You going to the Preakness at Laurel? That sounds a little like going to the beach in Kansas, but this is the world we live in. In case you didn’t get lucky and get tickets – 4,800 is the attendance cap – you can head north to the Philadelphia suburbs for jump racing at the Radnor Hunt Races.
Post time for the four-race card, headed by an a-other-than allowance hurdle, is 1 p.m.
Before we get there, a quick recap from last week includes an Iroquois win by Zabeel Champion, who caught Swore in the final yards of the $250,000 Grade 1 feature for Riverdee Stable, Jack Fisher and Freddie Procter. The British-bred fell while in contention, and apparently ready to pounce, in last year’s 3-miler. He’s 2-for-2 and the leader in the clubhouse (tack room?) for the 2026 championship after taking last month’s Grade 2 Temple Gwathmey.
In other action at the spring’s biggest meet, Coutach won the Green Pastures novice for Del Rio Racing, Ricky Hendriks and Jake Coen. The British-bred edged Rampoldi Plan by a neck with McTigue third. Riverdee, Fisher and Jamie Bargary triumphed in the Marcellus Frost novice with Rocket One, who ousted Mr. Percy by a half-length with Predominate third. Irish shipper Blue Waters won the Margaret Henley filly/mare stakes by 1 1/2 lengths over Timetoshine with Anoint third. The Irish also took the maiden hurdle with Famous Figure, who defeated McLovin and Really Good. Butler Hall Racing’s French-bred Boldog won the 120 handicap hurdle for trainer Tom Garner and jockey Evan Dwan, ripping away from King Of Tsavo by 5 lengths with Scoop The Pot third. Step Out closed the day with an allowance timber win for Runnymoore Racing, Neil Morris and Graham Watters.
Up the road at Willowdale, Two Past Eight won for Silverton Hill, Leslie Young and Luke Carberry in the apprentice rider hurdle; Lewins Gully took the maiden claimer for Devon Smith, Todd McKenna and Paddy Barlow; Ranger Thunderbolt won for the second time in the 110 handicap for Irv Naylor, Cyril Murphy and Elizabeth Scully; Bogey’s Image on the Willowdale Steeplechase timber stakes for Dan Colhoun, Achsah O’Donovan, Harvey Goolsby, trainer Joe Davies and jockey Teddy Davies in a romp; Davies and Davies added a maiden timber with Armata Stable’s The Ballybreen Fox; Davies the trainer finished off a triple in the finale with De Nordener for Armata and jockey Charlie Marshall.
The handicappers’ scorecard included a six pack for Miles (Famous Figure, Lewins Gully, Ranger Thunderbolt, Bogey’s Image, The Ballybreen Fox, De Nordener), four each for Sean and Joe and three for Tom. That means the leaderboard goes Sean 29, Miles 25, Tom 23, Joe 22. Time’s a wastin’.
On to Radnor.
Radnor Hunt Races. Malvern, Pa. You can watch on the NSA livestream.
First race. $20,000 maiden optional claiming hurdle going 2 1/8 miles. Eight go in the opener, including Lucky Prince a week two weeks after finishing second at Great Meadow. He’ll have to deal with Renfro’s Reception from the Fisher barn.
- Sean: Lucky Prince, Renfro’s Reception, Super Snoop.
- Miles: Renfro’s Reception, Lucky Prince, Stroke of Luck.
- Tom: Renfro’s Reception, Baby Boss, T Rex.
- Joe: Lucky Prince, Renfro’s Reception, Stroke Of Luck.
Second race. $25,000 allowance timber going 3 1/4 miles. Six come at this from all over the place. Pavoni and Total Joy exit maiden wins. Marcel Magic was third in the Virginia Gold Cup. Animal Kingston jumped around the Maryland Hunt Cup. Anzo has proven his worth in the cross-country races. Imperial Assassin chased that one home last time.
- Sean: Total Joy, Pavoni, Anzio.
- Miles: Imperial Assassin, Marcel Magic, Total Joy.
- Tom: Anzio, Marcel Magic, Animal Kingston.
- Joe: Pavoni, Marcel Magic, Total Joy.
Third race. $35,000 allowance hurdle going 2 1/4 miles. Nine tangle in this, which could go in multiple directions. Awesome Man continues to run well. Max’d Out should run better. Missionaire exits a maiden win. Claramente tries the boys after winning against fillies/mares last time. Roja Redemption dominated in his return at Foxfield. Rucker Road was a solid second at Aiken. Brie’s Mission has run well twice this year.
- Sean: Roja Redemption, Missionaire, Rucker Road.
- Miles: Roja Redemption, Rucker Road, Max’d Out.
- Tom: Roja Redemption, Missionaire, Claramente.
- Joe: Roja Redemption, Awesome Man, Max’d Out.
Fourth race. $20,000 maiden optional claiming hurdle going 2 1/4 miles. Eight go here. Leaping Louis is out of hurdle stakes winner Bercasa. Camanoe debuts for Fisher. Mortal Sin shook off some rust last time. Lord Donegal keeps knocking on the door. One Last Bid wins the pedigree battle (out of a millionaire who traces to the great Courtly Dee).
- Sean: Camanoe, Basic Miles, Lord Donegal.
- Miles: Basic Miles, Lord Donegal, Camanoe.
- Tom: Lord Donegal, Mortal Sin, Camanoe.
- Joe: One Last Bid, Lord Donegal, Camanoe.
