Value Racing Club win Summer Hurdle AGAIN

Seven years after Gran Maestro's victory in the valuable Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen, leading syndicate Value Racing Club scooped the two miles event at the Lincolnshire venue for a second time when Pisgah Pike defied odds of 22/1 with a gutsy neck victory - ironically the same winning margin in 2015. The Jamie Snowden trained seven year old was running over hurdles for the first time since November 2020. Partnered by Gavin Sheehan, the Famous Name gelded was fitted with cheekpieces for the first time and, having travelled strongly, he hit the front soon after the last before staying on dourly to fend off the late challenge of Castel Gandolfo. Bought privately in 2019, Pisgah Pike has won five times and earned over £60,000 for connections. Indeed it was an excellent weekend for the syndicate with Sampers Seven running a blinder in a competitive five furlongs handicap at Chester - the five year old mare showed lightning speed from stall 11 to lead early on and was only beaten two and a half lengths getting tired in the latter stages. Well done to all those involved.

The Ballydoyle Juveniles section in AOTF had another productive weekend with Little Big Bear winning the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday by nearly five lengths and set up a tilt at the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes over the same C&D (6th August). The winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, that event has turned to be a very strong event with Rocket Rodney (2nd), Eddie's Boy (3rd) and Chateau (4th) all winning good prizes since. Twenty four hours later, Blackbeard beat stablemate The Antarctic by three lengths in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly. Fourth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the No Nay Never colt pulled away inside the final furlong and will presumably return to France for the Prix Morny at Deauville (21st August). It was the Ballydoyle team's first win the Prix Robert Papin.

Having been at Hamilton on Friday evening, I am returning north of the border on Monday for a seven race card at Ayr where Jim Goldie is most unlikely to return empty handed. At least it won't be quite as hot on the West coast of Scotland as most parts of the UK. Roll on Wednesday when temperatures are due to return to normal.