The Glen Rovers sprang a 33-1 surprise in the Midnite All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap at Newcastle.
With £175,000 on offer a competitive field had assembled, including one from the all-conquering Willie Mullins yard in Gaucher, ridden by champion all-weather jockey Billy Loughnane.
He appeared to have everything covered going into the final furlong and hitting the front but Sean D Bowen, himself champion apprentice in 2024, was coolness personified before making his challenge, winning by half a length.
Trained by Lucy Wadham, better known for her handling of jumpers – and indeed The Glen Rovers started his life in a bumper – he provided his enthusiastic part-owner Conor Ryan, who works for Charlie Appleby, with one of the best days of his life.
Ryan said: “We’ve had him a couple of years now, he’s been a bit difficult to train but Lucy and the team at home have done a fantastic job with him.
“The team in the yard have done a great job, it’s been a big team effort and he’s been put back together a couple of times but Lucy has looked after him.
“He just took his time to come to fruition this season, a couple of small issues he had, but had to run him to get him fit but he came into this race today way overpriced.
“We were pretty confident he’d run well, we knew the trip would suit and he’d won here before.
“This horse has changed my and my family’s life, that is what being involved in a racehorse can do to you.”
Bowen said: “He was very good, he’s two from two here now. I was able to get cover from a wide draw and that made the difference.
“Lucy and the team, and Conor at home have done a great job, I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity.
“He’s top heavy so he takes a few runs to get into the swing of things.
“Just over three furlongs out I had to take him back off the horse in front of me, that was when I thought we had a chance and I was always getting there.”
Tyrrhenian Sea gets revenge on Chancellor
Tyrrhenian Sea has been a fixture of the all-weather scene for five years now and showed at the age of eight the fire still burns bright when displaying a sparkling turn of foot in the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap at Newcastle.
Since making a winning debut at Gosforth Park in December 2021, a total of 17 of 24 career races have been on an artificial surface for Roger Varian’s extraordinarily striking eight-year-old.
He has won twice at Listed level and was second to Chancellor in the Tandridge Stakes when attempting back-to-back wins in that contest last time out. This time, 3lb better off for a length with John and Thady Gosden’s one-time Classic hope, he won by a length and a quarter from Blue Rc.
Jack Mitchell has ridden him more than any other jockey and said: “He’s a horse who has always had a special place in my heart all through his career. As an eight-year-old against younger horses I thought he’d have to be at his very best today.
“I was travelling so well, but I was trying to find a way through being drawn 14, then I followed Rab (Havlin on Chancellor) and he picked up really well.
Tyrrhenian Sea proved too good at Gosforth Park
“He stays further so Roger and the team had some deep discussions over whether to run in this or the Easter Classic, this looked the tougher race but we went a nice gallop and we were 3lb better with Chancellor.
“His best form is on the all-weather so as long as he’s fit and healthy he’ll come back and have another go next year.”
Best of the rest
Andrew Balding’s Stateira looked the banker on the card and she duly obliged as the 11-8 favourite in the BetMGM Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships Handicap.
Having impressed when winning at the trials meeting 72 days ago, Balding decided to bide his time and wait for the £150,000 final and it paid dividends.
Despite being 10lb higher, Oisin Murphy oozed confidence and she looks well worth a crack at a black-type race.
“She was entitled to be favourite, but I was just a bit concerned that we’d have to chance plans as she normally likes to get on with it at her own speed,” said Murphy.
“I thought if I rode her that way today she’d do too much into the headwind, but I was pleased with how she settled, she went to sleep and she was entitled to win.
“The ones in front were slowing down before I asked her a question. She’s in great health at the moment and when fillies are in that space they can really improve.
“Andrew will have a good think about what to do next, but today was a good target for her.”
On some of his best form William Haggas’ Wiltshire looked well handicapped in the Midnite All-Weather Sprint Handicap but he had developed a propensity to be slowly away.
However, he broke on terms this time and the 7-1 chance moved smoothly into contention under Cieren Fallon, who followed Fivethousandtoone through before scooting clear to win by a length.
Haggas’ wife and assistant Maureen said: “He finally had to had a wind op and combined with the tongue tie he seemed happier. He’s always had the ability, we know that.
“He enjoys the all-weather and when he’s on the grass he doesn’t want it too quick. He needed that, a nice confidence boost.
“Cieren knows him well and he’s good at cool rides. He jumped much better today which helped.
“He had a trapped epiglottis and it made him sound like a distressed pug!”
