Irv Naylor’s two-time Virginia Gold Cup winner Ebanour heads a strong field for Saturday’s $30,000 Radnor Hunt Cup, the featured timber race of the 87th annual Radnor Hunt Races at W. Burling Cocks Race Course in Malvern, Pa.
Trained by Cyril Murphy, Ebanour is riding a two-race win streak. He closed the 2016 season with a win in the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup and added a second consecutive win in the Virginia Gold Cup on May 6. Gus Dahl will ride Ebanour in the 3 1/4-mile Radnor Hunt Cup.
Also in the field is the Virginia Gold Cup’s second-place finisher, Lemony Bay, who carries the silks of current leading owner Bruton Street-US. British-bred Lemony Bay started the current season with a victory in the My Lady’s Manor for champion trainer Jack Fisher. Sean McDermott, currently the sport’s leading jockey by earnings, has the mount.
Trainer Christopher Kolb will saddle Gordonsdale Farm’s homebred Canyon Road, who was pulled up in the Virginia Gold Cup after finishing second in the Middleburg Hunt Cup. Jeff Murphy will ride.
Kieran Norris, the reigning champion jockey by wins and the current leader in that category, has the mount on Kiplin Hall’s Rodriguez for trainer William Dowling. The Irish-bred most recently finished third in the Winterthur Bowl on May 7.
Trainer Ricky Hendriks will saddle Upland Partners’ Mystic Strike, winner of the Grand National’s Western Run Plate on April 22. Former champion timber jockey Mark Beecher will ride.
Armata Stables’ Wildcatter, placed first in the 2015 Radnor Hunt Cup, will be ridden by Jack Doyle. Trained by Elizabeth Voss, Wildcatter most recently fell in the Grand National on April 22.
Completing the field is King’s Apollo, owned by Stewart Strawbridge and trained by Sanna Neilson. The British-bred, coming off a maiden win at Winterthur, will be ridden by Paddy Young.
Here is the field for the $30,000 Radnor Hunt Cup.
King’s Apollo (GB). 2009 b. g., King’s Theater (Ire)—Temple Dancer, by Magic Ring. Owner: Stewart Strawbridge. Trainer: Sanna Neilson. Jockey: Paddy Young. Breeders: M. Watt and Executors of Miss J. John (GB). 2017 record: 2-1-0-0, $9,750. Won a 2017 Winterthur maiden timber race after fourth in division of John Rush Streett Memorial at My Lady’s Manor. Previous victory was over steeplechase fences at Taunton in England in December 2015.
Rodriguez (Ire). 2007 dk. b. or br. g., High Chapparal (Ire)—Sofia Aurora, by Chief Honcho. Owner: Kiplin Hall. Trainer: William Dowling. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Michael G. Daly (Ire). 2017 record: 2-0-0-1, $2,500. 2016 record: 3-1-1-0, $12,700. Finished third in 2017 Winterthur Bowl after fall in Grand National’s Western Run Plate. After second at 2016 Shawan Downs meet, won timber maiden at Virginia Fall before fifth at Steeplechase at Callaway in November.
Ebanour (Ire). 2007 ch. g., Indian Ridge—Ebadilya, by Sadler’s Wells. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Gus Dahl. Breeders: Aga Khan’s Studs (Ire). 2017 record: 1-1-0-0-, $60,000. 2016 record: 4-3-0-0, $99,000. 2015 record: 2-1-1-0, $31,800. Kicked off 2017 campaign with repeat win in Virginia Gold Cup. Also won 2016 My Lady’s Manor and Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Won 2015 New Jersey Hunt Cup.
Canyon Road. 2009 ch. g., Service Stripe—Observe, by Patton. Owner: Gordonsdale Farm. Trainer: Christopher Kolb. Jockey: Jeff Murphy. Breeder: Gordonsdale Farm (W.Va.) 2017 record: 2-0-1-0, $5,400. 2016 record: 5-2-0-1, $25,250. 2015 record: No starts. Opened 2017 season with second in Middleburg Hunt Cup, then was pulled up in Virginia Gold Cup. Finished fourth in Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library & Museum Cup, then won timber allowance at Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Won Willowdale maiden hurdle in May and then was distanced in Fair Hill’s novice timber allowance.
Lemony Bay (GB). 2009 b. g., Overbury—Lemon’s Mill, by Roberto. Owner: Bruton Street-US. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeder: G. R. Waters (GB). 2017 record: 2-1-1-0, $36,000. 2016 record: 5-3-2-0, $38,400. Won 2017 My Lady’s Manor, then was game second in Virginia Gold Cup. Closed 2016 season with victory in Steeplechase at Callaway timber allowance race. Won Virginia Gold Cup’s Steeplethon and Middleburg Spring’s Alfred M. Hunt steeplechase after second in division of John Rush Streett maiden timber at 2016 My Lady’s Manor. Finished second in Virginia Fall’s Steeplethon.
Mystic Strike. 2009 b. h., Smart Strike—Mystic Rhythms, by Citidancer. Owner: Upland Partners. Trainer: Ricky Hendriks. Jockey: Mark Beecher. Breeder: Peter Vegso Racing (Fla.). 2017 record: 1-1-0-0, $9,000. 2016 record: 1-1-0-0, $9,000. Won 2017 debut in Grand National’s Western Run Plate. In only 2016 start and first run over fences, won a Winterthur allowance timber race.
Wildcatter. 2008 dk. b. or br. g., Tale of the Cat—Cita My Dear, by Kris S. Owner: Armata Stables. Trainer: Elizabeth Voss. Jockey: Jack Doyle. Breeder: Ramona S. Bass (Ky.) 2017 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2016 record: No starts. 2015 record: 3-1-0-0, $18,000. Fell in 2017 Grand National. Finished second and placed first in 2015 Radnor Hunt Cup. Finished eighth in 2015 International Gold Cup before missing 2016 season.