Naamoos takes dramatic Esher Cup

Neil Morrice
April 23, 2021 1:45 pm

Ryan Moore unscathed after exit from Rifleman.

Naamoos put up a fine weight-carrying performance to land an eventful bet365 Esher Cup for trainer Mark Johnston and jockey Ben Curtis at Sandown.

The 11-2 chance travelled up powerfully and was about to assume control when Ryan Moore’s mount Rifleman veered dramatically left and ejected the jockey, who thankfully emerged unscathed.

The incident left Naamoos in full command, and the son of Wootton Bassett pulled clear up the final hill to score by six lengths from Buxted Too, with Without Revenge four and three-quarters further back.

🏆 Naamoos makes it successive victories this term with a win in the @bet365 Esher Cup Handicap for @Johnston_Racing & @_benacurtis at @Sandownpark
Ryan Moore is up on his feet after being unshipped from Rifleman
Results & free replays ➡ https://t.co/sBcsavHpYf pic.twitter.com/bgCXPm9KHS

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 23, 2021

Johnston was on hand for the success in this historic handicap, but he admitted plans for the winner will have to go on hold while an injury he sustained early in the contest is assessed and treated.

He explained: “Our horse has a cut on his left-hind that Ben thinks happened a furlong after the start. Touch wood it’s only a skin wound, and he’s walked in sound. The trouble with it is that it’s a V-shaped flap that will receive no blood supply from above. It might be a while before it settles down.”

Johnston hinted that the upwardly-mobile Curtis would get a good share of the rides from Kingsley House this year, though Franny Norton and Joe Fanning are not signalling their retirements are in any way imminent either.

He added: “Ben has no retainers and we said if he gives us priority we will give him the same. But there’s no hint of Franny or Joe giving up. They are a part of the operation but can’t go on forever, and we need to look at youth.”

Sandown Park Races – Friday April 23rd — David Egan and Nelson Gay in winning action (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

The Richard Hannon-trained Nelson Gay (9-4 favourite) turned the opening bet365 Handicap into a procession as he raced eight lengths clear of Fantasy Master.

Hughes is mindful his charge will be greeted with a reaction from the assessor and said: “He’s in at Goodwood next week and we may go there before the handicapper grabs him. We worked him with a two-year-old the other day to keep him happy.

“He’s owned by Ron Gander and my in-laws Richard and Jo Hannon.”