Raceday LIVE – Hey Day Baby
Fontwell,
Wed 08 May 2024 19:40
Related horse(s):
Hey Day Baby
Hey Day Baby is back in action this evening in Division I of the Class 5 Mares' Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle (19:40) over two miles and three furlongs at Fontwell.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Hey Day Baby's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Hey Day Baby makes her reappearance over hurdles today following a short break after pulling up in her last two contests.
The wet weather across the UK resulting in soft/heavy ground which is not her ideal conditions definitely played a part in her recent disappointing efforts, but the main reason as to why she's not been able to put in a positive performance is because she's been struggling to control her enthusiasm when racing.
On both occasions at Southwell and Hereford she has bolted off out in front where jockeys Jonjo O'Neill Jnr and Kevin Brogan have not been able to keep a lid on her eagerness, and when you combine that with soft/heavy ground, it's always going to be a difficult task.
The O'Neill team acknowledged the blinkers that were applied in the last two races haven't worked as they would have liked and are today replacing them with cheekpieces. The thought being that they'll hopefully help her to be more focused on the job at hand and reduce the likelihood of her getting too lit up in the early stages of the race.
WATCH: Hey Day Baby out on the gallops in preparation for Fontwell (2nd horse)
Raceday message from Jonjo O'Neill Jr
"We have found a nice opportunity for Hey Day Baby as the race has divided so it is not too competitive. We have ditched the blinkers in favour of the cheekpieces to keep her focused on the job without lighting her up too much, and the plan is to ride her more conservatively, behind the pace and give her a chance to see the race out well, and show us what she's capable of.
I wasn't able to make the weight so Jack will be on board this time and take 3lbs off which can only help. She continues to show up well at home so we're hoping we can see some of that on the track this time."
Hey Day Baby's Owners for the Day
As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Hey Day Baby's run at Fontwell this evening.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Fontwell Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Hey Day Baby and the Jonjo & A J O'Neill team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Hey Day Baby.
Today's Class 6 contest is worth £6,150 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,247.81 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,494.44 | 3rd: £747.23 | 4th: £373.92 | 5th: £186.35
Trainer and jockey form
Since A J O'Neill joined the training license with his father Jonjo on the 2nd May, the Jackdaws team have sent out three winners from fifteen runners, including Stay If U Want To who scored by eleven lengths at Hereford last night. The pair also had a second and two third place finishers across the cards yesterday at Ffos Las and Hereford.
Three pound claiming conditional, Jack Hogan, has been in solid form in the last fortnight, winning twice in nine rides. Both of those winners came for trainer Fergal O'Brien, whom he often rides out for at his Gloucestershire yard.
Today's opposition
19:40 FONTWELL – LATEST BETTING HERE
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 19:40 to watch Hey Day Baby's next run for the club.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Hey Day Baby's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Hey Day Baby makes her reappearance over hurdles today following a short break after pulling up in her last two contests.
The wet weather across the UK resulting in soft/heavy ground which is not her ideal conditions definitely played a part in her recent disappointing efforts, but the main reason as to why she's not been able to put in a positive performance is because she's been struggling to control her enthusiasm when racing.
On both occasions at Southwell and Hereford she has bolted off out in front where jockeys Jonjo O'Neill Jnr and Kevin Brogan have not been able to keep a lid on her eagerness, and when you combine that with soft/heavy ground, it's always going to be a difficult task.
The O'Neill team acknowledged the blinkers that were applied in the last two races haven't worked as they would have liked and are today replacing them with cheekpieces. The thought being that they'll hopefully help her to be more focused on the job at hand and reduce the likelihood of her getting too lit up in the early stages of the race.
WATCH: Hey Day Baby out on the gallops in preparation for Fontwell (2nd horse)
Raceday message from Jonjo O'Neill Jr
"We have found a nice opportunity for Hey Day Baby as the race has divided so it is not too competitive. We have ditched the blinkers in favour of the cheekpieces to keep her focused on the job without lighting her up too much, and the plan is to ride her more conservatively, behind the pace and give her a chance to see the race out well, and show us what she's capable of.
I wasn't able to make the weight so Jack will be on board this time and take 3lbs off which can only help. She continues to show up well at home so we're hoping we can see some of that on the track this time."
Hey Day Baby's Owners for the Day
As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Hey Day Baby's run at Fontwell this evening.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Fontwell Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Hey Day Baby and the Jonjo & A J O'Neill team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Hey Day Baby.
Today's Class 6 contest is worth £6,150 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,247.81 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,494.44 | 3rd: £747.23 | 4th: £373.92 | 5th: £186.35
Trainer and jockey form
Since A J O'Neill joined the training license with his father Jonjo on the 2nd May, the Jackdaws team have sent out three winners from fifteen runners, including Stay If U Want To who scored by eleven lengths at Hereford last night. The pair also had a second and two third place finishers across the cards yesterday at Ffos Las and Hereford.
Three pound claiming conditional, Jack Hogan, has been in solid form in the last fortnight, winning twice in nine rides. Both of those winners came for trainer Fergal O'Brien, whom he often rides out for at his Gloucestershire yard.
Today's opposition
- Miss Popalong has attracted early market support, despite being pulled up and falling in her last two runs. Micheal Nolan is back onboard for the third time, after not riding last time out.
- Seasmoke has finished fourth in her last two runs, including an improvement in performance last time out when she was under six lengths behind the winner. James Bowen retains the ride tonight after that impressive effort.
- Mermaids Cave finished an impressive third at Exeter on her sole start for Matt Sheppard, before moving to James Owen's yard. She wasn't unfancied last time out with Harry Cobden being booked for the ride but finished a disappointed seventh. Alex Chadwick takes the reins today and claims seven pounds off her back.
19:40 FONTWELL – LATEST BETTING HERE
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 19:40 to watch Hey Day Baby's next run for the club.
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