Bet365 Bunbury Cup |
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| Heritage Handicap, Newmarket 16:00 £100,000 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 2  |
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1 Aalto 15/2
2 Lethal Levi 18/1
3 Summerghand 22/1
4 Carrytheone 5/1F
20 ran Distances: 2, 1¼l, nk
Time: 1m 24.08s (slow by 0.78s)
Aalto strides clear under the guidance of @Rossaryan15 to land the @bet365 Bunbury Cup for @ianwilliamsraci 🐎 💥 pic.twitter.com/ETMfdfAt9P
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) July 13, 2024
French import Aalto claimed his first win since joining Ian Williams.
A multiple winner in France, the four-year-old had placed second twice in six starts for his new team, most recently missing victory by just half a length at Haydock last week.
In the fiercely competitive handicap, Aalto was ridden by Rossa Ryan, who kept him in midfield for much of the seven-furlong race.
With three furlongs remaining, Aalto began his move, smoothly following the pacesetter Lethal Levi before switching closer to the stands’ rail to mount his challenge.
Aalto found another gear on the rising ground and finished strongly, beating the valiant Lethal Levi by two lengths.
Summerghand took third place, while favourite Carrytheone made late progress to secure fourth after a troubled run.
Williams said: “He’s been a little bit disappointing in lesser races and we thought we’d been unfortunate when it rained, but it’s great for the owners, who enjoyed a great run yesterday with Oneforthegutter (second).
“I thought we had a minimum of a miler when he came from France, and I thought he’d stay a bit further, maybe a mile and two, but I’ve got that wrong.
“What he wants is good cover and a strong pace and you are only going to get that in good races and the race opened up for him today.
“He probably got there too early. He travelled through his race well but I’ve seen him do that before and get beat, so it was good to see him win today.
“It’s a special race to win, we’ve been placed in it before and been disappointed not to win, so to come here and win a race like this – we’re not a huge stable, so it’s good to win.
“Assuming he comes out okay, Ascot (International Stakes) is very much on the agenda.”
Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap)
£100,000 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 2
20 ran
Going: Good
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (10) Aalto 4 8-12 Ian Williams Rossa Ryan 15/2
2 (5) 2 Lethal Levi 5 9-7 K R Burke Clifford Lee 18/1
3 (8) 1¼ Summerghand 10 9-3 David O'Meara Callum Rodriguez 22/1
4 (6) nk Carrytheone 7 9-11 Michael Bell Ryan Moore 5/1F
5 (14) hd Darkness 6 9-1 6ex David O'Meara Neil Callan 14/1
6 (1) 1 Talis Evolvere 4 9-10 Richard Hannon Joe Leavy 25/1
7 (17) ½ Awaal 5 9-12 Simon & Ed Crisford James Doyle 11/2
8 (12) shd Bless Him 10 9-9 David Simcock Marco Ghiani 22/1
9 (3) hd Ropey Guest 7 9-10 George Margarson Tom Queally 22/1
10 (18) 1 Divine Libra 4 9-5 Charles Hills William Buick 15/2
11 (16) ½ Spirit Genie 4 9-1 Jennie Candlish Kieran O'Neill 33/1
12 (13) nk Yorkshire 4 8-12 Edward Bethell David Allan 14/1
13 (19) nk Dark Thirty 4 9-6 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 16/1
14 (4) nk Londoner 4 9-0 Jim Goldie Jonny Peate 66/1
15 (9) 1½ Percy's Lad 6 9-9 Daniel & Claire Kubler Tom Eaves 14/1
16 (7) 1¾ Abduction 6 8-11 Jim Goldie Silvestre De Sousa 33/1
17 (15) ¾ Finn's Charm 4 9-9 6ex Charlie Johnston Billy Loughnane 28/1
18 (11) 3 Mostabshir 4 9-12 John & Thady Gosden Jim Crowley 10/1
19 (2) 5½ Gorak 5 9-6 Charlie Fellowes Kieran Shoemark 16/1
20 (20) nk Mustajaab 4 9-1 William Muir & Chris Grassick Lewis Edmunds 40/1
