Shiv cuts down Ernie in the Champion Hurdle
Barry O’Sullivan landed his first Champion Hurdle victory as Nunhead Shiv swooped on the line to edge out hot favourite Harlequin Ernie in the Ladbrokes-backed jumps feature at Crayford on Sunday.
O’Sullivan has trained many a Champion Hurdle finalist and put a number of winners of the famous race over their first hurdles at his schooling track in Fawkham, but victory had eluded the Kent-based handler – until Nunhead Shiv upset the odds in the £10,000 final.
A 12-1 chance against four Ricky Holloway-trained finalists including 5-4 favourite Harlequin Ernie, Nunhead Shiv was soon quickly into stride and turned in second wide on the track behind Harlequin Ernie – the pair dominating the 380m contest from the outset.
Keeping up a good gallop, Harlequin Ernie still held the advantage rounding the last bends before the Austin McNamara-owned Nunhead Shiv got closer – literally – and swooped to conquer on the line for a 23.54sec success, winning by a minimum margin.
Danny Rayment, Crayford racing manager, said: “We’re delighted for Barry and Rosie – and the whole O’Sullivan family.
“Barry and his father Terry led the way in schooling greyhounds over hurdles at Fawkham. I’m sure inspired Ricky (Holloway) to follow in their footsteps. I suppose it’s then ironic it was Barry who denied Ricky a seventh Champion Hurdle victory. But what a race Harlequin Ernie and Nunhead Shiv have produced.
“Shiv is very much a senior performer now and, while not just the oldest runner in the final to have beaten the younger dogs, she’s also a very rare bitch winner of the Champion Hurdle – and she’s drawn on all her experience here over hurdles and on the flat to produce the race of her life when it mattered most.”
Henry hits the track record jackpot
Although Towcester hosted the three semi-finals of the Genco Juvenile Classic yesterday, perhaps the most notable winner was Savana Jackpot.
He clocked 42.02 over 712m to smash the track record for Diane Henry. A 28.78 winner over four bends at the end of April, it was a run that he had long threatened over six bends. Sent off 1/4 it was a maiden stayers that he should have spread-eagled in the manner he did off an excellent 15.89 split.
Droopys Extragud set the standard in the Juvenile Classic. His bend running won him the day, scraping the paint to clock 28.95 for Heather Dimmock. The Gymcrack runner-up came home a length and a half ahead of Irish raider Syd Zafiro who qualified safely for the final.
Maxine Locke had an excellent Derby. Droopys Pivotel missed out by a length on a place in the decider but he booked his place in a Category Two Final next week with a 29.26 victory over Slick Sentinel.
The other semi went the way of John Locke’s Flying Desire. She will be the sole representative for the fairer sex in the final, picking up Tiffield Tarquin late on. The runner-up will be the youngest finalist, a December 22 whelp.
Elsewhere on the card, Avongate Venus produced a flying 28.72, notching up her fifth win in her last six starts. 14 spots off the track record for Phil Milner despite a 13-spot slower sectional than she produced when winning two weeks prior.
Draper with an Owlerton four-timer
The Barrie Draper team won half of the eight opens on Sheffield’s Sunday afternoon card.
Sunday’s feature at Sheffield was the Owlerton Stadium Puppy Final. Headford Tadgh chased home his shorter-priced kennelmate close to the line to claim the win. Pear Drops, Rocking Taylor and Distant Prince were the other winners for the kennel
Tom Heilbron won two himself to take the year’s tally up to 99 open race winners. Neither was expected by the market, Ivy Hill Sancho taking over down the back for a 29.01 win at 22/1 before Fearsome Quest made all the running in a 480m contest in 27.98 at 10/1.
Acomb Felix produced the best run of the afternoon, clocking 28.66. The BGBF British Breeders Stakes winner has landed five of his last six starts for Kevin Ferguson. His run earned him the Sheffield Performance of the Week.
Birmingham Cup secures sponsorship
M Lambe Construction have extended their Birmingham Cup sponsorship to five years. The family of local trainer John Lambe sponsor the race for Michael Lambe Senior. It has become an important part of the fixture list each year, upgraded to Category One status in 2023. Brookside Ritchie won the race last year for Jimmy Fenwick.
