Super Sam nets Taunton treble
Sam Thomas kept quite a few people happy at Taunton on Thursday with a near 21-1 treble for three different trainers.
Thomas was principally at the Somerset track for his main employer Paul Nicholls, whose Qozak was backed into 1-4 favourite for the Horserace Betting Levy Board Novices’ Hurdle.
Although not as impressive as at the course a month ago, the gelding was not unduly troubled to pull seven lengths clear.
“We might take him to Aintree for the two-and-a-half-mile novice,” explained Nicholls.
“We thought he might have one more run in a better race before he goes chasing in the autumn.”
Thomas learned his trade with Venetia Williams and helped her Summery Justice (4-1) up by the skin of his teeth to deprive Song Sung Blue in the Atlas Packaging Silver Jubilee/EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier).
A reasonable fourth at the track last week, Thomas was busy from a long way out but his rivals were not getting away and a late blast saw him in front by a head on the line.
“I am very pleased – the owners had Banker Count in partnership with me a few years ago and this one could go for the final of the race, although that would be three runs all coming a bit quick,” said Williams.
Thomas combined with Tom George to make all the running on 5-2 favourite Shake The Barley in the Adrian & Dinah Little Silver Wedding Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Williams saddled her own brace later on.
Aidan Coleman, who rode out his claim at Bangor on Wednesday, was legged up for Quickbeam in the Royal Bath & West Beginners’ Chase.
The capable hurdler has not made an immediate transition to fences as he has fallen on two occasions.
But he finished second at Doncaster last week and was far more nimble than the remainder of the field.
The 11-8 favourite gave Coleman a brief moment of panic at the last but coasted away on the run in to win by 30 lengths from Mark The Book.
“He just met the fence on an iffy stride but he was foot-perfect apart from that,” said Coleman.
“He did much better at Doncaster and he’s learning. He will be fine when he gets the hang of things.”
Charlie Mann and Jason Maguire teamed up to lift the Royal Bath & West Novices’ Hurdle through ex point-to-pointer Cast Cada (2-1), whose future lies over fences.
Ed Walker and James White were both having their first runners under Rules in the Pontispool Equine Sports Centre Hunters’ Chase, with Walker’s Nobody Tells Me (7-1) defeating White’s Imperial Sun by a neck.
Marchand D’Argent, uneasy in the betting for Philip Hobbs, bolted up at 11-1 in the Racing Post “Hands And Heels” Jumps Series Handicap Hurdle.
