz at Southwell on Tuesday and he admitted: “I will miss it, it is something I love.”

Jones sent out Fin Bec to win the His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales Challenge Trophy (for Amateur Riders’) Handicap Chase in what was also a remarkable riding performance by Bulgarian Emil Imelov.

He lost his irons three times – and went across the line with both feet out of the stirrups on the 15-2 chance after a blunder at the last fence.

On the end of his career, Jones said: “An owner went bust on me owing £16,000 and another one helped me out until he wanted his money back.

“I could not afford to keep on going.”

Imelov will also be looking for a new job and Jones said: “He was a member of the Bulgarian show jumping team and that probably helped him. He rides Fin Bec at home and schools him. That his first winner and he has had four rides for me.”

Secured landed a 100-1 surprise (146-1 on the Tote) when just getting the better of Adventurist in the J H Newton Memorial Novices’ Hurdle.

At the same time he was ending something of an unwelcome family tradition involving his stable companion and half-brother, Mister Mustard.

Trainer Ian Williams said: “Mister Mustard had a habit of finishing second around here and half-way up the run-in, I thought it might happen to Secured.

“But he battled on really well and hopefully there is more improvement to come from him.”

He added: “He was disappointing at Newbury last time and to be honest, we were not expecting such a big run from him.”

Secured had always been in the leading group and took up the running four flights from home, but had to dig deep to repel the attentions of Adventurist in the closing stages.

Political Intrigue is the only National Hunt horse that Tom Dascombe has in his yard but he gave the Lambourn handler his first winner over obstacles in the Bull Ring Juvenile Novices Hurdle.

Yet Dascombe was quick to praise fellow trainer Ed Vaughan for getting this ex-Henry Cecil inmate for 23,000 guineas at the sales.

Dascombe said: “I really wanted this horse and every time I thought that he was going to be too much for me, Ed would give me a nudge and tell me to carry on.

“He was a bit weak as a three-year-old and probably got jarred up when he ran for the first time on firm ground.

“He will certainly come on for the run and he does have an entry in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, although he could go for the Victor Ludorum at Haydock before then.”

The 6-1 shot challenged long-time leader Ellerslie Tom between the final two flights before going on to score by one and half lengths.

The disappointment was odds-on favourite Pearl King. He cost 115,000 guineas and although he was one of five that went on turning for home, he was unable to get in a blow and finished in third place.

William Hill reacted by halving Political Intrigue’s price for Triumph Hurdle from 100-1 to 50-1, with Mister Hight still their 5-1 favourite.

A third short-priced favourite was turned over in the Dinham Beginners’ Chase when Arkle entry Marcel could only finish second behind Norma Hill.

The mare was getting all the allowances and held on by one and quarter lengths from 5-4 favourite Marcel.

It was a chance ride for Tom Doyle and Sarah Hollinshead, representing her father Reg, said: “Paul Moloney has done all the schooling on her but he was at Southwell and Carl Llewellyn was injured.

“We did not book Tom for the ride until we were on the way here.”

But the ups and down of racing was never more clearly illustrated than in this race.

Favourites Racing had been celebrating the win of Secured yet half an hour later they were mourning the death of Phar Out Phavorite, who was put down after breaking his shoulder when in contention three out.

It takes about four and half hours to reach Ludlow from Greystoke but it was a worthwhile journey for Zaffaran Express, the two-and-a-half-length winner of the Stokesay Mares’ Only Handicap Hurdle.

Tony Dobbin came between Precious Mystery and Festive Chimes to take up the running and travelling head lad Neil Leach said: “Round a sharp track like this, she will probably get three miles.

“She has been running on ground that has been too soft for her and that’s why we have come here for the better ground.”