The week that was in Welsh Racing. By James Stevens
There are not too many better impulse buys than the Welsh-trained horse called Parikarma.
The seven-year-old was purchased at the Doncaster sale for just £3,500 by Welsh amateur jockey Imogen Mathias but less than a month later he has already proved a very successful buy.
He won on debut for his new connections in the 2m1f handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot on Wednesday to provide his owner-jockey with a first taste of success on a racecourse since 2019. He also won a first prize of £5,612 for the win.
“I quite like a mare and when I was looking through [the catalogue] she stood out. I wanted something that could go on the Flat and over jumps but she’s a bit slow for the Flat at the moment.
“That was amazing though. I rode my first winner for John when I was 17 and it’s been about five years. I’m chuffed, at least it wasn’t a stupid buy.”
Mathias said after the win: “She’s a little legend. It’s the first time I’ve ridden her. I bought her impulsively at Doncaster.
It was also an important win for the father-son John and Rhys Flint training duo, ending a 24-run losing streak.
Sean’s super Sunday
Champion-chasing Sean Bowen may have had a quiet week but he finished it in brilliant style with a 69/1treble at Cartmel on Sunday.
He lit up the Lake District track with success aboard Letterston Lily and Roll With It for his father and brother Peter and Michael Bowen while also scored aboard Saint Bibiana.
Bowen was out of luck at meetings at Newton Abbot, Worcester and Cartmel before his super Sunday.
Double up
Last season’s Northumberland Plate second Golden Rules – remembered by owner Gareth Cheshire’s bullish interview in the build-up – did not reappear in Newcastle’s big weekend highlight but the Deborah Faulkner stable still enjoyed a fine week.
The yard flagbearer was not quite right so missed a return but his stable enjoyed a Chepstow 30/1 double on Monday with Porterinthejungle and Howzak.
The former was winning on just his third start for the Gwent trainer while Howzark registered a deserved success having finished second on his two previous starts.
