Oxfordshire-based Derby winning trainer Kevin Hutton has two chances of landing Oxford Stadium’s most prestigious prize on Saturday in the Stadium Bookmakers Pall Mall Final.
The Burford handler runs three-year-old brindle bitch Moments of Magic and two-year-old blue dog Coppice Tenzin in the £20,000 race, due off at 8.52pm.
Owing to the Pall Mall’s 11-year absence, Hutton – a four-times Trainers’ Championship winner – has never reached his local Category One final. But he hopes luck can be on his side when the traps rise with Hawkfield Ozark, Links Maverick, Eze and Ivanexile also confirmed to run.
“We were just starting out and trying to make a name for ourselves when the Pall Mall last took place before Oxford Stadium initially closed,” said Kevin. “We’ve since built our kennel strength up and it’s fantastic to be involved in the final.”
Moments of Magic would be a particularly poignant winner for Hutton and his team given the BGBF Puppy Cup champion was homebred out of Forest Natalee by star sire Magical Bale.
She has won 11 of her 41 runs to date and dead heated in the inaugural Category Three Oxford Stadium Ladies Final in June with kennelmate Churchtown Annie.
Coppice Tenzin meanwhile was purchased from Ireland and only made his debut in May at A3 grade having been nursed back to health from a stress fracture.
Hutton added: “Moments of Magic has been a real superstar for us. The trip is probably on the shorter side of what is ideal for her, but she’s taken to the Oxford track really well.
“She had her season earlier this year and her trial times on the comeback meant we ran her in a couple of opens which led to her Pall Mall entry, which has worked out nicely. We’ve had to be patient with Coppice Tenzin but he’s really motored through the grades in recent weeks.
“To go from A3 to a Category One final in two months is a great achievement. It would be great for a winner to be trained locally but of course we wish connections of all finalists the best of luck.”
Tickets for the 2023 Stadium Bookmakers Pall Mall Grand Final remain on sale and available to purchase via the Oxford Stadium website from £10, or they can be bought on the door. Gates open at 6pm with the first race due off at 7pm.
Photo: Steve Edmunds.
