RACING: HARRY Whittington was thrilled to clock up his 100th career winner since taking out a licence to train at Sparsholt, near Wantage.
It came when Captain Tommy upset 1-7 favourite Umndeni at Wincanton.
Gavin Sheehan brought up the handler’s century when he produced the five-year-old with a well-timed challenge to capture a novices’ hurdle by four and a half lengths.
Whittington, who posted his first winner in February 2011 when Mount Benger landed a Huntingdon hunters’ chase, said: “We couldn’t be happier to have reached this milestone.”
He teamed up again with Sheehan for a further brace of winners as Khage repeated last month’s impressive Chepstow novices’ hurdle triumph, before Zanzi Win got off the mark over timber by landing a Plumpton maiden hurdle.
Meanwhile, jockey Nico de Boinville felt Step Back’s over-exuberance proved costly as the nine-year-old from Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables, near Wantage, was pulled up in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree.
De Boinville called it a day after the Canal Turn second time around on last year’s bet365 Gold Cup hero, who had been at the head of affairs for much of the £1m contest before fading as his tendency to jump right found him out.
He said: “I had a great spin, but we probably did too much early doors. He was loving it and when I went out on to the second circuit, I thought I would get round again.”
On the Flat, Eve Johnson Houghton sent out Shorter Skirt from her Blewbury stables, near Didcot, to swoop late under Charlie Bishop for a neck success in a six-furlong fillies’ novice stakes at Chelmsford City.
West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon also struck when Harry Callahan made it three wins from his last four starts with a clear-victory in a Kempton classifed stakes, with Callum Shepherd on board.
HOCKEY: Relegated Wallingford ended their season on a high note when beating OMT 5-0 at home.
Tom Ferris scored a hat-trick in his last game for the club, with Tim Chamberlain netting twice.
OTHER RESULT
Men: Wallingford 5th 2 (J Rees, M Fowler), Thame 3rd 2.
TABLE TENNIS: Marlborough Hawks’ chances of a maiden Division 1 title in the Didcot & District League took a hit.
They could only field two players against nearest rivals RAL Avengers, who won 9-1.
LATEST RESULTS
Div 1: Drayton Devils 8 (R Hudson 3), Upton Ultraviolets 2; Marlborough Hawks 1, RAL Avengers 9 (K Bushell 3, G Boone 3); Drayton Dragons 5, RAL Atomics 5 (P Colard 3); Upton Ultraviolets 1, Drayton Dragons 9 (M Davies 3, L Waddup 3).
Div 2: Abingdon B 0, Wallingford A 10 (J Halbardier 3, A Chilvers 3, E Lush 3); Sutton Lynxes 9 (V Grama 3, C Silaghi 3), Abingdon A 1; Sandford Improbaballs 7 (J Rolls 3), Grove United 3; Drayton Dazzlers 6, Marlborough Falcons 4 (R Jones 3).
Div 3: Abingdon Racketlon 6 (P Browning 3), Drayton Diamonds 4; Sutton All Saints 4, Moreton Mercurial 6 (D White 3); Grove City 7 (P Ludlam 3), Marlborough Kestrels 3.
Div 4: SOFEA 0, Sandford Bees 10 (M Dyer 3, L Harkin 3, D Ring 3); Drayton Dynamos 2, Moreton D 8 (R Templeman 3); Abingdon C 1, Drayton Dashers 9 (R Brown 3, W Stephenson 3).
ROWING: More than 350 crews from across the country will compete at the Abingdon Spring Head of the River Rowing Festival on Sunday.
The racing begins at 9.30am.
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