Foulden Special wins semi and has a plum draw in the final

Walthamstow Report 01 Sep 2007

Saturday's card featured the semi final round of the Grand Prix and some modest graded stuff.

 Miss Busy Bee was sent of 4/5 3rd favourite in the opener. (his was outright fav really, but the prices at the Stow aren't that great these days - only one opinion in the ring) Miss Busy Bee  went up to the bend close together, but Miss Busy Bee was a bit slow round the first two turns, allowing Flying Fantasy to steal a march. Miss Busy Bee got after him down the back straight, ran wide at the last bend and got up by a neck to win.

Another dreadful hurdle (H1) event followed, where you could be forgiven for thinking that they were running round without a hare. Westgate Flash went straight to the rails and bumped into his brother July Captain. July Captain led round, but didn't poach the lead he may have done with a clear run. Ardmayle Machine showed the best pace in the race and led near the line. 

The P8 was won by Inbetween Dreams. She led up, was passed at the 3rd bend by Sparkys Stag and took it up again near the line. Black Elegance plugged on for second. Special Skylar was not fluent at the bends and was also clumsy between the last two bends.

Eye Onthe Spark made all in the S2. Girl Next Door started slowly and was outpaced early. She stayed on and went down by 3/4 of a length. Silky Rose was crowded at the first bend, but ran poorly.

Beardys Kid led off the first and made all in the A8. Wonting moved off and was crowded at the second bend, but plugged on for second.

In the 1st Grand Prix semi final, Eye Onthe Power and Shelbourne Laura broke well. Fear Robben was modestly away and tracked to the rails. He paced up from between the first two bends and led on the run to the 3rd. He ran out a decent winner in a fair 39.59. Calzaghe Frisby kept on best of the rest to finish 3 3/4 length second. Shelbourne Laura faded near the line, but was a comfortable third. Discreet Cat missed the break and was crowded at the first bend. He paced up down the pack straight, but was done again at the 5th bend. 

Lady Asher was an impressive trap to line winner of the A6. She never saw another rival and won by four lengths. Jus For Xmas showed decent pace on the straights, but couldn't run the bends. He was a comfortable second. The rest were out with the washing.

Kilelton Rose was another impressive winner in the A5. He recorded a fast 28.91. Seamus Cahill is running rings round all the other trainers. In my view, he is by far the best trainer at Walthamstow. Saintys Flyer finished a long way behind in second.

Blue Screamer won the A4 quite well. Despite being crowded at the first bend, he drove the bend well and led from the second. Blackmagic Rose was bumped at the first and kept on for second. The favvy Harrys Girl moved off and was crowded at the first and then eased at the 3rd bend.

Shelbourne Ryan set a very strong pace up front in the Grand Prix final, but ran out of gas on the last bend. Foulden Special and White Bomber came from off the pace and Foulden Special led on the run in. Surprisingly, White Bomber failed to get past Shelbourne Ryan, but still grabbed 3rd place. With the waty the draw worked out, Foulden Special looks very much the likeliest winner. I think that Fear Robben is the fastest, but has a tough sraw in the final to overcome.

Grand Prix final draw: 1 Shelbourne Laura 2 Calzaghe Frisby 3 White Bomber 4 Fear Robben 5 Shelbourne Ryan 6 Foulden Special

There was a pile up in the A3 and Winch Whippet rode a bump and led round and made all. Woody The Tiger started slowly, showed pace down the back straight and went down by 3/4 of a length. The favvy Mystical Haka checked off and was crowded at the second bend.

Sophie Rose had been running poor, but came back to form to land the A2. Lagile Tomo kept on for second. Treacle Rose eased at the 2nd and 3rd bends.

Myella Honcho paced up well and led up in the A1. He failed to see out the trip and was passed between the last two bends by Perceptive Pacey. Perceptive Pacey is in really good form at the ripe old age of four. He's seeing out his races very well these days. Special Deal showed lots of pace, but was not at all fluent round the bends. Who Needs Wings was very slow away and never figured.

Sofem flew out and made all in the S2 finale. My bitch Droopys Kestrel could not get on terms, but should surely be winning very soon. She went down by three lengths.

Last updated: 13 Jun 2008 by Stow judge Contact