Another competitive midweek race meeting on Town Moor as the clock ticked ever closer to the Cheltenham Festival, now less than a month away. Final preparations for the biggest festival in British racing were being ironed out and connections had the hopes of their charges finding peak form at the right moment. 
The feature race was a handicap chase over three miles for the old brigade as part of the popular veterans' chase series. Introduced in the past decade, the initiative has provided horses aged nine and older another chance of a valuable race win to roll back the years. Last year's renewal was won by the Nick Alexander-trained Up Helly AA King with Chirico Vallis and the grey Vintage Clouds filling the first three placings. This year's running saw just five horses take to the start, but the quintet held a combined age of 55 years old and a combined total of 21 wins over jumps. Likely favourite would be the Kayley Woollacott-trained The Kings Writ who battled very hard to win on his penultimate start at Warwick to show he still retained the enthusiasm for racing. 
The undercard to the feature included two smart looking novice hurdles, the first over two and a half miles saw a familar face to Doncaster this season in the shape of Hurricane Bay. The gelding won at a previous meeting before finishing third in the Grade Two River Don Novices Hurdle over three miles. It would effectively be a match against the John Quinn-trained Imperial Merlin in the four runner event. The second of the novice events, this time over two miles, saw plenty of interest with three previous winners in the lineup. The trio of Shared, School Days Ahead and Love Is Golden won on their first start of the season. 
A bitterly cold weather front returned with a vengeance just as the daylight hours were getting longer. Conditions were overcast with a slight drizzle, but it didn't put off the hardy national hunt fans from attending the meeting. The consistently quick ground conditions caused yet more small fields, but some racing is better than no racing after all. 

Race One: The Virgin Bet EBF Novices' Hurdle (Class Three) (2 miles, 3 furlongs)
Winner: HURRICANE BAY (Malinas x Another Storm) - B. Frost - L. Wadham - (#2)
The first race on the card saw just a quartet of runners which felt disappointing after the early entry stage. It would effectively be a match race between the Lucy Wadham-trained Hurricane Bay, ridden by Bryony Frost and the John Quinn-trained Imperial Merlin, ridden by Tom Midgley. The field was completed by the out-of-form Medicine Wheel and Scrum Diddly who were hoping to complete the race to pick up some prize money. 
The main focus was on the two protagonists. Hurricane Bay looked a smart prospect when galloping relentlessly to win over a slightly longer trip at Doncaster last November and improved further to finish third in a Grade Two race over three miles in late-January. Imperial Merlin also looked a promising type and has achieved plenty already as a five-year-old. With three wins from five starts, he has looked impressive with wide-margin victories and beaten only by two very smart novices in Chasing Fire and De Legislator. 
In the end, the race would boil down to the two main protagonists, Hurricane Bay and Imperial Merlin but it would be closer than some anticipated heading to the last hurdle. In front, Bryony Frost dictated the pace early and her mount jumped well throughout. Imperial Merlin tracked their every move though and into the home straight, he loomed large in the rear view mirror of Hurricane Bay. The Lucy Wadham-trained gelding travelled much better though as Tom Midgley pushed and shoved away on Imperial Merlin. Approaching the final hurdle, there was only a length between the pair, but a tired fall from Imperial Merlin left Hurricane Bay to canter home leisurely across the line. The Oliver Sherwood-trained Scrum Diddly crossed the line in second and the only other finisher as Medicine Wheel was pulled up in the home straight. The best sight of the day was seeing Imperial Merlin walk back to the stables unharmed. 
It would be a second career for the son of Malinas and another promising display from a smart novice chaser in the future. 

Race Two: The Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Chase (Class Three) (2 miles, 3 furlongs)
Winner: ON SPRINGS (Mahler x Wild Fuschia) - L. Morgan - B. Pauling - (#4)
Another small field but it was the turn of experienced horses in this handicap chase over the intermediate trip of 2 miles and 3 furlongs. The five runners all had question marks to their name as some arrived out of form and others were reappearing after a layoff. Barton Knoll knew the way to winning post at Town Moor as a three-time winner at Doncaster whereas Sopran Thor had the potential to bounce back to form for the red hot stable of Gary Moore. Drumconnor Lad made a long awaited return for trainer Adrian Keatley for a first start since May, but was eighth in the Foxhunters Chase at Aintree over the Grand National fences on his last chase start. 
Just four horses took to the start after the late withdrawal of Sopran Thor, but the race still had an exciting climax. Throughout the contest, Barton Knoll led early and jumped well under Sean Quinlan and looked to have his rivals in trouble. At the rear of the field, the weakening Drumconnor Lad took a spectacular tumble after mistiming his leap , leaving jockey Brian Hughes with little chance of staying in the saddle. Luckily, both horse and rider escaped injury and walked back to the enclosures. Entering the business end of the race, the three time course and distance winner still looked in command with On Springs struggling as his nearest challenger. A bad blunder at the second last saw Barton Knoll concede ground to On Springs and the Ben Pauling-trained gelding took over in front. Another mistake from Barton Knoll at the final fence sealed his defeat as On Springs bounded clear to win by seven lengths. It was a welcome return to form for On Springs who had previously won four races through the summer. A spell in the winter doldrums was coming to an end as On Springs had sprung into life. 

Race Three: The Virgin Bet Extra Places Daily Handicap Hurdle (Class Three) (3 miles)
Winner: MIDNIGHTREFLECTION (Midnight Legend x Hymn To Love) - H. Bannister - B. Case - (#5)
The handicap hurdle for stayers looked a competitive event and the first six were split by just ten pounds on ratings. Heading the weights was the popular teenager Kansas City Chief who propelled the name of regular rider Victoria Malzard with victories at Cheltenham in recent years. Even at the age of fourteen, he has shown that he still enjoys the sport. At half his age, Grace A Vous Enki had looked unlucky in recent starts, slipping on the bend at Chepstow before unseating his rider last time out. Midnightreflection came into the race with the best form after a  close second place where she finished miles clear of the third placed home. At the foot of the weights, Lepashe looked a danger on his handicap debut despite the six-year-old having an uphill task on ratings. 
The usual final hurdle was omitted due to damage and it lead to a longer run-in to the finish. The fourteen-year-old Kansas City Chief bowled along in front with the David Pipe-trained Paricolor as the field remained tightly bunched throughout. Approaching the new final hurdle, there was plenty of chances as the old boy Kansas City Chief began to backpedal. Under Bryony Frost, Grace A Vous Enki threatened to return to winning ways until a slight mistake lost him momentum. That would leave the mare Midnightreflection out in front on the extended run-in under Harry Bannister and she bravely battled on as Lepashe arrived on her heels. Lepashe seemed to appreciate the step up to three miles and closed the gap all the way to the line, but Midnightreflection held on determinedly to win for trainer Ben Case. It would be another winner after an injury setback for Henry Bannister, who recently landed the Grand National Trial at Haydock last weekend. 

Race Four: The Virgin Bet Veterans' Handicap Chase (Class Two) (3 miles)
Winner: BOLDMERE (Multiplex x Pugnacious Lady) - B. Carver - A. Hales - (#3)
The feature race of the day was the veteran's handicap chase as part of the popular season-long series. The race has seen some very classy names land this event over the last decade including Grade One winners Tranquil Sea and Faasel along with Grand National runner-up Saint Are. This year's renewal lacked the star factor, but still featured five popular handicappers still enjoying life in racing. Didero Vallis had an in-and-out profile but represented the in form stable of Venetia Williams and was placed at last season's Cheltenham Festival.  The oldest of the bunch was Fagan, one of two runners for trainer Alex Hales, who was very classy as a youngster, finishing second in a Grade One novice at Cheltenham in 2016 and was once favourite for a Scottish Grand National. The thirteen year old is lightly raced but a popular sight as a grey horse. Boldmere threatened to be a high class chaser until losing his way but dipping his toes into veteran race company could be easier for him. The King's Writ, winner on the eve of turning twelve on New Year's Eve and Fidux, fourth in last year's Scottish Grand National completed the line-up in an interesting affair.
The early pace was cut out by the Alan King-trained Fidux, carrying the colours of owners Axom and the pace looked decent enough. Approaching the final few fences, it was the Alex Hales-trained Boldmere who took up the running at the second last before pulling right away at the finish, enjoying every yard of a course and distance he had won over earlier in his career. Entering the veterans level of races for the first time, Boldmere clearly appreciated the drop in class. As a novice chaser, he is best known for falling when in a clear lead at Wetherby during 2020's Grade Two Towton Novice Chase. The ten year-old was still classy enough to roll back the years in an impressive display here, beating the valiant Fidux and the twelve year-old The Kings Writ as horses finished at long intervals. 

Race Five: The Virgin Bet Daily Money Back Novices' Hurdle (Class Four) (2 miles)
Winner: SHARED (Almanzor x Between Us) - P. O'Brien - H. Derham - (#5)
A smart looking novice hurdle over the minimum trip which featured three previous winners over hurdles. Likely favourite would be Love Is Golden for the in-form stable of Gary Moore and his jockey son Jamie. The former Mark Johnston-trained gelding won four times on the flat and looked a shrewd purchase by the Moore's to go hurdling. The son of Golden Horn duly delivered at the first time of asking, looking a natural to win at Newbury's 'Super Saturday' meeting. Shared looked a nice prospect when winning on stable debut for new trainer Harry Derham before finding a class two event too hot to handle last time out. The Fergal O'Brien-trained School Days Over looked promising in bumpers when he was second in a listed event at Cheltenham, but things haven't gone as smoothly over hurdles so far. Amongst the rest of the field, Percy Willis attempted hurdles once again after pulling up over obstacle on his only previous start in 2021. He has since won three times on the flat and it is hoped the Jedd O'Keeffe-trained gelding can enter the discipline in a better mindset than before.
The race would produce the most exciting finish of the day as the omission of the usual final hurdle caused chaos in the closing stages. In the early exchanges, the Fergal O'Brien-trained School Days Over bolted into a clear lead under Paddy Brennan as Shared attempted to keep tabs on him. In behind, Love Is Golden raced a touch too keenly and was at risk of burning up extra stamina needed for the final kick. School Days Over still looked favourite to win as the pack swung for home but Love Is Golden travelled sweetly on the bridle. Approaching the temporary final flight, Paddy Brennan's mount held a narrow lead over Jamie Moore and Love Is Golden. Paul O'Brien and Shared looked safely held in third jumping the last but the complexion of the race changed suddenly on the long run-in. As the two front runners kept battling up the straight, it was Shared who found an extra burst to sneak up and take the race on the far side. The first three pulled a mile clear of the fourth placed Percy Wills. 
It was yet another winner for one of jumps racing's newest trainers, Harry Derham. The former conditional jockey and assistant to multiple champion Paul Nicholls, Derham has learned from the very best and his skills have been well advertised in the last few weeks with a handful of winners from his small string. The flat-bred Shared showed a nice turn of foot to land his second career win after a debut win at Wetherby.