THE Byton stable of Kerry Lee continued her fine run of success at Hereford races on Monday when her Atlanta Brave stayed on strongly to take the opening two-mile five-furlong novice hurdle for jockey Richard Patrick.
The ex-Irish five-year-old Atlanta Brave had come into strong support in the betting market throughout the morning and was sent off the 5/6 favourite in the 12 runner race, writes Graham Saveker.
Despite being pressed throughout the final half-mile by eventual runner-up Hauraki Gulf the favourite had three-quarters of a length to spare at the finish.
Not to be outdone, fellow Herefordshire trainer Venetia Williams kept the local winning flavour going when her Galop de Chasse won the two-mile handicap chase later on the card.
The Alistair Ralph trained Risk D’Argent was sent off the 100/30 favourite but was never travelling will and eventually was pulled up whilst the Charlie Deutsch ridden Galop de Chasse was patiently ridden throughout the two-mile race and brought to challenge at the second last fence.
The Williams trained runner was produced to lead and swept past the leader Rose Sea Has on the run-in and won comfortably by one and a half lengths and could again follow up.
Riding plaudits on the day went to amateur jockey Heidi Palin, who rode the Dan Skelton trained Bennys Kind in the two-mile four-furlong Hunters Chase and defied a bad mistake on the first circuit which saw her have both legs on one side of the horse.
Once the partnership was re-established Palin and her mount had too much stamina for the Olive Nicolls ridden Magic Saint over the final two fences and they kept on well to win by three-quarters of a length.
The concluding Bumper race saw a win of promise from the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Casa No Mento who drew clear to record an easy 12-length win over his 10 rivals.
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