Bear camp have eyes on Ireland
The David Evans-trained Bathwick Bear could bid for further big-race honours in Ireland next month after securing a narrow verdict in the Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy.
The Listed triumph completed an excellent weekend’s work for the Monmouthshire handler, who had saddled Dingle View to land a Group Three event at the Curragh on Sunday.
Prominent throughout under the trainer’s son Richard Evans, Bathwick Bear (16-1) was soon engaged in a battle with hot favourite Mayson and title-chasing jockey Paul Hanagan.
The latter had come out on top when the pair had met over course and distance earlier in the month but Bathwick Bear reversed the form, battling to a neck success.
Evans junior said: “He’s a tough little terrier and one of my favourite horses in the yard. He’s got a heart as big as a lion.”
Malcolm McCall, the trainer’s travelling head lad, added: “It’s been a great weekend and this horse is in a sales race at Fairyhouse in a couple of weeks, so he could go there next.”
Bathwick Bear’s success was the second leg of a double on the card for the trainer, who had earlier struck with Fred Willetts in the Racing Again Tomorrow Selling Stakes.
The juvenile was given an enterprising ride by Silvestre De Sousa as the pair pinged the start, hugged the far rail and romped to an eight-length victory over Whats For Pudding at 15-2.
Hanagan may have been out of luck in the feature event but he claimed compensation in the Ripon Rowels Handicap as he struck gold on 18-1 shot Osteopathic Remedy.
The Michael Dods-trained six-year-old was handily placed throughout and pressed on inside the final two furlongs to record a one-and-three-quarter-length victory over Exit Smiling.
“The hardest part was getting him down to the start”, said Hanagan. "I got a good position early and the strong pace really helped.
“I got him into a nice rhythm and all he does is lengthen, not quicken, but he put the race to bed very quickly and he was pricking his ears in front.”
There was a 20-minute delay to the Ripon Land Rover Maiden Stakes as stalls handler John Parkin was kicked at the start.
Parkin was taken to Harrogate District Hospital for precautionary X-rays but the initial signs were that he had suffered only severe bruising.
The lengthy wait was not enough to stop 1-5 favourite Al Muthanaa coming out on top, responding well to Richard Hills’ urgings to score by a length from Apache Warrior.
The David Nicholls-trained Amenable (11-2) continued his rejuvenated form to land the hat-trick in the Billy Nevett Memorial Handicap.
Adrian Nicholls made all aboard his father’s three-year-old and held off the continued challenge of Tasmeem to score by a head.
Sharakti survived a stewards’ inquiry to claim the closing Totepool A Better Way To Bet Handicap.
