Whiskey Galore!

Whiskey Chaser won the 14:35 Bet And Watch At Winner.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Chase at Carlisle on the 5th March 2015. It was a class 4 race but I celebrated the victory like we’d won the Gold Cup, Grand National and Kentucky Derby! and why not, the syndicate have waited a long time for this moment.

The feeling of watching your horse win is hard to describe. Even as Frodo approached the finishing post in first place I half expected some calamitous ‘Devon Loch’ moment to deprive him of victory. It’s worth remembering that during a previous race he’d fallen just two fences from home when jumping into the lead. Before that he’d even manage to fall during a flat race, rest assured no one celebrated until he was home and hosed.

Thankfully he cruised to victory and the syndicate were heading to the winning connections room for the first time. We enjoyed a glass of bubbly in the warmth and watched a replay of the race, It was only then that I realised what a fantastic job Wilson Renwick did onboard Whiskey Chaser. In a move more often seen on the Formula One circuit our jockey apexed a fence just before a tight corner and immediately slipped between the race leader and rail – stealing a couple of lengths in the process. Frodo continued on strongly and eventually won with ease.

So we’d finally done it! that elusive first win. We headed into Carlisle for a celebratory drink with friends “What are you having?” asked the barman at the Hallmark Hotel… “just a lager” I replied, as I sat down with my pint it dawned on me that I should’ve ordered a Whiskey Chaser to go with it! Next time 😉