Denton Hall News

Praise for Aidan Redpath as he rides his first winner

MICHAEL Dods has praised the stable's apprentice, Aidan Redpath, after he rode his first winner on Havagomecca at Newcastle on Friday night.

Michael described Aidan as a "real grafter" who followed orders on David Metcalfe's filly and deserved his first victory. The Denton Hall trainer elaborates about Aidan, reflects on Brunch's great run in the Lincoln Handicap, and looks ahead to six runners at Redcar on Monday - all in his regular Weekend Preview.

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY PREVIEW

"IT’S been an eventful week or so with Brunch running a blinder in last week’s Lincoln Handicap, and then Aidan Redpath scoring his first win on Havagomecca at Newcastle last night.

We were thrilled with Brunch. He ran a great race against a winner in Haqeeqy that looks capable of at least going on to listed class. To be fair, he’d have been an unlucky loser because once he got out, he won with hands and heels.

That said, for Brunch to run as well as he did first time out for the season was a hell of a performance and, hopefully, he’ll have a good season. He’s shown improvement over the winter and there’s a lot to look forward to.

We haven’t discussed where to go next with the owner – he’ll have an easy two weeks and then we’ll make a plan.

WE’RE all delighted for Aidan. He’s a real grafter who’s worked hard over the winter with his jockey coach, Phil Kinsella.

It was a difficult season for apprentices last year because they weren’t allowed to ride when the season started but his attitude remained good throughout.

We knew the filly would be quick out of the stalls, so the idea was to go forward and he pinched the race really. He rode to orders and deserved the victory. Hopefully, he’ll keep improving and ride more winners.

WE'VE got six runners at Redcar on Monday, starting with WOR WILLIE in the Flat Is Back Novice Stakes (Division One) over a mile, with Paul Mulrennan in the saddle.

He showed promise when third twice as a two-year-old but would probably prefer more juice in the ground than he’ll get on Monday. He’s a nice big horse and, as he strengthens up, I could see him needing a mile and a half. He’s a nice horse for the future.

DANIELSFLYER is next in the Join Racing TV Handicap over seven furlongs. He won last time at Newcastle when Connor Beasley rode him well, and Connor’s back in the saddle again. It was good to see him get his head in front after a long time and he’s well but we could do with it not being too quick. He’s clearly in good form, it’s just whether he lets himself down on the ground.

CHALLET goes in the same race and Paul Mulrennan, who won on him twice last season, takes the ride. He’s a horse who really wants a mile but there weren’t the races for him so it’s a case of getting him started for the season. He runs very keenly and he might be too keen over seven furlongs but we wanted to get him going. He’ll come into his own on a turning track over a mile or a mile one furlong.

WOVEN goes in the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap over six furlongs, with Connor in the plate. He’s new to the yard, having come to us from David Simcock, and we quite like him. We want to get a race into him and learn a bit more about him but he’s a nice horse.

GALE FORCE MAYA goes in the same race with Paul Mulrennan on board. She won four, including three on the bounce in 2019, and ran some good races last year and was a bit unlucky not to get her nose in front again. She’s got form over a stiff six furlongs and Redcar’s a quick track. She’s very straightforward and tries hard. It’s a chance to get her out on the track and, hopefully, she’ll run well.

OUR last Monday runner is another newcomer to the yard, STALLONE, who gets going for us in the Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap. He’s a five-year-old who joined us from the Henry Spiller yard at Newmarket, and he definitely wants it soft. Six or seven furlongs with plenty of give would be his conditions, and he looks like the kind of horse where conditions will be important. We’ve decided to leave the headgear off to see how he goes, and it’s a question of learning more about him."