Jockey David Bass’s bravery rewarded with win on First Flow in Clarence House Chase

ALL jump jockeys are brave – the risks are ever present in the sport – but few are as daring at a fence as David Bass.
This was David Bass and First Flow winning the Clarence House Chase at Ascot with Waiting Patiently (right) third for Yorkshire.This was David Bass and First Flow winning the Clarence House Chase at Ascot with Waiting Patiently (right) third for Yorkshire.
This was David Bass and First Flow winning the Clarence House Chase at Ascot with Waiting Patiently (right) third for Yorkshire.

ALL jump jockeys are brave – the risks are ever present in the sport – but few are as daring at a fence as David Bass.

He likes his horses to attack their obstacles and his boldness was rewarded with First Flow’s win in Ascot’s Grade One Matchbook Betting Exchange Clarence House Chase over two miles.

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And this was a Bass masterclass, providing trainer Kim Bailey with a first elite level success since Master Oats won the 1995 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

David Bass riding First Flow celebrate after winning the Matchbook Betting Exchange Clarence House Chase.David Bass riding First Flow celebrate after winning the Matchbook Betting Exchange Clarence House Chase.
David Bass riding First Flow celebrate after winning the Matchbook Betting Exchange Clarence House Chase.

It’s likely that the grey Politologue, the reigning two-mile chase champion, would have won at Ascot if jockey Harry Cobden had been allowed to set the pace on his own terms.

This is precisely what was happening until Bass and First Flow challenged the leader on the downhill run to Swinley Bottom – and then started outjumping the favourite.

Some of their jumping was audacious and courageous – even more so given this was a first Grade One for the winning horse who runs in the colours of 92-year-old owner Tony Solomons.

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And then First Flow, last seen when winning Wetherby’s Castleford Chase, had the class to maintain and extend his lead over Politologue in the home straight to seven lengths, with Waiting Patiently third for Malton trainer Ruth Jefferson.

David Bass and First Flow in full cry in Ascot's Clarence House Chase.David Bass and First Flow in full cry in Ascot's Clarence House Chase.
David Bass and First Flow in full cry in Ascot's Clarence House Chase.

Yet this was not a fluke result as First Flow extended his winning sequence to six races. Quite the opposite. It was reward for a bold piece of tactical riding by Bass on a horse so accident-prone on the Bailey gallops that he has to school over tractor tyres rather than fences.

“I have always seen him as a proper two-miler, and he has a touch of class and can handle most types of ground,” said the winning jockey whose previous Grade One wins have come on Barters Hill and Willoughby Court.

“I didn’t really want to be too close to Harry (Cobden, Politologue), but he winged the fences down the hill – and then, between the third-last and second-last, I let him fill himself up so that he had something left for the finish.”

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Bass admits First Flow’s improvement has surprised him - but he is emboldened after this victory to head for the Champion Chase. “Why not? Let’s have a go,” he said.

“Let’s take on the big guns again, and hope for a bit more improvement. I’m still a little bit surprised he put up that performance. I knew that he’d improved, and was on a real winning streak.

“He’s really stepped up again, and I can’t believe he won as he did. He jumped so well – he was brilliant down the hill, and just made up so much ground jumping.”

First Flow’s jumping was pinpoint precision throughout – in direct contrast to most of his practice with Bass back at Bailey’s Cotswolds yard. “I promise you – he’s frightened the life out of me at home,” added the winning jockey.

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“I think I got a fall off him last year, schooling – he’s very average jumping at home, always has been. He wasn’t a natural. But on the racecourse, he’s been brilliant – and today was as well as he’s ever jumped.

“Knowing the horse as I do, I said to myself, if I was meeting those fences right down the hill, then really attack them.

“That’s what I did. I was seeing good strides, and he was really winging them – and I didn’t want to disappoint the horse. He was enjoying it, and so was I. We were here to give it a go, and I wanted to be positive. I’m really pleased for the horse. He’s a real character, and a yard favourite.”

Just like David Bass.

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