'She deserves it' - 100-1 outsider gets off the mark at the 30th attempt
Tuesday: Southwell
Moroval, a 29-race maiden who had been pulled up on three of his last four starts, secured a thrilling first win under rules in the 3m½f handicap chase at odds of 100-1.
Formerly with Henry de Bromhead, Moroval was making his 15th start for Northamptonshire-based trainer Tracey Leeson off a career-low mark of 68 and was receiving 31lb from the Olly Murphy-trained topweight Colemanstown Lad.
It was the two horses at the opposite ends of the weights who fought out the finish as Moroval rallied under James Turner to edge out the Sean Bowen-ridden Colemanstown Lad by a neck.
“I rode him at Worcester in the summer and it wasn’t really his ground, he’s a very soft-ground horse,” Turner told Sky Sports Racing after riding his first winner of the season.
“Today, when it’s raining, he loved it because he thrives on the wet ground and he’s done it really well.”
Leeson saddled her first runner in April 2016 but only had her first winner in June this year, when Dellboy Trotter struck at Market Rasen, with Turner pleased to contribute to the trainer’s career-best season.
He added: “I ride out there every Sunday on my days off. She’s only got nine horses – even at Southwell it’s a big winner for her. She works very hard and I’m glad she’s got a result, she deserves it.”
Leeson was full of praise for her jockey and said: "James gave him a cracking ride, he didn’t give up on him. I thought at one point he was going to pull him up but he didn’t and that was the key. He just kept going. On soft ground we knew he would."
Generous goes in
On a trying day for favourite backers, the 25-1 outsiders-of-the-field, Generous Day and Steel Wave, split the Dan Skelton-trained market leader Heltenham in the 2m4½f handicap chase.
James Davies made all on Generous Day, with the Henry Oliver-trained ten-year-old recording a second win at Southwell in the opening feature.
Did you miss it? Our unmissable 80-page World Cup betting guide featuring the best outright and group bets plus expert opinion, comprehensive stats and much more, is out now. Order your copy here.
Published on 22 November 2022inReports
Last updated 18:43, 22 November 2022
- Perth: Sean Bowen reduces the deficit on Harry Cobden as part of Olly Murphy treble
- Warwick: 'It’s been a tough few months' - veteran Abaya Du Mathan helps to end Gary Hanmer's difficult spell
- Beverley: 'She didn’t have a sweat mark on her' - Jayvee storms to 16-1 debut success for Brian Ellison
- Catterick: 'It’s made a dramatic improvement' - Kevin Frost hails yard switch after saddling first turf Flat winner of 2024
- Perth: 'Next season will be so exciting' - Gold Cup dreams renewed for Sounds Russian after Listed success
- Perth: Sean Bowen reduces the deficit on Harry Cobden as part of Olly Murphy treble
- Warwick: 'It’s been a tough few months' - veteran Abaya Du Mathan helps to end Gary Hanmer's difficult spell
- Beverley: 'She didn’t have a sweat mark on her' - Jayvee storms to 16-1 debut success for Brian Ellison
- Catterick: 'It’s made a dramatic improvement' - Kevin Frost hails yard switch after saddling first turf Flat winner of 2024
- Perth: 'Next season will be so exciting' - Gold Cup dreams renewed for Sounds Russian after Listed success