At just two months short of his fourth birthday, racegoers finally had the chance to see Making Paper (Hondo Black-Quarterland Hope, Nov 12) race beyond 500 metres – and he didn’t disappoint.
Diane Henry’s Derby finalist, who could still reach the veteran stage with less than 50 UK opens on his card wore orange for his ‘five bend’ debut over Henlow’s 550 metre course. In the first heat of the Gold Cup, the black won in the style of an 8-13 favourite. Although led up by the Bloomfield pair Confused Eddie and Savana Sampha, Paper pulled away to win by four in 33.57 on going rated .30 slow.
The night featured a tremendous Gold Cup four-timer for Kevin Hutton thanks to: 33.61 Willy Whitesocks, 33.87 Forest Danny, 33.94 Jet Stream Babs and 33.95 Tommys Lord. The remaining heat went to Carol Grasso’s Bottom Line in 33.72.
Hutton had previously won a supporting 550 with Jet Stream Snowy to give him a 360-1 five timer. Interestingly, Snowy’s winning time was 33.90, calculated down to 33.60 on going allowance. Given he had clocked 33.39 on normal going on his last visit to the track, Making Paper would surely have a shot at the 32.87 clock on faster going.
