Reveley back in the swing
James Reveley bounced back from breaking his collarbone on his last visit to Doncaster with victory on Heavenly Chorus at the South Yorkshire track.
The 18-year-old ignored his father Keith’s instructions by having his mount prominent in the early stages of the Lincoln Tickets On Sale Mares Only Handicap Hurdle.
The 5lb claimer sustained his injury in a fall from Keen Warrior five weeks ago but was not race-rusty as he kept the 3-1 favourite up to her work to hold Chip N Pin by two-and-a-half lengths.
“It was my first ride back and she travelled and jumped well for me,” said the rider.
Reveley senior added: “I told him to drop her out but he did the right thing as they went no gallop early on and he slipped her into a handy position.”
It was a good day for conditional jockeys with James Halliday, Fearghal Davis and Jack Doyle also getting in on the act.
Halliday landed his second career success as Overbranch completed a hat-trick in game style in the EBF Fund Mares’ Only “National Hunt” Novices’ Qualifier.
The 20-year-old, whose older brother Tom was tragically killed following a fall at Market Rasen in July 2005, refused to give up when Cute N You Know It ranged alongside in the last 100 yards. Overbranch (2-1) battled on to gain the day by a head.
Halliday, claiming 10lb, has always impressed his boss, trainer Malcolm Jefferson, who said: “He rides well for a young lad and he’s good in the yard. He’s got plenty of patience with the younger horses.”
Davis showed his talent with a confident victory on King Daniel in the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival Handicap Chase.
The 5lb claimer pushed the 85-40 favourite into the lead at the third-last and the combination quickly pulled clear to beat First Fought by six lengths.
“He’s a right horse, he wants to be good and do everything right,” said trainer Evelyn Slack’s husband Arthur, who bred and owned the winner.
Doyle, partnering Greenbridge, landed the race restricted to inexperienced riders, the Buy Tickets On-Line Conditional Jockeys’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle. The 5-4 favourite, trained by Alan King, won by 19 lengths from Merchant Red.
“He likes good ground and we’ll try to win another with him,” said Micheal Meagher, racing manager to owner Trevor Hemmings.
Jamie Moore, champion conditional in 2004, completed a 5-1 double on favourites Prime Contender and Randwick Roar, both trained by his father, Brighton-based Gary.
He had to work hard to get evens favourite Prime Contender home by a length and a half from Sun Quest in the doncaster-racecourse.co.uk Claiming Hurdle.
And it was not much easier on Randwick Roar (2-1), who held the Jefferson-trained Classic Capers by three and a half lengths in the A1 Medical & General Ltd Handicap Chase.
As expected, Sharp Reply had no trouble in landing odds of 2-11 in a three-horse affair for the Rose Hill Novices’ Chase after his main market rival Sunday City was a late non-runner.
The six-year-old, trained by Sue Bradburne, made it two from two over fences when making all the running in the hands of her son.
