Lavelle’s Silver Thorn too strong in Exeter feature

The Emma Lavelle-trained Silver Thorn won the feature Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, making virtually all the running to score by two lengths from co-favourite El Granjero at Exeter yesterday, where the sun shone on a beautiful day at Haldon Hill.

The grey had won his previous start at Doncaster in December, with his trainer reporting that he was progressing well. Lavelle said: “He’s still learning and he only ever really does as much as he needs to, which is great as he’ll keep improving. We’re very pleased with how he’s handled the ground today, which means he’ll go on anything. He’s very straightforward and we’re happy with that today. I think we’ll see how the handicapper assesses him before deciding our next steps.”

The card began with the conditional jockeys’ training series handicap hurdle, where a tussle ensued between joint favourites Call Me Legend and Diamantiste, with the former prevailing by a length in the hands of Murray Dodd.

Johnny’s Jury had his syndicate owners cheering following his win in the National Hunt maiden hurdle, the majority of whom had travelled from Wessex. Trained by Jamie Snowden and ridden by Gavin Sheehan, he was sent off the 6-4 favourite and duly delivered by nine lengths.

Good Friday Fairy was sent off favourite to follow up his course win last month, but it was the Ben Pauling-trained, Ben Jones-ridden Followcato who came home in front in the two miles three furlongs handicap chase.

Dan Horsford, who was assistant to Alan King for 15 years, is making great inroads as a fledgling trainer, with Robber’s Bridge coming home the easiest of winners in the handicap hurdle. The eight-year-old has proved a standing dish for Horsford, who took out his licence last April and trains on the Barbury Estate on Salisbury Plain. He said: “He was our first winner at Market Rasen on April 20 last year and he’s been a star and the type of horse you need.”
The gelding flattened the last hurdle, but Horsford said he has his own way of running and no amount of schooling would change that. “He needs his own space and he has his own way of jumping and we won’t change that. He trains on his own as he’s a very anxious horse. He’s run five times for us and he’s never been out of the first three.”

Bonza Boy dug deep to win the handicap chase, with Lorcan Williams in the saddle, pulling away to score by three-quarters of a length. Trained at Brompton Regis by Jeremy Scott, he carried the colours of Gary Lever, who has owned many good horses, including the prolific point-to-pointer County Derry.

The concluding bumper was won by the Tom Weston-trained Mortal Coil, ridden by Joshua Bryan.

Exeter’s next meeting is on Wednesday 28 January, when it hosts its Beat the Blues raceday.

Pictured: Bonza Boy and Lorcan Williams. Photo: Exeter Racecourse.