Banditry bags Chelmsford City feature
Wednesday 26 October 2016 18:47, UK
A review of Wednesday's action from Chelmsford City as Banditry made up for a narrow miss at Doncaster at the weekend.
Banditry was to some eyes an unlucky loser at Doncaster on Saturday but gained ample recompense at Chelmsford City this afternoon when capturing the £45,000 totepoolliveinfo.com For Racing Results Handicap.
The Ian Williams-trained four-year-old met with a less than straightforward passage in suffering a head reverse on Town Moor.
But the well-backed 7/2 shot got a textbook ride from Robert Havlin to lead with a furlong to go in the mile-and-a-quarter contest.
Banditry made no mistake in his closing strides, charging to the line to win by a length and a quarter from Brigliadoro, who did plenty of good, late work.
Havlin said: "Ian thought he had a good chance the last day and he was a bit unlucky.
"I rode him a bit more positive today and had the pitch I wanted, on the rail or one off it.
"He travelled round nicely and I got the split when I wanted it.
"It wouldn't surprise me if he got a mile and a half this horse."
Havlin was completing a swift double, having scored aboard Aqualis (5/4 favourite) for his boss John Gosden in the preceding totequadpot Four Places In Four Races Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
Boomerang Bob had to survive an objection from Doctor Sardonicus' connections before being confirmed the winner of the Collect Any totepool Winnings At Betfred Shops Handicap.
The pair fought out a thrilling conclusion to the six-furlong contest carrying £25,000 total prize-money.
But it was the Jamie Osborne-trained 9/1 chance who had a nose advantage at the line - and then survived the stewards' room.
"I thought I had won it," was victorious rider William Carson's verdict on the photo-finish.
"He has been a great horse for us and that £16,000 (first prize) goes a long way to paying for himself."
It was a red-letter day for apprentice rider Sophie Killoran as she rode out her 7lb claim with victory aboard Himalayan Queen (8/1) in the Book Tickets At chelmsfordcityracecourse.com Handicap.
Killoran said: "I'm going away for a couple of months to America, working for Simon Callaghan in California."
