HIMBLETON owner Christine Banks was thrilled when she emulated her grandfather's achievements by winning the Lady Dudley Cup on Saturday.CUP JOY: Fleur Cushman, from sponsors The Racing Post, hands owner Christine Banks the Lady Dudley Cup.
Mrs Banks watched horse Unmistakably, rode by jockey James Tudor, beat the strongest field to fifty years at the point-to-point even in Chaddesley Corbett.
Victory ensured Mrs Banks matched her grandfather's win in 1936, when Major Harold Rushton from Phepson Manor, near Droitwich, won the race on his famous hunter O'Dell.
The nine-year-old faced 13 rivals in the strongest field for the race for fifty years. Cannon Bridge, Unmistakably and Ballylusky are stablemates at Cath Williams's Welsh stables, but the last two have local connections, as they are owned by Mrs Banks and her brother-in-law and sister, William and Angela Rucker.
Cannon Bridge pulled up after half way with a broken blood vessel but the latter proved a tougher nut to crack.
Given the quality of the field it was surprising with the exception of Another Raleagh none of the others were able to mount a challenge.
Unmistakably had already taken control of the race when he was left in a clear lead when Ballylusky took a tired looking fall at the penultimate.
Asked if she had any future plans for the horse, Mrs Banks replied: "This was the plan".
Theresa McCurrich's stables are a stone's throw from the course and she was pleased to be back in the winners' enclosure after her stable had suffered from the virus last year.
She secured the services of jockey Mikey Harris, whose record over the course was second to none. This proved to be the case, with Harris steering the shortest course and then producing Sharlom during the closing stages to land the prize in the Members.
Having walked the course earlier in the week, Malvern trainer Andy Hobbs decided conditions were too soft to allow Premium First to take his chance in the Dudley Cup so he took up his alternative engagement in the Confined.
It was a wise decision with the seven-year-old scoring a hard fought win over another local favourite Supreme Citizen.
By Pete Lammas
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