Pant Wilkin Blog

Runner-up on his previous outing, Timely Gift went one better at Plumpton yesterday under Alan Johns, recording the second win of his career to date.

Travelling well throughout, he was sent to the front at the second-last and kept on resolutely to score narrowly.  The margin of victory means the handicapper is unlikely to give him more than a couple of pounds and having shown improved form for the step up in trip, I am confident Timely Gift can make a very bold bid to follow up next time.  Well done to his owners Carl, JJ, Chris, Mike, John and Hugh!

On her second run back from a summer break, Oriental Cross recorded a career-best effort when scoring at Southwell yesterday under Alan Johns.

The form of her win at Newcastle in the spring had worked out well and we were confident she had come on for her recent reappearance, but with heavy ground an unknown it was still a pleasant surprise to see her travel so well through the race, finding plenty up the home straight to win very comfortably.

There is an option at Ffos Las next Friday where she could go under a penalty, but I doubt the handicapper will be overly severe and we will most likely give her a little longer before her next run.  Congratulations to her owners John Durston and Nigel Harris!

Len Brennan has run some fine races in defeat in the past 12 months, not least when a good third in a competitive handicap chase at Chepstow on his previous outing, so it was very pleasing to see him shed his maiden tag back over hurdles at Sedgefield yesterday.

The six year old had gone close on his reappearance at Southwell on what was just his second outing over timber, having spent the majority of last season over the larger obstacles.  Sent off at odds of 1-4, Alan Johns sent him straight into the lead and the pair never looked in any danger, coming home clear to win by 15 lengths.

We’ll now give him a little time off before returning for a similar contest next time, as he looks capable of winning a novice under a penalty before targeting a nice handicap.  Congratulations to his owners The Oxymorons!

A dual winner over fences late last year, Cap St Vincent had been off since finishing third in his bid for a chasing hat-trick at Sandown Park last December, but he made light of the 10-month absence with an authoritative win on his seasonal bow at Exeter yesterday.

Alan Johns saved ground on the inside and the pair travelled strongly throughout.  In what was an incident-packed race, they did well to avoid one that fell in front of them at the fourth-last, keeping on resolutely up the straight to score comfortably.

That was the first time he had gone beyond two miles since joining us and it does present more opportunities for him going forwards.  We won’t be in a rush, but will look for something early next month and will perhaps look to step him up in grade off a low weight.  Congratulations to his owners Brian and Wayne Jones!

A winner at Hexham in maiden company in May, Eva’s Oskar returned from a break yesterday with a career-best effort to score at Warwick under a tremendous ride from Alan Johns.

The five year old son of Shirocco is very much a three-mile chaser in the making and he was caught for a bit of speed on a couple of occasions, but Alan managed to tag on to the leading group as they turned for home and the pair finished with a flourish to pass three rivals between the last and the line, getting up close home to win narrowly.

He is unlikely to receive much of a raise for the win and looks an improving sort who should make a very bold bid for a hat-trick next time.  He still has a bit to learn and we will keep our sights lowered for the time being, but he looks to have a very bright future for his owners Sally and Richard Prince and I can’t wait to get him started over fences in due course.

The horses continue in fine form and we were delighted to record an across-the-card double yesterday, bringing us to 25 winners for the season so far.

Third on his hurdling debut at the end of last season, Jembug Drummer took a step forward on his reappearance to score in great style at Bangor under Alan Johns. The son of Jeremy still looked a little green through the race and was under pressure leaving the back straight, but he stayed on strongly to join the eventual runner-up over the second-last and drew clear to win by 12 lengths for owners Paul and Louise Bowtell.  He shouldn’t be unduly punished by the handicapper and we will get an opening mark next week before deciding where he goes next.

Owners The Bill & Ben Partnership had to wait a while for Akkapenko to get his head in front over hurdles, but the five year old followed that first success over timber last month at Sedgefield with a very pleasing win at Huntingdon under Richard Johnson.  He travelled and jumped well, picked up nicely to challenge before the second-last and kept on resolutely, showing a likeable attitude.  He shouldn’t go up much for that and I am very hopeful that he can go on to record the hat-trick next time!

French recruit Le Milos gave his owners a day to remember when winning at Sandown Park last season and he got his 2019/20 campaign off to the perfect start when winning at Kelso yesterday under a fine ride from Charlie Price.

The four year old son of Shirocco was stepping up in trip for his seasonal return but, having travelled well through the race, he was outpaced on the home bend and looked to have a stiff task to reel in the two leaders.  However, he picked up very strongly from the second-last and, brought through to challenge at the last, he kept on very well to get the upper hand close home.

It was an excellent effort, particularly as he should come on plenty for the run.  We will most likely look to win another similar race with him before his novice status goes at the end of next month, but he looks to have the ability to make up into an exciting handicapper this term.  Congratulations to his owners Bovian Racing!

It has been a long time between drinks for Royale Django, so I couldn’t have been more pleased to see him return to winning ways with a front-running success at Newton Abbot yesterday under Charlie Price, on his second start back from ten months off.

Jumping very well, he shared the lead from the third fence, took up the running with over a circuit to go and never looked in any danger from there, galloping on strongly to win very comfortably.

He looked like he was enjoying himself and hopefully the win will give him plenty of confidence.  We’ll have a look to see if there is anything for him next week, as he could run again without a penalty before he is re-assessed.  I am delighted for his owners John Durston and Nigel Harris, who have been very patient and really deserved to cheer one home!

Lauberhorn Rocket had placed on his previous two starts earlier in the summer and, back from a short break, he finished strongest of all to get off the mark at Kempton Park yesterday evening under David Probert.

The four year old son of Maxios, an inexpensive purchase at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale last autumn, is a late-maturing type and we have kept him to the flat to give him time to develop.  That approach is certainly paying off, as he is very much going the right way and produced a tremendous finish to come from a long way back and snatch victory on the line yesterday.

He is likely to go up four or five in the handicap and he could go to Southwell on the 26th for a 1m4f handicap, or perhaps return to Kempton Park on 3rd September for another 1m4f contest.  Longer-term, I am looking forward to starting him off over hurdles.  Congratulations to his owners John and Kim Bolton!