Roman Day

Over 18,000 racegoers descended on the Roodee for the 2025 edition of Roman Day. The feature race of the day came in the Class 2 Ladbrokes Handicap at 2:10pm, with victory decided by just a nose on a sunny afternoon with Good going conditions across the board.

Race 1 – Radnor Hills Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4, 3yo+, 7f)

Unfancied in the market but overcoming a wide berth in Stall 9, Noche Clasica (16/1) came right over the top to steal victory in the opening race, holding on by ¾ of a length under Kevin Stott for trainer Kevin Ryan. Unable to gain a prominent position from a wide berth, Noche Clasica was kept in rear division throughout Race 1, still towards the back as the keen-going Breckenbrough (5/6F) led the field around the home turn. Pushed along and switched wide as the leaders swung into the straight, Noche Clasica really found her stride in the final furlong and a half, rallying strongly down the centre of the track to hold off Shining Pearl (13/2) at the line. A partnership to be feared, Ryan and Stott also combined for multiple Group victories with Hello Youmzain in 2020, including the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) at Royal Ascot!

Race 2 – Ladbrokes Handicap (Class 2, 4yo+, 7f)

Recording his sixth victory since August, Myal (11/2) continued his fine form when taking the second race of the day, just about holding on by a nose under David Egan for Steph Hollinshead. Quickly away and nudged into an early lead, Myal dictated the pace with Telemark (17/2) through the half-mile point, maintaining a steady tempo out in front as market leader Never So Brave (100/30F) stalked in behind. Ridden along round the turn into the straight, Myal soon looked to be in trouble with a furlong to go, challenged on his outside by former course winner Holguin (18/1). However, responding well for pressure, Myal found more in the closing stages, bravely repelling a fast finishing Never So Brave by a narrow margin at the finish. A stable star for the yard, Myal has now accumulated over £94k in just 12 runs for trainer Steph Hollinshead!

Race 3 – British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2, 2yo, 6f)

A recent winner at the May Festival, Tricky Tel (8/11F) repeated the feat in fine style to take Race 3, ridden 2 lengths clear at the line by Silvestre De Sousa to score for local trainer Hugo Palmer. Trapped out wide and encountering traffic problems through the halfway point, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Tricky Tel, racing alongside Going Commando (11/1) as Call Me By My Name (28/1) led them home. However, making ground to the outside of the leader, Tricky Tel soon made his move under De Sousa, sneaking into a slender lead with just over a furlong to go before galloping on resolutely to hold off Going Commando by a couple of lengths. Fruitful when combining, De Sousa and Palmer also won the 2018 Carnarvon Stakes with Never Back Down!

Race 4 – King Kabs Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m)

Springing a surprise to take the fourth race, State Legend (25/1) showed real zest on his first start for over a year, staying on well at the finish to score by 1 ½ lengths for Joe Leavy and Ian Williams. Needing every ounce of energy to last home, State Legend was kept towards the rear of the field through the opening mile of a marathon contest, smuggled away by Joe Leavy as course regular Dreams Adozen (4/1) led the way. Ridden along and seemingly outpaced, it looked to be a struggle for State Legend half a mile from home, clinging onto the tails of the chasing pack as Lagoon Nebula (11/2) moved up to challenge for the lead. However, switched to the outside by Leavy, State Legend found his second wind down the home straight, staying on well to lead half a furlong out on his way to a fairly cosy success. Already 25 winners up this year, promising apprentice Joe Leavy just needs one more winner to reach 100 career victories!

Race 5 – Seat Unique Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 1m 4 ½f)

A winner here in July 2023, Dream Harder (5/1) recorded his first win since when running out a game winner of the fifth race, keeping on by ½ a length to provide David Egan and Ian Williams with a double. Prominent from the outset, Dream Harder raced in third place during the first mile of the fifth race, followed on his outside by Charmaine (100/30F) as Gordon Grey (25/1) set the pace up front. Travelling well around Castle Bend with many of the opposition now ridden for more, Dream Harder cornered smartly into the straight, waiting for a gap to appear passing the furlong marker. Getting his wish and sneaking through to lead, Dream Harder was relentless in the final furlong, sticking on dourly to fend off a host of challengers. Consistent under both codes, Ian Williams had a career-best year in 2024 with 70 winners on the flat!

Race 6 – Kids Pass Fillies’ Handicap (Class 4, 3yo, 6f)

In a superbly fought blanket finish, Sea Emily Run (4/1) came out on top to take the sixth race of the afternoon, toughing it out strongly in the final furlong to score by a head for Jack Mitchell and Tom Clover. Always to the fore, Sea Emily Run raced a couple of lengths behind early leader Seraphim Angel (6/1) in the opening stages, followed in her slipstream by Lady Of Andros (10/1) as the field maintained a decent pace. Stumbling round the home bend and ridden along to close, Sea Emily Run briefly looked in trouble with two furlongs to go. However, staying on stoutly down the straight, Sea Emily Run hit full flight in the final furlong, going toe-to-toe with Lady Of Andros but just managing to edge in front at the line. Previously successful with fillies, Clover and Mitchell also took the 2022 Oaks Trial (Listed) at Lingfield with Rogue Millenium!

Race 7 – Going Is Good Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Div I) (Class 4, 3yo, 1m 2 ½f)

A professional performance from start to finish, War Hawk (3/1) returned an impressive winner of Race 7 for trainers Simon & Ed Crisford, comfortably seeing off the opposition by 1 ½ lengths to bring up the double for Jack Mitchell. Part of the chasing vanguard for much of the contest, War Hawk was never too far away from the action under Jack Mitchell, sitting just over a length behind Premier (16/1) through the opening mile. Travelling best of all with two furlongs to go, War Hawk was switched out wide on the turn into the straight, gathered up by Mitchell as Premier dived to the fair rail. Hitting the front passing the furlong pole, War Hawk soon had the race wrapped up, kicking on strongly in final 100 yards to see off a rallying Magellan Cloud (6/1) in second. Winning owners with a knack for finding progressive middle-distance types, Rabbah Racing were also successful in the 2022 & 2024 Jebel Ali Mile with Algiers and Swing Vote!

Race 8 – Going Is Good Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Div II) (Class 4, 3yo, 1m 2 ½f)

Showing a real turnaround in form on his handicap debut, Topteam (14/1) put up the most impressive performance of the day in Race 7, pushed clear by 3 ½ lengths to score for Jason Watson and Andrew Balding. In touch with the leaders for much of the finale, Topteam settled nicely in behind market leader Yellow Card (6/4F) through the opening mile, the pace being set by Simply Blue (33/1) out in front. Ridden along passing the three-furlong point, Topteam gradually bridged the gap on the leaders around the home turn, swinging into the straight to the outside of Arkinthestars (100/30) as Simply Blue began to fade. Now in the clear and readily taking over, Topteam had the race settled in a matter of strides, stretching away towards the line in fine style. Always to be feared on the Roodee, Balding and Watson also took the City Plate here in 2024 with subsequent Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche winner Al Shabab Storm!

Race report by Adam Perkins