After the long journey to Stratford… well all of 20 miles we met up with Stuart and the other 2 members attending Alun and Jayne who were with some friends who had a fancied runner in our race called ‘Right Option’. After a few drinks in the owners bar which over looked the pre parade it was time to go and see our girl who looked extremely well and who was not the smallest horse in the field for once.

In the parade ring a nasty incident occurred when one of the runners decided that they were not going to be ridden that day and promptly discarded the jockey wedging him between the horse and rail, personally I think the horse disliked the white bridle it was wearing and had a tantrum, luckily jockey was unhurt. This happened a couple of times and the jockey decided to mount on the course. He passed us on the way out and I said you ok to which he replied “yes ta but not what you want at the start of the day”. They maybe slight but they are made of stern stuff and earn every bit of their riding fee sometimes even before the race has even begun.

Once our jockey Roddie Green joined us the plan was finalised. Roddie did say he had talked to Paddy already about her. Stuart’s instructions were to keep her covered midfield then weave her through but also be more assertive with her at the hurdles this time.

We decided to watch the race from the parade ring as the big screen was opposite. We were joined then by Lisa the groom who told Stuart to hold onto a big envelope full of cash… as Molly had won best turned out. We all congratulated her on this. On Molly’s quarters were the usual checker board pattern but underneath that a flower which looked like the English rose. Lisa also reminded us that Molly had won with the number 13 on before. So we were hoping then that this could be a good omen.

Right to the action. Roddie positioned Molly on the rail midfield and she was very keen for a long way. Her jumping had improved greatly and was going well. Half way round you could see that she was involved in a small incident on the sharp bend going away from us where she stumbled slightly clipping heels with another. All was going well and on the final bend she was up with the leaders on the bridle going as well as anything. Now we were all getting extremely excited and animated calling Molly home at the second she made a small error on landing but she stayed on well and over the last we thought she might get third but fourth was her final placing which was absolutely brilliant.

After the race Roddie told us that she was making lots of ground over the hurdles too much so he had too hold her back a bit. He also said that her heart was in the right place and that she would win in this grade. We thanked him and said we would like him to ride her again as he had given her a peach of a ride which of course he said he would love too.

Stuart’s thoughts were that she enjoyed the hurdles today as they were more like what she was accustomed to at home. We asked him what she had been doing at home schooling wise and he replied that he had only popped her over a couple the day before the race and that had been it since her last run at Worcester. Also asked the question was there any improvement still to come and he was certain there would be, and then it was off to the bar for a drink or two.

A great day all round good meeting up with Alun and Jayne.

Congratulations to Molly, Stuart, Lisa and the rest of the team just brilliant!

Debs