3 minute read
Local trainer hits the mark
Tom Dascombe celebrated his first winner at Chester this year when Sha La La La Lee opened his account on turf in the Liverpool Gin Earl Grosvenor Handicap.
Having drawn a blank on the first two days of the Boodles May Festival, the Malpas handler finally hit the target as the son of Helmet made all in the extended seven-furlong event to defeat Gabrial The Saint by a length and a quarter.
The winning trainer said of the 12-1 shot: “I feel sorry for Richard Kingscote as he is really desperate to ride a winner and we are desperate to train them.
“This horse missed the break by about six lengths at Lingfield and it probably turned out to be a good job he did as he would have gone up in the handicap if he had won.
“Jane Elliott is a great addition to the yard. She won the race in the first 70 yards. He half missed the beat, but she got him up there.
“He has never won on turf this horse, but he should have done by now. At least he has gone and helped me out of a big hole.”
Elliott made it a day to remember as She Can Boogie (5-2) proved to be the perfect supersub for Dascombe in the White Oak UK Conditions Stakes.
With stablemate Kachy declared a non runner in the five-furlong event, the daughter of Dandy Man showed she was up to the task – just two days after finishing third over course and distance.
Dascombe said: “What a hardy filly that is. I rang Mike (Nolan, joint-owner). He said if you want to run, run – so we ran.
“It is all about having owners that just let you do what you think you need to do. She is not a superstar, but she is honest and tough and goes on any ground. She tries her heart out and does everything she can to please you.”
Aquarium (13-2) helped Franny Norton end a losing streak at the track stretching back 300 days and 36 rides in getting up almost on the line in the Boodles Diamond Handicap.
Despite making a slow start from stall one, the Mark Johnston-trained four-year-old stuck to the task well to pick up rallying leader Epaulement by half a length.
Johnston said: “You would have to ask him if he has timed that to perfection. I could hear him saying that he expected Danny Tudhope’s horse (Frankuus) to take him a bit further, so it was Plan B when he started to drop back, but he gave him a great ride.
“The two races before Newmarket he was very unlucky, but these things happen and I don’t think there was a specific cause last time.
“We thought it was one of our only good draws of the week and it was not the right horse to have it on as he is slowly away and he was again today, but Franny expected that, got across and bagged the rail and been looking for a long way out.”