We came within a whisker of a big race double at Doncaster with our only two runners on Saturday.
Gabriel’s Getaway gave us the perfect start to the day with a fluent success in the £26,000 two mile handicap Chase despite being 7lbs out of the handicap.
Forward Plan was then beaten a nose by Annual Invictus in the tightest possible finish to the Great Yorkshire Chase.
Both horses were well ridden by Ben Godfrey who continues to shine and is great value for his 3lbs claim.
Our horses have now earned £427,000 in prize money this season and it is encouraging that we have picked up half a dozen big pots along the way.
Although Gabriel’s Getaway never really fired in bumpers and novice hurdles he was a bit too keen in his younger days and the improvement when he switched to fences last season was immediate and impressive.
He has a big engine, rattled up a hat-trick and then didn’t really handle deep winter ground on his return at Ludlow last month.
His target kept moving with meetings being called off but we eventually chose to aim him at Doncaster even if he was slightly out of the handicap.
He took a time to warm to his task, then made relentless progress to lead two on his way to a decisive victory.
It is still early days for Gabriel’s Getaway who enjoys good ground and should be competitive when he runs next over two miles maybe at Aintree or Ascot.
Forward Plan looked all over a winner too when he ranged alongside the long time leader at the final fence in the Great Yorkshire Chase.
But in a ding-dong duel on the flat it was Annual Invictus who got the verdict by a nose.
Forward Plan earned over £21,000 for finishing second and having already won at Doncaster six weeks ago he might return to the track for the Grimthorpe Chase in a month’s time.
Another option is the £150,000 Coral Trophy Handicap at Kempton. He is a neat, athletic type who travels so well in his races and should continue to be competitive.
