2019 Radnor Hunt Races

[Flatterer]

The Radnor Hunt Races will be run for the 89th time Saturday May 18th over the one mile W. Burling Cocks Memorial Racecourse.

Burley Cocks was a 5 time leading steeplechase trainer, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985. He helped develop trainers Billy Turner (Seattle Slew), D. Michael Smithwick and Jonathan Sheppard. Cocks’ farm was used for the horse galloping shots in Hitchcock’s 1964 movie Marnie where Tippi Hedren rides into a stone wall. I’ll pay homage to Burley as I pass his grave on the way to the races.

5 brush and 1 timber race are on the schedule. After the jump races, Race Director Skip Achuff hosts a Preakness Party featuring the Preakness Stakes on the jumbotrons.

Leading trainer Jack Fisher holds a strong hand with 7 runners in 5 races.

Race 1 – Sport of Kings Maiden
#3 Prayer Hope for Fisher gets the nod. #4 Rashford’s Double could surprise and #8 Hepcat for Sheppard is always a danger. Order of finish: 3-4-8-2-5-10-9-7-6-1

Race 2 – Ratings Handicap under 120 rating
Toughest race of the day with 6 of the 9 runners as possible winners. #3 Ack Feisty gets a slim nod over #8 Pik Em and everyone’s favorite name to bet #7 Dapper Dan. Order of Finish: 3-8-7-9-2-4-1-6-5

Race 3 – Radnor Hunt Cup Timber Stakes
The only timber of the day. #4 Le Chevalier will be tough to beat. #6 Lemony Bay comes back from 6 days rest and the swamp at WIllowdale with Fisher saying “we’re taking a shot” (Thanks Steve!!). #5 Wildcatter can do well if he finishes. Order of finish: 4-6-5-3-7-1-2

Race 4 – National Hunt Cup - Non-winner 2 life over hurdles. This is the race where Flatterer in 1986 carried 176 pounds to victory. Trainer H. Graham Motion was his handler and the 176 pounds still stands as a record carried by a winner over hurdles in the US.
#6 Other Cheek for Fisher comes off a big run at Great Meadow. #3 Soluble always hits the board and #5 Renown looks to use his flat speed to some good use. Order of finish: 6-3-5-1-4-2

Race 5 – Rating Handicap under 110 rating and non-winners 2 life over hurdles
The second toughest race of the day. #3 Artic North comes back from the Willowdale swamp to pick up a check. #9 Mutin is trainer Julie Gomena’s best shot of the day. #2 Balistes gets in light at 140 pounds and could surprise. Order of finish: 3-9-2-10-1-8-4-5-6-7

Race 6 – Maiden Claimers
Trainer Ricky Hendricks’ s only runner #6 Argentic should wire this group. #2 Plumes ran well at point to points for trainer Gomena. #5 Ant and Bee is Sheppard’s stab in a maiden claimer (what?). #8 Brooklyn Speights has a slim chance. Order of finish: 6-2-5-8-10-1-7-4-3-9

Good Luck at the races!