THE day started with the disappointing news that the Ed Dunlop horses would not be taking part.
Apparently one of his trio of declared runners had a vet’s certificate so the entire team stayed at home.
Jersey Race Club has worked hard to encourage more entries from the UK and it seemed successfully with, apart from Dunlop, Archie Watson and George Baker making entries which were not followed through.
Ian Williams sent a pair to the first meeting and Neil Mulholland has returned to the fold, but somehow the club must turn the initial wider interest and entries into runners.
Perhaps greater travel incentives, employed elsewhere, would help.
It was Mulholland who benefitted from the absence of others with three winners, but the big one escaped him.
Evening Song turned the Millbrook Jersey Guineas into a romp, winning by seven lengths from Princess T with Cueros just a neck back in third.
Karl Kukk has done well with Evening Song, a six-year-old mare who belied her 11/1 odds.
She was partnered by Raul Da Silva, who is building a fine reputation among visiting jockeys. Les Landes is not the easiest of tracks and takes a bit of knowing, but Da Silva clearly loves it here.
The La Verte Rue Sprint Handicap produced an exciting finish with Timetodock, owned by Anthony Taylor, the race’s sponsor, prevailing by a neck over Profit And Loss with Gemcutter a long-looking six lengths back in third.
With the Dunlop horse and the injured St Ouen non-runners, Alyson Malzard was responsible for all three in the frame.
The rest of the card belonged to Neil Mulholland and Mike Burbidge, in whose Dajam Ltd colours they all ran.
The versatile Man Of The Sea, under Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania won the opening Emily Wilby and David Adams Memorial Handicap Hurdle, ending George Bancroft’s unbeaten hurdles run, with Isaac D’Aubrelle third.
In another tight finish, Chelsea Annie had a head to spare over Allegro Jete in the Bet On The Tote For Bigger Payouts Handicap.
Liam Keniry is a senior member of the weighing room who is enjoying a successful spell here and he was strong on Chelsea Annie getting the better of Victoria Malzard on the grey close home.
And it was Keniry at the double on Mini Mildred in the Randalls Party Van Handicap.
Sumatran Tiger ran her usual good race to be second at a respectful six lengths distance with Dancing Master third.
The latter was partnered by Clodagh Horrigan, who did well considering her mount was 18lb out of the handicap.
There was a jackpot carryover and Evening Song blew many punters away, but the lucky ones collected £981.60, not bad for £1. Earlier, Evening Song beating favourite Princess T produced a 183/1 exacta.
The best-turned-out awards went respectively to the grooms of Man Of The Sea, Bonny Power, Cueros, Chelsea Annie and Between The Covers.
The next meeting marks the first of three Friday evening fixtures, on 14 June.
