A Horse for all Seasons
Mon 21 Feb 2022
WINNER 17 OF 2022: AIN'T NO SUNSHINE, trained by Keith Dalgleish and ridden by Brian Hughes: The 'Join Racing TV Now Open National Hunt Flat (Qualifier)' over 2 miles, at Kelso.
We purchased the son of Shantou for £35,000 in December at the Goffs HIT Sale. A full brother to the Grade 1 winning hurdler Airlie Beach, the Racing Post had picked up that this was his debut, so the pressure was on as he lined up on Friday. Furthermore, he was chalked up as favourite, but the conditions worsened at the track to 'Heavy' come his race time (the final one on the card) and it looked tough out there.
As they set off, Brian had him on the inner, tracking the leader. The mud was flying as the field began to spread out and he took up the lead 4f from home. Brian asked him to continue his efforts, as he was hard pressed in the final two furlongs. The two of them were tiring and bumped a couple of times, but he battled back and kept on strongly to gamely win by a length, as the Racing TV presenter remarked: "A race run in atrocious conditions, he showed a good attitude in that sustained dual."
"Ain't No Sunshine getting on top to win." Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/videos/watch/horse_racing_replays/377135-join-racing-tv-now-open-national-hunt-flat-qualifier-4
Timeform gave him a rating of 97 and say: "Brother to bumper winner/useful hurdler Airlie Beach (2m-21f winner), and half-brother to 4 winners, including useful hurdler/fairly useful chaser Screaming Rose (2½m-2¾m winner, by Darsi), stayed 3m: dam (b83) ran twice in bumpers) justified support - chased leader, led around 5f out, headed early in straight, rallied, led again well inside final 1f, driven out.”
See the official photo gallery here: https://www.grossick.co.uk/vph.asp
Syndicate manager Mike says: "Well done to his owners on his debut win! A gutsy performance and he showed an excellent attitude in that final furlong. Brian said that he was still quite raw and when the well backed Eloi Du Poy headed him, it was only then the penny really dropped and he knuckled down and got on with the job. It was a good battle between the front two and they pulled nicely clear (11 lengths) of the third horse.”
The strong form of our runners continues, with 9 winners already in February. We now look forward to the crescendo of the NH season at The Chetlenham Festival as well as a super weekend for our owners, with our private box on the opening day of the flat turf season at Doncaster on March 26th!