Picks & Preview: Radnor closes the spring season

Travesuras, a maiden winner at Radnor last spring, returns for Saturday’s feature. Tod Marks Photo.

And then there was one. The much-anticipated and somehow glad-it’s-over spring steeplechase season culminates with a five-race card at the Radnor Hunt Races Saturday. Run for the 94th time, the third-Saturday-in-May fixture attracted overnight-busting entries over the W. Burling Cocks Memorial Racecourse.

Last week, Bernie and Kate Dalton, the most rooted-for couple in the history of steeplechasing, starred at the Iroquois. The South Carolina-based duo upset the Grade 1 Iroquois with Abaan and the Green Pastures Novice Stakes with China Beach.

Bernie Dalton settled Abaan in the back of the eight-horse field, gradually made up ground from the far outside, avoided a three-horse melee at the second-to-last hurdle, collared Snap Decision and beat the 2024 champion on the square. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Daigneault Thoroughbreds, the 8-year-old son of Will Take Charge earned his first Grade 1 stakes win in his 10th start over hurdles. The paddock pick before the race and divisional leader after the race stymied Snap Decision’s bid to become the first horse to win the Iroquois for the fourth time and his first attempt at becoming the sport’s all-time leading earner. If you’re doing the math, the son of Hard Spun is $73,204 behind McDynamo. See you in the fall.

China Beach continued his meteoric rise to the top of the novice division for the Daltons and locally based St Rita Racing. The 7-year-old son of Treasure Beach won for the third consecutive time since making his debut in September.

As for the TIHR Handicapping Challenge, it’s gotten tight at the top. The upstart Miles, the leader from flag fall, selected two winners (China Beach and Gold Charm) last week, he still leads with 25. Sean picked just one winner (Gold Charm) and slipped to second with 24. Old guard Joe clawed his way back into the frame with four winners (Bonnebosq, Gold Charm, Marcel Magic and De Nordener) to get to 22 for the season. Old Hilltop Tom nabbed one winner last week (Gold Charm), slipping to eight winners back with five to go, even award winners can’t make that math work.

As this writer awaits Miles’ selections (the youngest are always the latest), it looks like Joe played it safe with mostly predictable predictions. We’ll see how Miles plays it. The winner gets a case of IPA – um, well, hmmm – perhaps, a case of Fever-Tree Ginger Beer.

The Radnor Hunt Races. Post time 1:30 p.m. Watch on the NSA website.

First race. The Milfern Cup. Optional maiden starter hurdle. $15,000. 2 1/8 miles.

The first division of one of the better conditions created in the past few seasons. Nine go postward including spring-placed fillies Forever Hopeful, Wilma Flintshire and Beautiful Gorgeous.

Miles: Beautiful Gorgeous, Forever Hopeful, Final Opportunity.
Sean: Beautiful Gorgeous, Wilma Flintshire, Final Opportunity.
Joe: Final Opportunity, Forever Hopeful, Beautiful Gorgeous.
Tom: Beautiful Gorgeous, Just Another One, Final Opportunity.

Second race. The Radnor Hunt Cup. Allowance timber. $25,000. 3 1/4 miles.

Competitive field of eight line up for the final timber purse of the spring. Every starter has either won or hit the board over timber this spring. How good are Track And Trace and Imperial Assassin? We’ll find out.

Miles: Track and Trace, The Butler Yates, Imperial Assassin.
Sean: Imperial Assassin, Track And Trace, Corky Lemon.
Joe: Track And Trace, Imperial Assassin, The Butler Yates.
Tom: Track And Trace, The Butler Yates, Anzio.

Third race. The National Hunt Cup. Allowance hurdle. $35,000. 2 1/8 miles.

We remember when this was a proper stakes which attracted the likes of weight-defying Flatterer (176 pounds), hard-hitting Bomb and pace-controlling Tostadero. Yeah, that’s a while ago. Not a stakes any more but certainly a deep allowance affair. Scratch Rucker Road and Bright Eyed Eagle. Apprentice Declan Carroll rides Lightning Rod.

Miles: Travesuras, I Can Only Imagine, Doesn’t Sting.
Sean: Sultan Pierji, Travesuras, Lightning Rod.
Joe: Selassie, Travesuras, Sultan Pierji.
Tom: Travesuras, Auction Kingdom, Selassie.

Fourth race. The Thompson Memorial. Maiden hurdle. $30,000. 2 1/8 miles.

Risk Taking ran well at Middleburg and was running well at the Virginia Gold Cup when he slipped on the turn. Today’s the day. The rest have questions to answer.

Miles: Foreoneohsmokeshow, Risk Taking, American War Hero.
Sean: Risk Taking, Fouroneohsmokeshow, American War Hero.
Joe: Risk Taking, Fouroneohsmokeshow, Top Of The Field.
Tom: Fouroneohsmokeshow, American War Hero, Rod N Reel.

Fifth race. The Milfern Cup. Optional maiden starter hurdle. $15,000. 2 1/8 miles.

The second division of the optional maiden starter and arguably the tougher of the two divisions. Tea With Edgar wheels back in a week after a decent debut at Willowdale. Scoop The Pot drops down a notch and adds blinkers for the red-hot Dalton/Fowler combination.

Von Hoff could improve from his debut at Loudoun. Love Shaq found this level easier at Loudoun. Could be a clincher.