Pant Wilkin Blog

Having just his second ride since turning conditional, Charlie Price enjoyed a day he won’t forget at Chepstow on Saturday when winning on Trixster for the Pant Wilkin Partnership!

Having looked the likely winner when coming down at the last at the course in January, Trixster got off the mark over hurdles at Warwick in October and finished runner-up on his latest outing at Southwell.

Back on heavy ground for the first time this season, he travelled noticeably well throughout the contest and, but just looked a little inexperienced when hitting the front, and required plenty of assistance from Charlie to hold off the persistent challenge of the eventual runner-up.

He is a very bright prospect and I can’t wait to send him chasing next term, but in the meantime we’ll look for another novice event (he escapes a penalty for this win, as it came in a conditional jockeys’ contest) before stepping up to handicap company.  Congratulations to Charlie and the Pant Wilkin Partnership!

Purchased for just £800 as a four year old, Kovera won his second race in quick succession yesterday, finishing strongly under a power-packed ride from Alan Johns to just get the better of a three-way tussle up the home straight at Newcastle.

The bargain buy is clearly an improving sort and though this win, off the same mark as when successful by 18 lengths at Sedgefield last time, was far harder-thought, there is little doubt he has considerably more potential over fences, having jumped particularly well on his way to victory at Sedgefield just a week ago.

The handicapper hasn’t taken severe action over the larger obstacles and that is what Kovera will return to next, the son of Antarctique looking to have an excellent chance of recording his third consecutive success for owners Oceans Racing!

A maiden under rules, Kovera had won a point in April and, having finished runner-up on his previous start over fences at Southwell last month, he duly went one better with an authoritative display at Sedgefield yesterday under Alan Johns.

The six year old is bred for the job, being a half-brother to a cross-country winner in France and out of a half-sister to the smart Exit To Wave, and it was very pleasing to see him put in such a polished round of jumping in front which, despite the large winning margin of 18 lengths, was certainly a very big part of his success.

Providing the handicapper doesn’t overreact to the margin of victory, he should have an excellent chance next time and hopefully he can continue to progress for his owners Oceans Racing.

A £22,000 purchase at the Doncaster August Sale, Tight Call has made the perfect start to life at Pant Wilkin, building on his bumper success at Stratford last month with a taking display on his hurdling debut at Hereford yesterday under Richard Johnson.

The four year old was sent into the lead from the off and, jumping fluently throughout, he travelled well before putting the race to bed rounding the home turn.  It was an impressive performance from the exciting son of Mahler, who had been working well and looks capable of developing into a useful novice as the season progresses. We’ll look for a similar race next time but, if he can defy a penalty, we’ll then consider stepping him up in grade.  Congratulations to his owners Eric Newnham and Jonathan Shinton!

A winner at Carlisle on his seasonal reappearance in October, Looksnowtlikebrian had been raised 4lbs for that effort, but in a stronger race he made light of that extra burden with a very impressive success, bounding clear to win in the style of a very progressive young chaser.

He travelled particularly well through the race under Richard Johnson before coming clear after the last and, now four from six over fences and with his mark likely to climb to the mid to high 130s, he will get into the Welsh National and that is very much the aim, with the possibility of one run beforehand, perhaps in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle at the beginning of December.