28th
December news
Lucarno Dancer gets up on the line to win
Ecstatic owner Raymond Shiels collects his prize
What a thriller!
Callum drove Lucarno Dancer from the final fence in a ding-dong battle with Ballasalla (Brian Hughes) and got her head in front in the shadow of the post to win on her chase debut over 2 miles at Catterick today, collecting a nice prize for owner Raymond Shiels in the process.
You know, each winner provides a moment to savour but it does feel a bit
extra special when you train a winner for a new owner to the yard.
Of course, Raymond trained Lucarno Dancer to win a hurdle not so
long ago but with his daughter Georgina joining the Dodlands team on
a permanent basis during the summer, this victory gave us a big
thrill
Lucarno Dancer had shown her well-being when runner up on her debut for the season in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago. But Raymond always had a chasing campaign in his mind for his 8yr old mare.
And she certainly took to the fences, jumping well with her only blemish coming when hitting the open ditch down the back straight. But she had travelled smoothly tracking the leaders throughout, and Callum soon had the mare back on an even keel.
Making smooth headway into the straight with 3 to jump, Lucarno Dancer's accurate jumping had her on the heels of the leader - McCain's Ballasalla - with Candlish's fellow chase debutant Domestic Diva also holding every chance.
All three horses were jumping well, full of running and Callum didn't want to hit the front too soon.
On the run-in, with each jockey giving it their all, Callum drove a willing Lucarno Dancer to victory right on the line.
A tremendous finish!
You can view the final stages of race by the link below
Lucarno Dancer, post race.
Lucarno Dancer had shown her well-being when runner up on her debut for the season in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago. But Raymond always had a chasing campaign in his mind for his 8yr old mare.
And she certainly took to the fences, jumping well with her only blemish coming when hitting the open ditch down the back straight. But she had travelled smoothly tracking the leaders throughout, and Callum soon had the mare back on an even keel.
Making smooth headway into the straight with 3 to jump, Lucarno Dancer's accurate jumping had her on the heels of the leader - McCain's Ballasalla - with Candlish's fellow chase debutant Domestic Diva also holding every chance.
All three horses were jumping well, full of running and Callum didn't want to hit the front too soon.
On the run-in, with each jockey giving it their all, Callum drove a willing Lucarno Dancer to victory right on the line.
A tremendous finish!
You can view the final stages of race by the link below
Lucarno Dancer, post race.
