The Another Birthday for Sean Dooner Novices' Hurdle proved a dramatic opening race at Newton Abbot races on Monday last week, writes Nick Hearder.
The 20-1 shot Francly Flora, ridden by Liam Treadwell, came to the second last clear and seemingly in command.
Treadwell won the Grand National earlier in the year on 100-1 shot Mon Mome, but he was out of luck this time and Francly Flora fell.
This left Mic Aubin well clear, but he jinked and unseated his rider at the last. Island Flyer, the favourite, was then left in front but behind him was champion jockey Tony McCoy on 13-8 second favourite Bolton Hall.
McCoy's mount had been under pressure and struggling from a long way and made a bad mistake at the third last. McCoy, as ever, had not given up, and he rode Bolton Hall to an unlikely victory.
McCoy completed a double in the next race, the newtonabbotracing.com Selling Hurdle, on 6-4 favourite Share My Dream. This win was much easier for McCoy as his mount took the lead after three out and went clear from that point. There were 19 lengths back to Lilac. The winner is trained at Buckfastleigh by Jimmy Frost, who won the Grand National as a jockey on Little Polveir in 1989.
There was a second success for Devon trainers when Jurisdiction, owner-trained by permit holder Fred Hollis at Cullompton, caused a 20-1 shock in the second division of the bumper. This was the first appearance on a racecourse for the five-year-old and he ran well to beat The Donserelli by three lengths.
David Pipe landed the newtonabbotracing.com handicap hurdle over two miles three furlongs with Royal Rationale, owned by Pond House Racing.
This was the most valuable race of the afternoon as it offered more than £6,000 to the winner.
Jockey Danny Cook, who had also won at the previous two meetings at Newton Abbot, rode the gelding well.
The next meeting at Newton Abbot is on Thursday, June 4, first race at 2.30pm.