Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle |
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| Grade 2, Wincanton 15:20 £60,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 65y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 20th February 2016 | |
1 Rayvin Black 100/30
2 Melodic Rendezvous 6/1
3 Pain Au Chocolat 11/2
4 ran Distances: 5l, 2½l, 48l
TIME 4m 1.60s (slow by 30.60s)
Oliver Sherwood saddles Rayvin Black to win the Kingwell Hurdle
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Rayvin Black produced an ultra-game performance to register an all-the-way success for Oliver Sherwood and Thomas Garner at Wincanton.
Sherwood had earlier suffered heartbreak at Haydock as the popular Deputy Dan suffered a fatal heart attack, but Rayvin Black did his best to raise the yard's spirits, prompting the handler to tweet: "I think the little trooper did that for Deputy Dan!"
The Grade Two contest l acked a candidate that can have any say in the outcome of next month's Champion Hurdle, but there was plenty of excitement for the crowd as Rayvin Black saw off Melodic Rendezvous, with 8-11 favourite Irving failing to fire and finishing last of four runners.
Although he required some rousting going down the back, Rayvin Black responded and kept going with dogged determination to score by five lengths from Melodic Rendezvous, with Pain Au Chocolat back in third.
Garner said: "I was a bit worried when he came off the bridle halfway down the back, but these small fields are made to bring out the best in him.
"The Imperial Cup was an option, but when this came along it was the preferred choice. He's so hard, and he battles all day, and with three wins on him he is very close to my heart."
Nick Schofield felt his mount Irving was struggling from an early stage, saying: "He never fired. I thought the race would be ideal for him but he was beaten after jumping two."
Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2)
£60,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 65y, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Soft, Heavy in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rayvin Black 10/3 | Thomas Garner 11-2 |
O Sherwood | 7 | |
| 2nd | 5 | Melodic Rendezvous 6/1 | Matt Griffiths 11-2 |
J Scott | 10 |
| 3rd | 2½ | Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 11/2 | Harry Skelton 11-2 |
D Skelton | 5 |
| 4th | 48 | Irving 8/11f | Nick Scholfield 11-10 |
P F Nicholls | 8 |
