In a good night for the the layers, the favourites in each of Henlow’s three Sunday night finals were turned over writes Floyd Amphlett.
The biggest shock came in the Christmas Cracker where local grader Towbee sprang a 14-1 surprise for trainer Tony Tuffin. The best drawn of the five railers just led up from favourite Loughteen Eoin and then kicked on again when the 2-1f checked at the third bend. Towbee crossed the line with two lengths to spare over Blue Moment in 27.81 (-30), a calculated career best performance.
The Cesarewitch decider resulted in a Blackrose photo to have delighted owner trainer Eric Cantillon. In a race where Gold Collar winner Corrin Bob was expected to prevail, Blackrosecrocket led from trap to line and held on by a brindle neck from Blackrose Khan in 33.88 (-45), another calculated career best.
The St.Leger final also ended in disaster for the market leader with Droopys Alberta trapping and finishing last. The £3,000 decider developed into a buckle between early leader Mowen Down and Droopys Bump who took up the running at halfway only to run out of oxygen on the run-in. Derek Knight’s Mowem Down rallied and then just held off the strong finish of the prolific Gordons Alive. The winner got home by a length in 43.24 (-60), a calculated 30 spot improvement on her heat form.
Marathon opens are seldom settled by a photo finish but Henlow’s only eight-bend event of the year was determined by the judge. The pace was set by the six-bend specialist Midway Jack who was almost 10 lengths clear after a circuit. With the rest of the field crowding themselves out of contention, it was left to Droopys Raffo, beaten in his three previous A4 races at the track, to reel in the leader and get home by a black snout in 55.70 (-70).
