GLYNDON, Md.--Armata Stable's Vintage Vinnie (Ire), trained by Joe Davies, won last year's Maryland Hunt Cup by 96 lengths under Dan Nevin while setting a new track record, and he looks ready to repeat that win this year under a new jockey, Teddy Davies.
Teddy rode him in the Apprentice Riders race at the Manor on April 16, where Joe said they had wanted to see if he would rate, and he did, running second to Renegade River throughout the race until the stretch, where he finally drew off to win by 1/2 length.
After that race, Davies said they hadn't decided whether to let him run away on the front end again in the Hunt Cup, or whether they would try to rate him.
Four of the nine entered in this year's Hunt Cup ran in it last year, with Preseli Rock (Ire ), trained by Jack Fisher, finishing second by 1/2 length over Rocket Star Red, trained by Mark Beecher, while Sideling Hill, trained by Willy Dowling, finished sixth and Le Chevalier, trained by Julie Gomena, lost his rider at the 20th fence.
BRUTON STREET-US' Preseli Rock will be ridden by Connor Hankin and could be the winner if Vintage Vinnie falters, while Lucy Goelet's Rocket Star Red will be ridden by Brett Owings and could also be a a factor.
Kiplin Hall's Sideling Hill will be ridden by George Daly, and Michael Smith's Le Chevalier will be ridden by McLane Hendriks.
First time starters this year include Armata Stable's Goodoldtimes, trained by Alicia Murphy, who won the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup last year, and will be ridden by Colin Smith, Kinross Farm's Pocket Talk, trained b Davies, who won a maiden timber race in 2020 and was fourth in the Grand National Stakes last Saturday and will be ridden by William Easterby, Upland Partners' Shootist, trained by Todd McKenna, who won the allowance race at the Grand National last Saturday and will be ridden by Freddie Procter, and Kinross Farm's Blackhall Ire), trained by Davies, who has yet to win a race and was fourth in his first race in this country, the allowance at the Grand National last Saturday, and he will be ridden by Eric Poretz.
The $100,000 Maryland Hunt Cup, the hardest timber race in the world, is competed over a 4 mile timber course that includes stiff, upright fences close to 5 feet in height, with the 16th fence measuring 4'10"and the 3rd fence set at 4'6".
Post time is 4 p.m., and it will be live streamed.