Charisma Cat finally laps up the cream at Newbury

March 21

From the start of the season Alan mapped out the EBF Mares Novices’ Final for Charisma Cat, but he had to wait until today at Newbury for the long-range plan to reach fruition.

Beaten at odds of 1-6 at Wincanton on Boxing Day, Charisma Cat was 6-1 against this time and defied topweight in convincing fashion, powering away from the final flight to win by three and a quarter lengths.

Alan said:”You can never be confident with 11st 12lb, but Charisma Cat is a classy mare, and, though it has taken time for her to iron out her jumping, she did not do a lot wrong out there. Cheekpieces have also helped, though I also think the step up in distance brought out the best in her.”

Robert Bellamy, whose son Tom gave Charisma Cat such a positive ride, is one of Alan’s oldest friends, so this success gave him a real thrill.

He added:”Robert and I go back a long way, but Charisma Cat is also a home-bred for the Waley-Cohen family, so I have plenty of reasons to be grateful.”

Tom Bellamy said:”Charisma Cat’s jumping was much better, and, apart from one mistake down the back, you couldn’t fault her.  It’s my first win in these famous colours, and I still think she can be better when everything starts to fall into place.”

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Tom Bellamy, still on the crest of a wave, enjoying a fantastic March, during which he clocked up his first Cheltenham Festival winner,