Kevin Hutton landed his third successive GTA Trainers Championship after an exciting finish at Towcester on Tuesday night.
The local handler, noted for his strong finishes to the event, triumphed in the final leg where he was represented by 12-1 chance Velvet Blaze. It was one of the most competitive events ever staged despite a lack of shocks until the finale . . . .
The event kicked off in the ‘Standard C’ with a win for Jimmy Wright’s Slippery Amigo (Brett Lee-Kildallon Maid, Jun 14). In a race that went pretty much to form, the red jacketed 5-2 favourite was led up by Roswell Iceman (T2 11-4) and triumphed by two and a quarter lengths in 29.54.
Scores: 10-Wright, 7-Wallis, 5-Hutton, 3-Mullins, 2-Cahill, 1-Young
Heat two was the sprint and Team Wright were on the money again, this time with Droopys Trapeze (Tullymurry Act-Droopys Blossom, Sep 14). The striped jacketed 3-1 chance would prevail over Paul Young’s Toolmaker Rambo (T4 9-2) with Wallis’ Ela Ela Genie (T1 7-4f) in third.
Scores: 20-Wright, 12-Wallis, 8-Young 6-Hutton, 5-Mullins, Cahill.
The third race was the puppy event and the appearance of new track record holder Madabout Eoghan (Kinlock Brae-Swift Rush, Sep 15). Running from blue, the John Mullins’ trained 7-4f looked to have plenty to do after missing his break. But with Crossfield Giles (T4) taking the ground preferred by second favourite Dorotas Wildcat (T5 2-1), it was left to Eogahn to lead home Kingdom Legend (Wallis T1 5-1) in 29.48.
Scores: 21-Wright, 19-Wallis, 15-Mullins, 11-Hutton, Young, 7-Cahill.
We reached the halfway mark with the first of the stayers events and in a meeting that was going by the formbook Category One winner Rubys Rascal (Razldazl George-Swift Eva, Jul 14) landed a first maximum for Mark Wallis. The 6-4f ran from black with Memphis Mafia (T1) the 2-1 second favourite and Droopys Dart (T3 5-1).
Scores: 29-Wallis, 24-Wright, 18-Young, 16-Mullins, 13-Hutton, 12-Cahill.
The fifth heat also went with the odds as Seamus Cahill landed his first leg. He was represented by the striped jacketed 11-10f Brinkleys King (Blonde Snapper-Grayslands Swan, Jan 14). He would cover the 500m standard in 29.48 when pursued home by Droopys Who (Mullins T4 7-2). Kevin Hutton’s Mad For It (T3 12-1) would finish fourth and his trainer apparently well out of contention.
Scores: 31-Wallis, 29-Wright, 23-Mullins, 22-Cahill, 19-Young, 16-Hutton.
The first Hutton winner did not appear until the sixth heat (bitches race) with the in-form Empress Katie (Tullymurry Act-Live Queen, May 15). The 9-4f went from trap five in what would be the host track’s first forecast – Mark Wallis’ Ribble Aon (T3 7-2) would come home six bend the 29.44 winner.
Scores: 38-Wallis, 32-Wright, 26-Hutton, 25-Mullins, 24-Young, 23-Cahill.
With all to play for, they went into the penultimate leg with the Hutton ace and 11-10f, Huarache Madison (Paradise Madison-Highview Game, Apr 14). Despite being led by Karlow Turbo (T4 8-1), the red jacketed Madison triumphed in a fastest-of-year 41.31 for the 686m
Scores: 40-Wallis, 36-Hutton, 35-Wright, 30-Cahill, 29-Young, 26-Mullins,
Going into the last leg, only three trainers could win it, and Jimmy Wright with 5-4jf Droopys Buick (T3) looked the most likely, though he would need to score six more points than Mark Wallis’ Rubys Razzle (T4 33-1) of five if he won the race. Kevin Hutton needed his 12-1 chance Velvet Blaze to finish in front of Buick and beat Razzle by four or more points (4 to tie and win on count-back). In fact the race of six railers went to the orange jacketed Peregrine Falcon (Ace Hi Rumble-Minefield, Mar 13). The blue veteran beat Hutton’s Blaze (T5) by a couple of lengths in 29.46.
Final Scores:43 Kevin Hutton, 42 Mark Wallis, 40 Jimmy Wright, 36-John Mullins, 33-Seamus Cahill, 30-Paul Young
** The meeting saw an end of the training career of Jimmy Wright who has decided to give up his licence.
