Trainer Simon Cull was left speculating on what could have been a ‘night of all nights’ at Henlow on Sunday.
The results sheet shows that the man now running the Chalkley’s famous ‘Midway’ kennel had the last three winners on the televised card with Ballymac Niall (10-1), Midway Jack (11-2) and Fairhill Sidney (11-2).
But the 464-1 accumulator could have gone so much better.
Simon said: “We fancied all of them, but Will Eclipse (8-1) let us down earlier in the meeting. He led to the second bend and finished sore. In fact I have just been to get him treated today.”
Perhaps the most interesting winner of the lot was Midway Jack who won for the first time in the 22nd race of his career. But according to the trainer, there was no coup in the offing, despite the potential £4,182-1 four timer.
He said: “Jack was always a very promising puppy who has spent all his career in opens. We always knew he had the potential to win a race of that class.
“Ballymac Niall went three rounds of the English Derby last year. It has taken his a while to find his form but he wasn’t running badly and 10-1 was a ridiculous price, though I think Jonathan Kay napped him. As for Fairhill Sidney, he had won his last open at the track but was still 11-1.”
So were they all backed?
“Yes, we had a few ‘Lucky 15s’, some singles and a few doubles. But the real sickener was Midway Lady Luck. She was going to be our banker but came in season on the day of the race.
“No complaints though, it was a great night and the dogs will all be back this Sunday.
“I absolutely love it at Henlow and would have transferred all my dogs there if they had been able to take them all. But they switch to three meetings a week in September and we’ll do it then.”
