'Really special' - Prime Venture comes good for Evan Williams in veterans' final

Sandown: Saturday

In what has already been a season to remember for trainer Evan Williams he once again found himself getting emotional after a big-race success.

“I’m getting older now and going soft and getting emotional about everything,” he said, recomposing himself, as he discussed Prime Venture’s success in the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase final for owner Janet Davies, whose colours were carried to notable success in the past by the Williams-trained Court Minstrel.

“When you get owners like this it means a lot to you,” Williams added. “They’ve been with me a long time and have had some great days, but when owners stick by you and want to enjoy the journey even when things aren't happening then that’s really special.”

Prime Venture was winning for just the second time over fences, although he had produced notable performances in the past two seasons when finishing fourth and then fifth in the Welsh Grand National, a race Williams said he felt he had been rather preoccupied with.

He said: “He hasn’t won very much but he’s run some mighty races in the Welsh National. Perhaps I was guilty of training him for the Welsh National all his life, so he didn’t get the opportunity to win as many races as he should have, but I'm so happy and so proud he has today for Mr and Mrs Davies.

“I cannot emphasise enough that if you give your trainer the space and let them hatch a plan then at some point you'll be properly rewarded for it. They’ve been loyal and passionate supporters of Welsh racing and I’m delighted for them.”

Prime Venture’s win was a second in the race for Williams, following Buywise in 2018, while it was the first time jockey Adam Wedge had landed the prize.

“It was very hard work out there today and Evan just told me to go out, hunt him away and ride him to finish, so it was all about getting him there at the right time,” said Wedge.

“He always wears his heart on his sleeve and tries his hardest, so I’m delighted for him and for the owners too, who put so much into racing and into the yard. They deserve to get something out of it like this.”

Martello Sky asserts in the closing stages of the Listed mares' hurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sky sets up Cheltenham bid with Listed success

Trainer Lucy Wadham and jockey Aidan Coleman were full of praise for Martello Sky’s toughness after she landed a second Listed triumph in the Unibet Mares’ Hurdle, setting her up for a tilt at the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old, owned by The Sky Partnership, appeared uncomfortable on the ground but made the most of the disappointing performance of the Willie Mullins-trained Gauloise to grind out victory by a length and three-quarters.

Coleman said: “She’s a credit to her connections. She’s a very easy mare to deal with and so very tough. Today’s a real credit to her mental and physical toughness as she didn’t like the ground at all. She’s really improved for having her confidence up and, what’s more, she’s been incredibly well placed.”

The grey is set to be given a break before the Cheltenham Festival, with Wadham keen to have a tilt at a Grade 1 with her.

“That was an amazing performance,” she said. “She hated the ground and down the back you could see Aidan was thinking ‘should I pull her up?’ but once she was in with other horses she took off. She's very talented, she’s tough and she’s improving.

“We were well treated by the weights today but she’s tough to go out there and do that. We’ll give her a break and then look at the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham for her.”

Aidan Coleman (near) completes a double on Gunsight RidgeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Murphy sets sights on spring festivals with Ridge

Trainer Olly Murphy admitted he acted “like a spoiled child” when Gunsight Ridge was beaten at Exeter last month, although in hindsight he realised there was no reason to be so put out by the seven-year-old’s defeat.

In front of him in that handicap chase was none other than L’Homme Presse, who has since won twice more to put himself in the mix at the head of the market for the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

With no such dangers this time, Gunsight Ridge was able to fend off the efforts of Bun Doran to capture the 1m7½f handicap chase for Murphy, owner Diana Whateley and jockey Aidan Coleman.

“I left Exeter a month ago like a spoiled child as I couldn’t believe we got beat,” Murphy said. “I don’t think he really stayed the trip that day and the winner, I can’t pronounce his name, is clearly very good too.

“You can get fooled with pointers that they all stay a trip, but this is a sharp horse. This is a valuable race and it’s a great one to win, and he could be one for something like the Grand Annual at Cheltenham or the Red Rum Chase at the Grand National meeting in the spring.”

Results, replays and analysis

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