Gray turns skies blue at Bangor

Ernest Gray enjoyed a deserved change of fortune at Bangor on Friday after securing career win number seven in the DU Construction Handicap Hurdle.

Having had to settle for second best behind the re-opposing Kiwi de Cotte on his previous start at Market Rasen, the gelded son of Walk In The Park exacted revenge on that rival to land a fourth success over hurdles.

Striking the front over two out, Ernest Gray, who was sent off the 9-4 favourite, found plenty for pressure when asked by Tom Cannon before drawing clear to score by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

Robin Smith, assistant trainer, said: “Ernest Gray was brilliant at Bangor. His owner Andy Peake is a great guy so it is fantastic that he has won again for him. The handicapper has put him up four pounds for that, which I thought was reasonable.

“He was taking on Dan’s horse (Kiwi de Cotte) again on better terms, but we just felt that at Market Rasen it was probably a touch sharp for him, however he did it nicely.

“He likes getting into his own rhythm. He is better off being in his comfort zone in the first part of the race, whereas if you go up in grade you are going that half-stride quicker each time.

“We will look at what is around, but it will probably be a 0-125 as he can still get into one of those. He is in great old form and he has come out of it well.”

A drop back in trip could be on the cards for stablemate Star Time, who finished sixth on the same day up at Haydock Park in the Betfair Supports Racing Welfare Handicap over a mile and a half.

Robin said: “Star Time is a horse with a round action and we thought he would appreciate the slower ground. He is not a slow horse, but if the ground is going to be like it is now we will probably come back to ten furlongs with him.

“He had a long time off and he has taken a few runs to blow the cobwebs away, which is perfectly understandable. If they had gone more of a gallop at Kempton Park on his penultimate start he would have taken a lot of beating that day.

“We thought that would set him up nicely for Haydock Park, but he didn’t quite get home. He has been dropped a pound to a mark of sixty which will help him.”

Twenty fours hour earlier at the Merseyside venue soft ground proved the undoing of I’d Go Maniac, who finished ninth under Alan’s daughter Georgia in the 100% Racing TV Profits Back To Racing Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap.

Robin said: “He has probably enjoyed the quicker ground through the summer months. Georgia has struck up a great partnership on him. We might, if the ground is going to be soft, switch him back to the all-weather.

“I think the plan would be to keep Georgia on him as she has got a good tune out of him so far. He has probably enjoyed her being on board. You would like to think there must be a few amateur races on the all-weather for the pair of them.”

While there was to be no winner to get September 1st off to a flyer there was an improved showing from Sevenkingsmustdie on his handicap debut at Wolverhampton.

The son of Sea The Stars left his previous efforts well behind to finish third in the Download The Racecourse App Raceday Ready Handicap.

Robin said: “Sevenkingsmustdie benefitted from going into handicaps. He got a bit outpaced from the turn, but he stayed on nicely. I would think we will probably give him a school over hurdles as that is something we might look at doing with him over the winter.

“You would like to think off his mark on the Flat that he would be very competitive on a more galloping track back on the turf now that the rain has arrived. I think on a more galloping track you would stay at a mile and a half with him.”