DISPATCHES FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST MIDLANDS: 7 AND 8 MARCH

On a weekend overshadowed by the tragic death of popular South Midlands jockey Sam Lee, there were a season-high six meetings – including two in the West Mercian Area – giving plenty of opportunities for South Midlands and West Mercian participants to get on the scoresheet, and they took full advantage, being involved in 21 victories at five fixtures, including a clean sweep at Bangor-on-Dee on Sunday.

Star performer was again 11-time champion jockey Gina Andrews, who rode six winners – three each at High Easter on Saturday and Guilsborough on Sunday – three of which she trained herself, Fairly Famous and I’m Spellbound at the first-named Essex venue and Arctic Oscar at the Northamptonshire track. For good measure, she also trained the winner of the Flat Race at Bangor-on-Dee, Wise Maiden, ridden by Zac Baker. Another of Gina’s Guilsborough wins was on Cartesien, a first training success of the season for Maxine Filby for her high-profile owners, Christian and Geri Horner.

Gina Andrews and Fairly Famous (near side) - High Easter winners (Neale Blackburn)

Trainer Alan Hill and jockey Huw Edwards were others to see success at both High Easter and Bangor-on-Dee. They teamed up on Saturday to take the Restricted with Reel Much Fun but went their separate ways at the North Wales course, Alan winning the Restricted with Drayton Flyer and Huw taking the Area Conditions Race with Peaches And Cream, trained by his partner Laura Richardson.

Plaudits at Bangor-on-Dee went to popular local trainer Neil Gittins, known to many as “Gitto”. His horses had been out of form earlier in the season, but he got off the mark for the campaign with a vengeance, landing a treble. It was initiated by Mayor Kingston (Felix Barlow) in the Maiden, stable star Great Valley (Guy Sankey) scored easily on his reappearance in the Mixed Open, then Blagthebookies – ridden by Guy’s wife Iola – took the first Conditions Race. The latter two combinations had scored at the same meeting in 2025.

Trainer Neil Gittins after his treble (Marilyn Sweet)

Read Tricia Newman’s full report of racing at Bangor-on-Dee here.

Back at Guilsborough, Joe O’Shea’s Boley Bob followed up his Larkhill win in the Intermediate, again under Henry Crow, while David Dennis’ Just Four Fame gave Dominic Lewis a first pointing win in the Maiden.

At Didmarton in Gloucestershire on Saturday, West Mercian connections won four of the seven races. What A Steal, ridden by Ed Doggrell for trainer Christopher Walker took the Adjacent Hunts Race, Amber Jackson-Fennell gave the Welsh-qualified What’s Up Harry a storming ride to win the Restricted, and Mount Gay Run scored in the Maiden for trainer Nick Pearce and jockey Sean O’Connor, who is having a splendid season. Best finish of the day came in the first Conditions Race, where Angela Slatter’s Alaphilippe and James King and Glancing Hill, trained by Francesca Poste and ridden by Zac Baker dead-heated after duelling all the way up the run-in.

Sean O'Connor on Maiden winner Mount Gay Run (Graham Fisher)

Read Andrew King’s review of the action at Didmarton here.

Finally, down at Charlton Horethorne in Somerset on Sunday, Chris Barber and James King teamed up for a double in the last two races, the Restricted and Intermediate, with Carrillo and the progressive Couer D’Alene respectively.