- It will be long time before there is a more popular winning owner in the Riccarton Birdcage than Ron Williamson. The joy and affection for Ron was evident after WEST COAST led a procession throughout the 5600 metres of the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase to give trainer Mark Oulaghan a record extending seventh win in the famous race. Topflight jumps jockey Shaun Fannin got an overdue win in the race as the rider of WEST COAST. CARNABY and Wellington Steeplechase winner TITTLETATTLE filled the minor placings in a small field of five starters.
- The feature flat race the HeatStore Open Handicap was taken out by locally prepared galloper SUMMER FESTIVAL. Trained out of Stephen Marsh’s Riccarton Park stable the eight-year-old beat stablemate FIVE PRINCES and MISS TAVI. He had run second in the Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup on the first day.
- KICK ON after running eighth in the same race backed up to win the Zilco Open Handicap beating ROCK ISLAND LINE and HUNTER VILLAIN.
- The days Hurdle race, the Speight’s Summit Ultra on Tap 0-1win Hurdle was taken out by PHELAN FOXY in the hands of Irishman Gary Walsh who gave a particularly colourful post-race interview on Trackside. GREYSTONE and DES DE JEU filled the minors.
- Kevin Myers trained three winners on the day to give him eight for the Festival whilst Ken Harrison long a backbone of the Myers stable trained two winners in his own right, they being MEANDEEL and KING KHAN. Both were ridden by Ashvin Mudhoo who along with fellow apprentice Lily Sutherland rode a brace of winners.
IN
Racing
Grand National Festival - Day 3 Review
West Coast a popular winner of Steeplechase
August 15, 2022