Smart Mares Complete Double For Walk In The Park

Thursday saw promising point-to-point recruit Goodtimecrew (5m Walk In The Park - Glacial Drift, by Rail Link) make a winning rules debut in the mares’ bumper at Wincanton.

The daughter of Walk In The Park was bought by Kevin Ross for £135,000 after finishing second in a four-year-old mares’ maiden on her sole start for Colin Bowe, and was sent off favourite on her first start for Harry Fry. Slowly away under Jonathan Burke, she raced in last for much of the way and had plenty of ground to make up as they turned for home. Pushed along to make headway approaching the two furlong marker, she kept on strongly under pressure inside the final furlong and led close home to win by three parts of a length. Larchmont Lass (Walk In The Park) completed a 1-2 for their Grange Stud sire.

Now owned by Jago and Allhusen, Goodtimecrew is the first foal bred by Pate and Herine Bloodstock out of Glacial Drift, who has a four-year-old full-brother to the winner, as well as a two-year-old by Capri.

Goodtimecrew completed a double on the card for Walk In The Park, with Lime Avenue (6m Walk In The Park - Carrifeen Kohleria, by Luso) having earlier run out a commanding winner of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

The Paul Nicholls-trained mare impressed on debut in October, when running out a 14 length winner of a bumper and went on to finish second on her hurdle bow. Reunited with Harry Cobden on Thursday, she made all of the running and began to extend her advantage from two out. She produced a fine leap at the last and kept on well to score by five lengths.

Owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, Lime Avenue was bought by Mags O’Toole and Tom Malone at the store sales for €110,000.The daughter of Walk In The Park was bred by Mrs RH Lalor out of Carrigeen Kohleria, who has a two-year-old by Getaway.