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Photos From The Day

An overnight stay in Bristol on Friday for Phil, Sarah, Tony and Phil’s sister Cathy to break up the journey to deepest South Wales, meant a pretty relaxed journey and arrival at the course nice and early.  Ian and Barbara Dale who pulled into the owners car park at the same time had experienced a much longer journey!

A quick tour of the facilities was actually very quick since the course is not extensive but quite pleasant.  Decided not to walk the track on this occasion although the last owner to arrive James Hartigan came equipped to do so and squelched his way out onto the Ffos Las turf, reporting back on which areas seemed wetter than others.

Ian and Barbara headed for some lunch while the rest of us tried to keep calm despite the anticipation that comes from having the big race favourite.

The first (a novice hurdle) was soon underway and it was worrying to see the field strung out as some were obviously OK on the ground and some were not.  Still if there was one thing we were pretty happy about, it was that Oscara Dara acted OK on heavy!

We headed over to the pre parade area, where Alex was looking dapper in a pink shirt and bow tie, definitely a cut above the average groom.

We were joined by Seven Barrows assistant trainer Ben Pauling along with his girlfriend (wife? forgot to check!) Sophie.  Discussion between Phil and Ben of the Lanzarote form and handicap rise came in handy when Attheraces reporter Robert Cooper stuck a microphone and camera in Ben’s face and asked him about Oscara’s form and handicap rise.  It was like we had done a dress rehearsal for the conversation a couple of minutes earlier!

In no time we were joined by AP McCoy looking good in his Priocept sponsored BG Racing silks.  Unfortunately AP brought bad news confirming that the ground was terrible and completely different to the heavy ground that Oscara Dara won on last season at Punchestown.  He seemed genuinely concerned which was not a good sign and our earlier confidence about acting on the ground turned to worry.

Nothing to be done though as the horses were heading out on the track and soon ready to go.  AP had Oscara well placed throughout the race, but we were all concerned to see how much he was sweating under the saddle as he came past us on the first circuit.

Turning out of the back straight to head for home and for a moment, a repeat of Kempton looked possible as Oscara moved alongside the leading horses, but within strides it was over.  AP gave him a couple of taps with the whip, but when no response came, he immediately dropped his hands and allowed Oscara Dara to canter in.

The unsaddling area brought good news (he was not injured) and bad news (he had absolutely hated the ground).  AP urged us to forget the race completely as he felt that the ground was just too bad.  After some discussion with Ben, we headed back to the owners and trainers area for some more chat between ourselves.  Alex joined us after he had sorted out Oscara Dara and reported our lad was tired but seemed fine.  He noted that many horses in the stable were returning in a worse condition that Oscara Dara and we all agreed that AP had done a great job in looking after Oscara once his chance had gone.  We all went our separate ways facing a long journey home, hoping that next time the services stop for Phil to call round all the other owners to give them an update would be a much more positive set of phone calls!