The ups and downs of racing were evident at Chepstow last Thursday when local trainer Grace Harris won the 2m3½f handicap hurdle - even though she had a faller at the last.
Based in Shirenewton, Harris was represented by Inion Tiogair (photographed), a 5-1 chance, and Nancefordshore, who was backed into 8-1 (from 12).
Despite being keen early, it was the latter who looked like he might prevail after making good headway under Ben Jones.
He picked up in powerful fashion and headed his stablemate approaching the final hurdle only to crash out at it, leaving Inion Tiogair and Joe Anderson, who has built up a good relationship with her, to pick up the pieces.
The mare still had to be brave to deny Can You Hear Me, which she did by a length.
Harris, who also saddled Melvin Udall to strike on the flat at Doncaster on Sunday, said: “Luckily, Nancefordshore is fine. It wasn’t a very nice fall, but he’s just a baby and was half-looking at the crowd and hasn’t got his landing gear out. He’s good and at least Inion Tiogair has gone on and won. You do this job because you love the horses and winners are great, but the main thing is they come back safe and Nancefordshore is okay.
“I was worried the ground would be too quick for Inion Tiogair, but there’s no rain forecast and this is only down the road for us. She was brilliant and I’m really pleased.”
The feature of Chepstow’s card was the novice hurdle for mares, which went to Just A Glance. She was a winner at Hereford in February and built on that in style by recording an impressive nine-length success for trainer Devon trainer Ian Chanin.
The exciting six-year-old, who went off at 4-6, was the reason Chanin, a former amateur jockey, took out a full-time training licence and he appears to have lots to look forward to with her.
Connections of Stick To The Board will hope that applies to him as well. He cost £215,000 at a Cheltenham sale in November and his owners include legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Now with 14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls, the pricey purchase lined up in the bumper as the even-money favourite and rewarded backers by producing a taking display.
Like Harris, Robert Stephens trains not far from Chepstow, but he did not have any runners at the meeting. He did, however, have a winner to celebrate at Kempton a day earlier as Port Noir struck. She has been a star for his yard, winning three of her last four starts, and it will be interesting to see how she gets on when she appears next.
Stephens, meanwhile, could have runners when Chepstow races again this Thursday 2nd April – the first race is at 2pm and gates open at noon.
