'Special' horse Goshen hailed by Moore as he remembers son Josh's injury
Saturday: Ascot
Goshen is a dear horse to the Moores, but after his victory in the Coral Hurdle it was events at Haydock that had the family's figurehead Gary choked up with emotion.
The Ascot race was robbed of interest when Constitution Hill was taken out, but that made Goshen's task easier and he gobbled up the opportunity under Moore's son Jamie.
However, the yard's Botox Has minutes earlier had struck at Haydock, which is where Josh – another of the trainer's sons – suffered a career-ending injury in April that was so serious it left him in critical care.
He left hospital in the summer and Moore, explaining why he was fighting back the tears, said: "Botox Has was one of Josh's last winners and he's just won at Haydock, where Josh got that bad fall."
Of the Steve Packham-owned Goshen, Moore added: "He's a special horse to me, he's a special horse to Steve and he deserves to win a decent prize like that – although I was glad Constitution Hill came out!"
Coole dude
The Grade 2 Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase lost its lustre when L'Homme Presse was withdrawn, but that opened the door for old favourite Coole Cody, who made his name in rough and tumble handicaps but seemed to relish a two-runner conditions event.
He had too much for the faltering Saint Calvados, who was matched for £16,000 at Betfair's minimum price of 1.01 when he built up a sizeable advantage under David Maxwell, who owns him.
However, the Evan Williams-trained Coole Cody, a Cheltenham Festival winner in the spring who has also won the track's two big pre-Christmas handicap chases, is as hard as they come.
"He's a one-in-a-lifetime horse," said owner Wayne Clifford. "You don't get them – they're rare. He was pulled up at Cheltenham in the Paddy Power last weekend, so we thought we'd go for some Graded races with small fields to see if he'd enjoy it – I think he has.
"He's the best horse I've had."
Quids in
Harry Fry hailed the prize-money of the £125,000 Hurst Park Handicap Chase, which he won with Boothill.
"There's no novice chase around worth that amount of money," said the trainer.
"After he won at Newton Abbot last time, there was only one race we wanted to run him in as you're only on the way up the ladder once."
Murphy on target
Tim Murphy, joint-owner of National League outfit Solihull Moors, enjoyed his first winner when Thames Water struck in the bumper.
He owns the winner with Sonning neighbour Max McNeill, who said: "Tim was going to buy three horses with me, but then said he'd bought half a football club, so that was kiboshed, although he's got this one and I think he'll be nice."
Scarface camp smiling
Scarface made all in the three-runner novice hurdle – even if those factors were against him.
Part-owner Richard O'Dwyer said: "He'll be better in a better race, but he wants to be covered up and towed along as he's got a high-cruising speed. What doesn't suit him is small fields and leading – what he's just done and got there!"
Sweet win for Honeyball
Anthony Honeyball anticipated a decent show from Coquelicot in the mares' handicap hurdle and that is exactly what he got.
"She's jumping better now and is in better health compared to last season, so it's clicking," the trainer said. "That didn't mean I was sure she'd win today because of the quicker ground. I was fine to run on it, but it was more a case of whether they'd quicken by her."
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