Diligent Harry became the first horse to win two different Finals Day races as he bravely made all in an exhilarating renewal of the BetUK All-Weather Sprint Championships.
The Clive Cox-trained five-year-old captured the 3 Year Old All-Weather Championships at Lingfield Park in 2021 and had subsequently made his mark in Pattern company, including placing in G3 sprints at Newbury and Newcastle.
After establishing a narrow lead towards the stands’ side, Diligent Harry increased his advantage at the halfway point and the 4/1 chance looked to have the majority of the field on the stretch with a quarter of a mile left.
Recent Doncaster Listed winner Vadream emerged as a serious threat down the centre of the course a furlong and a half out, with Annaf and Mums Tipple also getting involved soon after.
Diligent Harry saw off all three horses inside the final furlong and was pushed out by Kieran Shoemark to see off the late thrust of Witch Hunter for a head success. 7/4 favourite Annaf took third, half a length further back, with a neck back to fourth home Mums Tipple.
Cox said: “Diligent Harry has always had that raw talent, and building to a day like today is wonderful. Things didn’t go quite right in France last time – the saddle slipped – but to get a performance like that was great.
“It wasn’t the plan to make the running. We were always looking for a bit of a lead. That’s twice on Good Friday that he’s collected – down at Lingfield and now here. He’s a wonderful horse and I’m really looking forward to the summer with him.
“He is one of those horses that we thought highly of and we have campaigned him accordingly. With a little bit of confidence, I think he can be exciting to go forwards with for the rest of the summer.
“I think the gelding operation has helped him and, now he’s got a bit of confidence, I’m excited. He is in the Duke of York Stakes and that’s an option.”
Shoemark said: “That was probably plan D. It didn’t go to plan at all, as Diligent Harry usually pulls himself up in front. I was talking to the other jockeys in the stalls and absolutely no one wanted to go forward. He pinged the gates and I had no choice in it.
“He travelled like a dream today, quickened really good from the two to the one, but I just felt that he was waiting for another horse in the last furlong.
“I had committed to him in all fairness, even though Vadream was in the race, and I was always going to ride him. I am just delighted for the whole team. He was the class horse in the race and he deserves it.”
Richard Hannon said of the runner-up: “I thought Witch Hunter might run a good race. He didn’t stay the trip last time in the Lincoln and didn’t like the ground. That was a massive improvement, so I am very pleased.”
Annaf’s trainer Mick Appleby said: “He’s run very well. The pace probably didn’t suit him as they’ve not gone very quick. He probably got his head in front a bit too soon, but he’s run a good race. I’m sure he’ll bounce back from that and I’m still happy with his run.”
Jockey James Doyle added: “Annaf has run a super race. It was polar opposite to his last race at Lingfield. There was no gallop on whatsoever and they raced in two groups at the beginning. He jumped a bit too well, was a bit gassy, and I think that’s why he hasn’t quite seen it out. But the winner got a freebie in front.”
