'We're pinching ourselves' - owners Pompey Ventures continue brilliant season with hat-trick hero Bob Mali

Owners Pompey Ventures continued their stunning season when Bob Mali completed a hat-trick with an impressive success in the 6f juvenile conditions stakes.

The Ollie Sangster-trained son of Sands Of Mali landed his first two starts at Ayr and Chester and maintained his unbeaten record by a length and a quarter under James Doyle, despite hanging left in the closing stages.

His win took the owners' strike-rate this year to a remarkable 60 per cent, with nine of their ten runners in 2024 finishing in the first three.

Founding partner Owen Haly said: "We're pinching ourselves. It's unbelievable how it's been going. When we find our horses we make sure to leave no stone unturned.

"We bought Bob for only €16,000 and he's from a stallion we're growing to love. He's three from three now and that race was worth nearly £13,000 to the winner. He's really exciting."

The ownership group is named after Portsmouth FC's nickname and Bob Mali's victory was a welcome tonic after the Championship club's 6-1 defeat at Stoke on Wednesday. 

A tilt at Group 3 company is next on the cards for Bob Mali. Haly said: "He showed a bit of greenness, but in a nice way it means there's more to come. He'll be aimed at the Horris Hill Stakes. Ollie's keen to run him and we aren't afraid to have a crack."

Perfect result

Owners Valmont enjoyed a one-two when Perfect Your Craft denied Whatcombe in the mile novice.

Winning trainer Ralph Beckett rapidly doubled up with Chantilly Lace in the 7f novice.

Read these next:

'He's much shorter in the betting but we can all see there isn't much between them' - the key Arc quotes to note 

Robert Havlin lands plum ride on Inspiral for mare's potential Group 1 farewell 

'This is potentially going to be my final season' - Daryl Jacob on his return from six-month injury layoff 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.