November finished on a terrific winning note for both of Hollywoodbets’ sponsored jockeys in the UK.
While Daniel Muscutt rode a superb treble at Lingfield on Saturday 20 November, it was jumps jock Jamie Moore who broke the ice for the popular purple brand at the same venue just days later – and then followed that up with an extraordinary Gr2 success at Newbury last Friday.
The 36 year old Jamie Moore hails from a family steeped in horseracing. He is the brother of Champion Jockey Ryan Moore, National Hunt jockey Joshua Moore, amateur jockey Hayley Moore and the son of successful trainer Gary Moore.
Jamie joined the Hollywoodbets family only weeks ago, to become the leading SA-based Sportsbook’s first ever sponsored jumps jockey.
And things have started with momentum! Jamie tells that he is thrilled to have made such an early and auspicious start for his new sponsors – registering his first winner at Lingfield on Thursday last week, and then following up in grand style with a Gr2 trophy just 24 hours later.
Riding the 10/11 favourite Movethechains for his Dad in the 4700m 12h45 Handicap Chase at Lingfield on Thursday, Jamie showed his experience with another finely judged ride. Plotting a patient path early, a clearly fit Movethechains made steady headway and went clear of his field 600m out to register his third win on the trot – with an aggregate winning distance of 48 lengths over the three!
Twenty four hours later, he was back in the number 1 box!
While, depending on your allegiances, Jamie’s mount Nassalam was variously regarded as something of a fortunate winner after the 2020 Betfair Hurdle winner Pic D’Orhy and Millers Bank fail to complete the Gr2 Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Novices’ Chase at Newbury. But the number was in the frame!
Tea Clipper was the only other finisher, beaten 30 lengths back in second in a race where the Judge and his staff could have taken their annual vacation.
Jamie’s Dad Gary trains the four-year-old Nassalam, who was in receipt of weight from all his rivals. He had made a winning chasing debut at Ascot but he really looked up against it in the home straight in the Gr2 contest.
Harry Cobden’s mount Pic D’Orhy appeared to have the race won as he turned into the straight. But it’s racing and counting chickens is not advisable! There were three fences still to jump, and Cobden took a crashing fall.
That left Millers Bank in front and scenting a big cheque. He appeared to be going better than Nassalam only to hit the top of the second last hard, sending Harry Bannister flying over his head.
Nassalam and Jamie Moore were then left to pick up the pieces and came home 30 lengths clear of Tea Clipper, who was ultimately very disappointing.
“We had luck on our side for a change, as the ground was too quick for him,” said trainer Gary Moore.
“Whether we would have got the same result, I’m not sure, but I’m glad we’ve won. It is all about jumping and that is the one thing he does very well, but we won’t be running him again on quick ground. It is not quick ground, don’t get me wrong, but he is a slow-ground horse.
“We will have to be patient, like everyone else. It is not going to be easy to place him, now that he has won a Gr2, but his handicap mark shouldn’t change.
“He has a lot of time on his side – he is only a baby, he’s only four.
“I said to Jamie, take your time, as I wasn’t sure he would get two and a half (miles) in a true-run race. I didn’t want him to be in in any hurry, but I think he has enough pace in soft ground for two miles. I think he is a very talented horse and his greatest asset is his jumping. The other thing was he was getting a lot of weight.
“I would love to go somewhere like the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, but he is a better horse going left-handed. So, I would say he may go to Cheltenham at the end of the month for the Dipper.”
The French-bred Nassalam is raced by owner John Stone and is a gelded chestnut son of Dream Well out of the German-bred Shirocco mare, Ramina.
