Cerium stutters at the last to gift Bally Sands Warwick feature

Bally Sands and Cerium (nearside) jump the last in the feature race at Warwicks Coutryside Day last Sunday.

Despite the marathon trip of three miles and five furlongs, Pensnett Bay set a strong pace as the runners set out with 22 fences in front of them.

He had a number of his rivals struggling as he led the field down the back straight for the second time, but could not keep up the gallop and it was Bally Sands and the veteran Cerium who had the race between them over the final two fences.

Cerium, who had not completed in his three starts this season, looked like belying his 40-1 starting price but an untidy jump at the last did not help his cause and Bally Sands scooted away to record a seven-length victory for his owner and trainer Robin Mathew.

A field of 13 faced the starter for the opening racinguk.com Handicap Hurdle, including Great Hero, ridden by Australian Steve Pateman, who was having his first ride in this country.

There was no fairy-tale ending, however, for the Victoria champion jockey as Great Hero jumped clumsily before running on through beaten horses to finish a distant sixth behind easy winner Chestertern, who led out of the back straight and went clear of his rivals.

In the absence of Violin Davis, Jackies Solitaire was sent off the hot 4-6 favourite for the EBF/Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Novices’ Chase and, apart from a scare at the second fence when Annimation jumped across her, she never looked in danger, outclassing the competition with 35 lengths to spare over the second Southway Star.

Uxizandre was another clear-cut winner in the Racing UK Novices’ Hurdle, joining leader Fiddlers Bid at the second-last flight and drawing away in the hands of Wayne Hutchinson for owners The Million In Mind Partnership.

The track’s final jumps meeting of the season is next Wednesday, when the first race is due off at 2.20pm.