Tag Archive for: Newbury

Persica powers clear for impressive Sefton triumph

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Persica was a convincing winner of the bet365 Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket, to set up a possible Lockinge Stakes bid.

Richard Hannon’s 3-1 chance was ridden by Ryan Moore in a small field for the Group Three, which featured two horses from Charlie Appleby’s yard and two from James Owen’s.

The globetrotting Ottoman Fleet and last year’s Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly were the 2-1 joint-favourites, with the latter making the running after his stablemate Lavender Hill Mob failed to keep pace with him in the early stages.

But it was Persica who took up the lead with two furlongs remaining and was eventually an easy victor, with two and a half lengths in hand of the Appleby-trained Ottoman Fleet.

Hannon said: “He’s a very good horse with a high cruising speed. We wanted to take him to Saudi but that didn’t work out, so we stayed for the mile and three Winter Derby and he got there very well and didn’t get the trip.

“If it turns up soft ground, I wouldn’t mind taking a chance with him (in the Lockinge). A fast-run race would suit him perfectly.

“He is improving and there’s been a lot of interest to buy him, but these horses are hard to make and take a long time to make.

“It was very soft ground when he ran in the Champion Stakes last year and a mile and a quarter on that ground just stretches him at the very top level, but I’ve no doubt he’ll get to the top level.”

Of his other Lockinge contenders, Rosallion and Haatem, the trainer added: “Rosallion is on course for the Lockinge, but he won’t go anywhere when the ground is soft. I’m very happy with the way he looks and the way he’s working.

“Haatem is working very well and he goes for the Group Two at Sandown (bet365 Mile) and Unquestionable will go to Ascot for the Paradise Stakes and might well end up in the Lockinge as well.

“Unfortunately they might all meet in the Queen Anne, which is a terrible thing isn’t it!

“We’ve got a lot of nice horses and we’re very hopeful for the year ahead.”

Jonquil puts down Classic marker with Greenham victory

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Jonquil put himself in the frame for a Classic tilt with an authoritative display in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury.

So impressive on his Sandown debut for Sir Michael Stoute as a two-year-old, it was then disappointing when he was beaten almost 10 lengths on his only other outing in Listed company.

Moved to Andrew Balding following Stoute’s retirement, he was sent off at 8-1 in what looked a strong trial on paper.

Al Qudra tried to make all for William Buick, but he was a third Charlie Appleby runner on the day to run below market expectations and while Chancellor briefly threatened to get involved, it soon became apparent the race would be decided between two.

Oisin Murphy was still sat fairly still on Jonquil, but Brian Meehan’s Coventry winner Rashabar proved a tough nut to crack.

There was little between them a furlong out until Jonquil pulled a length and a half clear by the line. Joseph O’Brien’s Saracen caught the eye running on into third.

Balding said: “I’m delighted and I thought he picked up really well to win there. He looked a smart horse for Sir Michael last year on debut and things didn’t quite go to plan second time. I think everyone connected with the horse previously was sure that Doncaster run was just a blip and they always had a very high opinion of him.

Jonquil strode out impressively to the line
Jonquil strode out impressively to the line (David Davies/PA)

“We were thrilled when we were told he was coming to us and we’ve had plenty of time with him and his work has been great. He arrived at Kingsclere before Christmas so it’s been a while and he’s done plenty of work.

“We’re thrilled to win a race like this and it looks like a mile will suit him. He’s settled through the race, hit the line strong and I couldn’t be happier.

“He’s a very well balanced horse and I wouldn’t have thought Newmarket would be a problem if we decide to go there.

“We’ll wait to see what next week’s trials bring and he’s in the English and French Guineas. Anything is possible and we will try a mile at some stage, but the Guineas is not too far away so we’ll just see how he comes out of it and what happens next week.”

Murphy said: “His work has been excellent and Ryan Moore really liked him last year, it is exactly what we hoped for.

“He’s a very fast horse and if he gets a mile it will be exciting. I would imagine he will go for a Guineas if he’s healthy and I think we have just seen a really good horse. Rashabar is a really good horse in second and he cruised up to him. It’s only his third start and you have to be pleased.

“He’s the perfect specimen for the modern racehorse and if you think of the likes of Auguste Rodin and all those champions, they’re not overly big but this lad is big enough.

“He’s different to Cosmic Year and he might just be a bit faster, but this lad has that little bit more experience. Let’s hope they carry on the way they have started this year.”

Rashabar (right) ran a good race in second
Rashabar (right) ran a good race in second (David Davies/PA)

Meehan suggested a trip to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas could be in store for runner-up Rashabar.

He added: “I’m very happy and that’s what we came here to do and he has needed that run a little bit. Sean (Levey) said he was just doing all the things he wouldn’t have necessarily wanted to do – there was no real pace so we had to get on and go forward.

“There is massive improvement to come and I’ve been saying that all week. Today was a trial and now Newmarket (for the 2000 Guineas) is high on the list, there should be a good 20 per cent improvement to come.

“I’m just glad to get that out of the way because he’s weighed in there last night at 508kg, which is a huge amount of weight so he would have needed it and he’s gone and run really well.

“We have to see how he comes out of the race and the ground will be a factor. I’ll talk it over with Sean next week and see what we think, but I’m very happy.

“He’s been placed in two Grade Ones and one of those is on ground he doesn’t like and he’s going to be a great horse this year.”

Duty First and Hollie Doyle rout Fred Darling opposition

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Duty First caused a 33-1 shock in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes when routing the opposition under Hollie Doyle at Newbury.

The Archie Watson-trained filly had shown some decent form as a juvenile, with her best performance coming when third in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket.

Nevertheless, she looked to have plenty to find against the likes of Simmering, Heavens Gate and the favourite Mountain Breeze.

While Mountain Breeze tried to make all before fading, the other two fancied runners never showed up at any stage.

Duty First moved into contention well over a furlong out, with the response immediate when Doyle asked her, and while Time For Sandals (14-1) gave chase she eventually lost second through her efforts.

Instead it was 40-1 chance in Hey Boo, previously unbeaten but putting up a huge career best for Jack Channon, who claimed second, three and a quarter lengths in arrears.

Watson said: “I don’t know if I was taken by surprise and I guess probably as it looked a very strong Fred Darling and you had proper Group horses in there.

“The way she has won it has probably surprised me, but the fact she has come and done something like that hasn’t really, as she has been in great order this spring.

“She can definitely go to a mile in the Guineas, she’s not in the English Guineas but I think that’s where she will run – she was actually scheduled to go to the Italian Guineas, but I don’t think that will happen now.

“I imagine after a performance like that she will go to Newmarket.

“She was still very raw when she ran in the Rockfel last year and I don’t think the undulations on the Rowley Mile will bother her, she’s also been round Goodwood and ran well there, so I’m happy. A Classic horse is what we all want.”

Hollie Doyle returns to the winner's enclosure with Duty First
Hollie Doyle returns to the winner’s enclosure with Duty First (David Davies/PA)

Doyle added: “She’s hit the line hard and I think she will improve for the step up to a mile. We’re not overly surprised, as her work at home has been good and we’ve always thought highly of her.

“She probably wasn’t quite where she needed to be last year and yet achieved more than she should have, so hopefully this is her year this year.”

Channon said of Hey Boo: “Our filly is still a big baby and George (Wood, jockey) said she travelled really sweet and he thought he had the winner covered, but she has just quickened very smartly and our filly just didn’t quite know what she was doing.

“Two runs on the all-weather is no real preparation for this type of race really, but you saw her class and potential at the end and a mile will see her in a lot better light – I wouldn’t swap her.

“She goes straight to the Guineas, she’s a high-class filly and I think she deserves her place there.”

Harry Eustace, trainer of the third-placed Time For Sandals, said: “I think we’re allowed to think about the Commonwealth Cup and her form is solid. It’s a race where fillies have done well in, funny enough, the few that have run in it, so we’ll think about that and we’ll just have to see how she trains.

“She’ll get an entry for it and that stiff six at Ascot could be ideal, but she’s a filly who could be a lot of fun.”

Divina Grace takes John Porter spoils at Newbury

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Divina Grace made just about all the running and fended off Tabletalk to win the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury.

Having her first start for Andrew Balding since leaving the retired Rae Guest, she was allowed to roll along in front under David Probert in a race registered as the John Porter Stakes.

A 14-1 chance in a seven-runner field, with Balding also running the better-fancied Bellum Justum, she was there to be shot at with a quarter of a mile to run.

Oisin Murphy appeared to be going very well on 6-4 favourite Sunway and while Ancient Wisdom dropped away tamely to be last, Tabletalk appeared on her inside as another challenger.

As Sunway’s challenge flattened out, Divina Grace and Tabletalk fought out a tight finish, with the mare prevailing by a short head to take Group Three honours.

“I was delighted with the ride from David. It seems like you need to be handy and Rae had helped us with the way she likes to be ridden and it suited her well,” said Balding.

“She looked a bit wintry still, but from a fitness point of view we weren’t worried. I thought we might have to settle for a place when Tabletalk came to us, but she was very tough when we needed her to be.

“We’ll take it a step at the time, but we haven’t really thought of a plan just yet.”

Tom Clover was bitterly disappointed to be denied with his Melrose winner but is now eyeing a return to the scene of his finest hour for a crack at the Yorkshire Cup next month.

“He’s ran really well, but it’s always frustrating to be denied by short margins and that’s my second one in stakes’ races this week after Rogue Lightning in America,” said the Newmarket handler.

“We felt a bit brave coming into a Group Three off 104 but it has proved the right thing to do. He’s not slow and he travelled through the race lovely.

“We’ve got him in the Yorkshire Cup which if we won today would have been a certainty for his next race, so we’ve got that as a good option I think. It was a massive run and it was heads up, heads down.

“He’s run a lovely race and we hope easy one-mile-six races would be fine for him and we know he can also run over a mile and a half fine.”

Gethin enters Derby equation with impressive Newbury strike

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Gethin inserted himself into the Betfred Derby conversation with a flawless performance at Newbury on Friday.

A winner on testing ground when impressing at Nottingham on debut, Owen Burrows’ 7-2 chance proved equally adept on good going in the Darley EBF Novice Stakes, as he sauntered to a three-and-a-half-length win over Roger Varian’s Saddadd.

“He’s a horse we’ve always liked and he won well on debut as a two-year-old and that was pretty impressive today,” said Burrows.

Gethin impressed at Newbury
Gethin impressed at Newbury (David Davies/PA)

“I thought it was very safe, fast ground and I think they’ve done a great job. It was different conditions to Nottingham and until they’ve gone and done it, you’ve always got the question in the back of your mind. But to be honest I was always confident he would handle it.

“He’s a big, raw baby as such and he needed his run today to get the fizz out of him. He was a bit of a boy before the race and I would like to think he will take a nice step forward from that.”

Gethin was cut to 20-1 from 50s by Paddy Power for Epsom, but before the blue riband can firmly enter the equation, the son of Ghaiyyath will put his Classic aspirations to the test at either Chester or York in the coming weeks.

Burrows continued: “This had been the plan for a while as he would only have a 4lb penalty and timing-wise it would give us a chance if we thought Chester was on the cards and he’s also in the Dante.

“He will run in a trial next, definitely. We will see how he comes out of this and make a plan and now we know that if it does suddenly start raining – because it has got to at some stage – it doesn’t overly bother us what the ground is like.”

Callum Rodriguez was in the saddle aboard Gethin, just as he was at Nottingham on debut, and Burrows admitted he would love to call on the services of the northern-based rider more often after his effort aboard the exciting three-year-old.

“Callum rode him last year and he rode me another winner at Haydock last year and I think he’s a seriously good jockey,” he said.

“He’s been down a few times this spring and I know he’s got his commitments with Ed (Bethell), but he’s a guy I certainly wouldn’t mind using a bit more when he’s available.”

Falconer was sent off the 9-4 favourite but was quickly pulled up by Oisin Murphy after suffering an injury around two furlongs from home.

Consecrated came home in fine style
Consecrated came home in fine style (David Davies/PA)

On a day which has often provided plenty of clues for the future, Frankel filly Consecrated (3-1 favourite) created a taking impression on debut for William Haggas and owners Cheveley Park Stud when winning the Bridget “Confined” Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Andrew Balding was also on the scoresheet with Serenity Prayer in the Dreweatts Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

The 2-1 joint-favourite is out of a Group Three-winning sister to 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine Love and looked to have a bright future when striking readily in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Inca hits Newbury Heights on racecourse bow

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Royal Ascot could be calling for Inca Heights after he made a tenacious winning debut at Newbury.

By trainer Clive Cox’s Coventry Stakes-winning Nando Parrado, the colt was sent off 17-2 for the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup EBF Maiden Stakes and showed a fine attitude to deny Richard Hannon a hat-trick in a race that has been won by some smart operators in recent times.

Cox said: “That was wonderful and I couldn’t be happier. Today was very much a first day at school but he’s carried it out impeccably.

“To be honest I was managing expectations and it’s been so dry at home we haven’t been on the grass for the last three weeks, so I think that performance shows we have an awful lot to look forward to.

“Of course you now start thinking about Royal Ascot and we will work backwards from there and manage him accordingly.

“I think there were some nice-looking horses in the paddock and I’m over the moon with that. He’s shown a great, willing attitude and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Cox will now bide his time before deciding on whether Inca Heights will step up in trip or remain at the minimum five furlongs.

However, it was a victory that gave him further pleasure given the success he enjoyed with both the colt’s sire and his owners, who have previously enjoyed great days alongside the Lambourn handler with the exceptional dual Group One-winner Reckless Abandon and popular speedster Tis Marvellous.

Inca Heights made a winning bow at Newbury
Inca Heights made a winning bow at Newbury (David Davies/PA)

“We’ll just sit tight on distance for now and he galloped out really strong after the line,” continued Cox.

“David (Probert) has ridden him at home a few times and popped him out the stalls the other morning so did have some prior knowledge of him. He can only progress from this start you would hope.

“His owners Steve Barrow and Julie Deadman are longstanding owners of mine from the Tis Marvellous and Reckless Abandon days and it is great to have another exciting prospect for them, especially one by Nando Parrado, who was such a good two-year-old for us back in covid days when he won the Coventry.”

Simmering coming to the boil for Newbury return

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Ollie Sangster looks to put the finishing touches to Simmering’s 1000 Guineas preparations when she heads to Newbury seeking local success in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes.

Just one of a crack team of fillies at the Manton handler’s disposal this season, the daughter of Too Darn Hot excelled in top company during her juvenile campaign and now uses this prestigious Group Three event as a springboard to a potential trip to Newmarket for Classic action next month.

“It’s a big afternoon and she’s obviously a horse we’ve been looking forward to all winter, so it is nice to get her back out on the track,” said Sangster. “Newbury is our local track and we’re hopeful she can run a nice race.

Simmering (left) gave Lake Victoria plenty to think about at the Curragh last autumn
Simmering (left) gave Lake Victoria plenty to think about at the Curragh last autumn (Niall Carson/PA)

“I’d say she probably sets the standard on form, but there are a couple of talented fillies in the race and a couple who she has raced against before. Charlie Appleby’s filly (Mountain Breeze) is obviously match-fit and been in good form in Dubai.

“We hope she runs a nice race, but we also think it will bring her forward nicely with a view to the 1000 Guineas, all being well.”

Simmering will not lack for assistance in the saddle with star international pilot Christophe Soumillon taking over from the unavailable Dylan Browne McMonagle – a new association which Sangster is relishing.

The trainer said: “We were really keen to see if Christophe would be interested in riding her and he is, which is great for me as I’ve enjoyed watching Christophe ride all these fantastic horses over a number of years, he’s such a fantastic jockey. To have him riding a horse of ours is really exciting.

Christophe Soumillon will ride Simmering
Christophe Soumillon will ride Simmering (Steven Paston/PA)

“Dylan rode her a few times last year and we were keen to keep him on her this year. He’s been over and ridden her a few times this spring but he’s busy tomorrow with other assignments elsewhere, which is absolutely fine.

“The Al Shaqab team and Sheikh Joaan (owners) have a great association with Christophe and have enjoyed plenty of success together.”

Sangster has a second string to his bow for the Fred Darling in Listed course-and-distance winner Ellaria Sand, who will sport the famous colours of the trainer’s late grandfather, Robert Sangster, after blowing away the cobwebs at Kempton recently.

“She’s won twice at Newbury and likes the track and she’s a big mare who grew a lot over the winter,” continued Sangster.

“We went to Kempton as it was the right sort of questions and we needed to get her out and get a run under her belt. She’s had that run and taken a step forward from it and hopefully she has realistic place claims.”

Formal is another putting her Classic aspirations to the test when she makes her debut for new handler Andrew Balding.

The daughter of Dubawi was with Sir Michael Stoute last year and won her first two outings before finishing fourth in the Rockfel, but there is hope she can leave that minor blip behind her in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Chris Richardson, of owners Cheveley Park Stud said: “I think nicer ground is going to be in her favour, it was pretty quick when she impressed on her debut. There’s no rain forecast.

Formal has joined Andrew Balding following Sir Michael Stoute's retirement
Formal has joined Andrew Balding following Sir Michael Stoute’s retirement (Adam Morgan/PA)

“A trial is important for her. She’s shown she is talented but I’d have just liked to have seen her grow a little bit more than she has, but as we all know, some of the best things come in small packages.”

Adrian Murray’s California Dreamer is a Group-race veteran despite her tender age. Only two of her eight races have not been in Pattern company, including the Dundalk maiden she won in February.

“She’s very consistent, hopefully she’ll step up again and we’ll see what happens. She’s very good,” said Murray.

“She won over a mile last time but she could easily be a filly that moves around trip-wise as she’s very pacey.”

The aforementioned Mountain Breeze has been hugely impressive in two runs in Dubai this year, while Harry Eustace’s Time For Sandals and Aidan O’Brien’s Heavens Gate are others with smart form to their names.

Greenham run likely to define Rashabar’s Classic target

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Rashabar’s Classic target is likely to become clearer after his return to action in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

A shock 80-1 winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, Brian Meehan’s colt went on to prove that victory was no fluke with narrow defeats in both the Prix Morny at Deauville and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp at the end of his juvenile campaign.

“I wouldn’t say he’s fully tuned because obviously it’s a long year ahead, but he’s been working very well and he’s in great shape,” said the Manton handler.

“I think he’s going to improve when he gets up to a mile and the Greenham is there just to get him started. He’ll come on a lot for the run.

“It was fast ground at Royal Ascot and he measured very well on that, so we’re good to go.”

The son of Holy Roman Emperor is entered in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3, but could instead head across the Channel for the French equivalent.

Brian Meehan has high hopes for Rashabar
Brian Meehan has high hopes for Rashabar (Mike Egerton/PA)

When asked whether he was leaning towards one race or the other, Meehan added: “Not really, I’ll see what happens on Saturday and see where that leaves us.”

Rashabar is taken on by a couple of less experienced but no less exciting horses in John and Thady Gosden’s Chancellor and the Andrew Balding-trained Jonquil.

Chancellor won two of his three juvenile starts in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud, but had to be withdrawn after bursting through the stalls prior to the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September and connections are hoping he is better behaved on his three-year-old debut.

Chancellor at Ascot
Chancellor at Ascot (Adam Morgan/PA)

“When he races properly, which we’ve seen him do twice, he looks very good,” said Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson.

“His mother (Queen’s Trust) was highly talented and he’s shown that he has inherited some of her ability, but we’ve got to hope that he grows up mentally from two to three.

“He needs to give himself the best chance of running to his best ability rather than making it a concern. He’s just got that sort of spark in him which sometimes you get when you breed those top-class horses.

“All we can do is hope he behaves on the day and if he doesn’t, we’ll have to go back to the drawing board.”

Jonquil overcame a troubled passage to make a winning debut at Sandown last summer, but subsequently failed to fire as a hot favourite for Doncaster’s Flying Scotsman Stakes.

He makes his stable debut for Balding following the retirement of former trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

Barry Mahon, racing manager for Jonquil’s owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: “He’s in good form, Andrew has been very happy with him.

“Obviously Michael held him in very high regard last year, he won very impressively I thought at Sandown the first day and we probably ran him back a little bit quick. Nothing really worked out for him the second day at Doncaster and he came out of it a little bit sore.

“There’s a lot of inexperienced horses in the race on Saturday, apart from Brian Meehan’s, and it’s hard to know what to make of them, but Jonquil has come through the winter well, he’s settled into Andrew’s well and he says he’s working nicely, so I think we’re hopeful of a good run.”

Meehan expecting better to come from Rashabar after this weekend

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Brian Meehan expects Rashabar to improve for his comeback run in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury.

A surprise winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Holy Roman Emperor colt went on to prove that victory was no fluke with narrow defeats at Group One level in the Prix Morny at Deauville and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp.

Rashabar makes his return over seven furlongs at Group Three level this weekend, ahead of a likely bid for Guineas glory, either at Newmarket or in France.

Meehan told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s great, he’s had a very good winter and has been training really well. He’s the same sort of character and he’s in really good shape.

“He proved at the back end of the season that he was a potential miler for this year when he was just unlucky in the Lagardere in Paris. I’m looking forward to stepping him up to a mile.

“Obviously we’ve got to get the trial out of the way. He’s a big boy and he’ll need his trial and that’s what the Greenham is for.”

Meehan believes Rashabar could step up even further in distance in due course, adding: “I think he could possibly get further than a mile. He’s out of a Camelot mare and Holy Roman Emperor went to stud as a three-year-old, so we don’t know how far he would have got. The Camelot mare encourages me that he could get further and he is in the French Derby as well as the Guineas.

“He’s qualified for the French premiums, so that makes it even more attractive.”

Cheveley Park switch attention to Flat with Classic hopefuls

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Fresh from coming close with Grangeclare West in Saturday’s Grand National, the Cheveley Park Stud colours will be carried in two Classic trials at Newbury this weekend by Formal and Chancellor.

Formal was trained at two by Sir Michael Stoute but upon his retirement has been moved to Andrew Balding and having won her first two starts, she went on to finish fourth in the Rockfel Stakes.

Chancellor also won two of his three starts at two for John and Thady Gosden and the plan was to give him a fourth run in the Champagne Stakes but he broke out of the stalls at Doncaster, forcing his withdrawal.

“They have both wintered well,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of the stud.

“Obviously, Chancellor has tested us in the past given what he did at Doncaster, but we know he has got the ability, so we will have to see what happens.

“We may as well start with a view to where we hope he might end up.

“It’s nice to have two in the trials. The filly hasn’t grown much over the winter. She wasn’t overly big, but I’m told she doesn’t ride like a small horse – whatever that means!

“Obviously, she has switched trainers having gone from Sir Michael to Andrew – he seems happy with her, so I think in both cases it is fact-finding missions really.”

Kadastral impresses for the Skeltons

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Kadastral showed his rivals a clean pair of heels to run out a taking winner of the Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper at Newbury.

Trained by Dan Skelton, the five-year-old caught the eye when runner-up on debut at Kempton last month and was sent off the 9-2 second favourite in the hands of the trainer’s brother, Harry.

Always in the box seat in the valuable contest that has been won by some useful operators down the years, Kadastral was travelling best of all with the winning post in sight and only had to be shaken up to pull clear of his pursuers inside the final furlong.

He finished three-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Stuart Crawford’s Irish raider Talk The Talk, with Skelton predicting a bright future for his winner.

“He’s a nice horse and has obviously got a bit of pace and the longer straight has suited him today,” said the winning trainer.

“The ground was good for him as well today and a performance like that, it’s what you love to see from him. He’s quite a nice horse going forward and there’s everything to like about him.

“Because he’s been qualified for this race we’ve had it in mind all season, but that will be it now and he will be over the hurdles in the autumn and hopefully make a very smart horse.”

Kalium (left) winning the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
Kalium (left) winning the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (John Walton/PA)

Earlier on the card, Alan Johns produced a determined display aboard Kalium, as Tim Vaughan’s five-year-old regained the winning thread in the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Having sat tight when his mount made an error at the second last flight of hurdles, Johns conjured up maximum effort in the closing stages as the 8-1 chance narrowly denied Harry Derham’s 15-8 favourite Norn Iron.

There was an upturn in fortunes for Nicky Henderson’s Bhaloo who has been pulled up in three outings since winning at Ascot in November, but bounced back in the hands of Nico de Boinville to land the BetVictor Home Of The Saturday Superboost Handicap Chase at 8-1.

Samuel Drinkwater’s Ballybreeze (17-2) claimed the Business Colleagues & Friends Handicap Chase, with the concluding BetVictor A Run For Your Money Handicap Chase going the way of King’s Threshold (85-40).

Siog Geal takes notable mares’ novice prize at Newbury

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Siog Geal dug deep to reward favourite-backers in the BetVictor British EBF “National Hunt” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.

Fergal O’Brien’s six-year-old was sent off the 5-2 market leader in the hands of Jonathan Burke for the Grade Two feature of Saturday’s action on the back of some consistent performances in both bumpers and over obstacles this term.

Never far from the pace on this step up in distance, Siog Gael loomed into contention entering the home straight and looked to have the race at her mercy jumping three out.

However, her momentum was checked when untidy two from home and although jumping the last with a narrow advantage, Siog Gael was forced to pull out all the stops up the run-in by Nicky Henderson’s fast-finishing La Pinsonniere.

O’Brien said: “We’ve always loved her since the day we bought her. We got her for £80,000 and the boys at the time said they thought they were going to get £100,000 for her and she’s gone on to look a cheap mare all season.

“She was second in her first bumper and then second in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham and if she had won that day we would probably have stuck to bumpers.

“We decided to go over hurdles and won first time and then ran a very good race at Windsor on Winter Million weekend and if she had won then we would have probably gone to the Mares’ Novices’ at Cheltenham.

“She didn’t so we decided to get her qualified for this at Market Rasen and come for this as it’s a big pot to win.

“I have to thank her owners who own Dysart Enos as well and they have been very patient. They have stuck with us and believed with us and it’s all paid off today which is fantastic.

“She’s run six times now this season and has never been far away. She’s been a very special mare and I’m absolutely delighted with her today.”

There was further success for O’Brien and Burke when 1-3 favourite John Barbour recorded a bloodless seven-and-a-half-length win in the John Haine Memorial Novices’ Hurdle.

And a fine afternoon for the yard was completed by Is This For Real at Kelso in the hands of Liam Harrison, who added to the victory of Leloopa in the afternoon’s feature race at the Borders track.

Connections feel Jasmine Bliss can blossom again at Newbury

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Jasmine Bliss will have to defy the burden of top weight to bring up a three-timer in the BetVictor British EBF “National Hunt” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

Trained by Harry Derham, the dual bumper winner has slowly found her feet over hurdles and impressed when winning the last twice, including when thrashing the reopposing La Pinsonniere at Southwell earlier this month.

It was a performance that tees the six-year-old up perfectly for a shot at this valuable Grade Two prize, with her connections believing there is still plenty more to come.

“We’re really looking forward to running her again and she put up a really nice performance at Southwell last time,” said Noel Fehily of owners the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates. “She’s got plenty of weight I suppose, but hopefully she can run very well.

“She won two bumpers last year and one at Newbury and we’ve always liked her a lot. She’s been a good mare for us and hopefully she can win a couple of more nice races for us.

“We hope she’s still improving – and she will need to be, off the mark she’s on. But Harry has been very happy with her since Southwell and we’ll give it a good go.”

As well as La Pinsonniere, Nicky Henderson will also be represented by Crazierthandaisy, who has been saved for this since breaking her duck over hurdles at Warwick on New Year’s Eve.

Fergal O’Brien runs Siog Geal, who showed up nicely in some hot bumpers earlier this term and has been equally as consistent since making the transition to hurdles.

“She’s in good form and I’m not sure if she’s well handicapped or not, but if we get a bit of rain Friday night, that will help her,” said O’Brien. “She’s very straightforward and has been running well all season.

“I was a bit disappointed with her at Market Rasen (when beaten by Bluey), but Emma Lavelle’s horse is probably a proper two-miler and we just couldn’t lay a glove on her. Hopefully she will run well.”

Also heading to the race in good form is Joe Tizzard’s Sunset Marquesa, who scored at Ffos Las last month and bids to give his handler his second win in the race after Ilovethenightlife’s win in 2023.

Sunset Marquesa is a smart performer
Sunset Marquesa is a smart performer (Steven Paston/PA)

“She did it well at Ffos Las last time and even though she let us down first time in a handicap at Newbury, I think we can put a line through that, she came back and she wasn’t quite right,” explained Tizzard.

“She’s got some lovely form and we’ve always liked her and this is the right race for her at the end of the season, it’s a lovely Grade Two to target.

“She’s won her two novice hurdles well and this is a competitive race, but I think she can get involved. I think the step up in trip on better ground won’t hurt her at all and she stayed well in her bumpers, so you would like to think she has a chance.”

Paul Nicholls’ Clotilda was third to Sunset Marquesa at Ffos Las but is not one to dismiss, while Anthony McCann’s Irish raider Rockstown Girl has already tasted success in Britain once this season and is back for a slice of the £55,000 prize fund.

Booster Bob swoops late to claim Greatwood Gold

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Sean Bowen produced a remarkable riding performance as Booster Bob came from a distance behind to win the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury.

With Saint Segal and favourite Billytherealbigred setting a stiff early gallop, Booster Bob appeared to be taken off his feet in the early stages, and was soon well detached from the main group.

As the field began to thin out there seemed to be no way back for Booster Bob, who still was not making up ground with a mile to run as Saint Segal kept up the relenting pace.

That proved too much for Paul Nicholls’ Coral Gold Cup winner Kandoo Kid, who never threatened to get involved, but Vincenzo suddenly appeared on the scene, looking to give Sam Thomas another big Saturday win after Katate Dori last week.

From nowhere, though, Booster Bob began to run on through beaten horses and even before jumping the last, the result began to look inevitable as Olly Murphy’s seven-year-old was gaining ground with every stride.

The 16-1 chance eventually crossed the line a length and a quarter clear of Vincenzo, with Saint Segal staying on for third.

Bowen, currently leading the race to be champion jockey, told Sky Sports Racing: “I don’t know how that happened!

“I actually fancied him coming into today because he’s a weird horse, he’s got loads of ability. We’ve probably been wrong running him over two miles when most of the time it looks like he wants three. It just shows what they can do sometimes.

“He was careful with his jumping. He’s a strange old horse, he actually wants softer ground and was changing his legs on the way round but as he warmed up, his jumping got faster.

“When we passed one he sort of got into it then and when he passed a few more, he took off. From the back of the ditch I felt I could win.

“It’s great for Grahame (Whateley) as he’s a big supporter of Olly’s, so it’s great to get him a big winner. We’ve had lots of winners for him but it’s nice to land a big one.”

Murphy said: “I was thinking I was getting sacked and I was thinking Sean Bowen was too halfway round!

“It was quite remarkable. He just couldn’t go early and halfway I wanted him to pull up and save him for next week, but he took off.

“He’s a very good work horse, stepping up in trip today has helped. We dropped him in because he can be keen. It was a disaster really but it’s worked out!

“What a ride by Sean, I’m very lucky to have him as my stable jockey. These are the races you want to be winning.

“Grahame told me this morning he hadn’t had a bet for £20 years but that he had £5 each-way this morning.”

Horaces Pearl tees up Aintree return with Newbury stroll

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Fergal O’Brien’s Horaces Pearl could be in line for a step up in grade having maintained his unbeaten record in sublime fashion at Newbury on Friday.

The seven-year-old won all three outings in bumpers last term, finishing his season with Grade Two success at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in the spring, and made a faultless hurdling bow at Huntingdon in November.

Sent off the 5-6 favourite to enhance his reputation in the Watch Weekend Winners Powered By BetVictor “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle, there was barely a moment’s worry for jockey Connor Brace as he stalked Tom Symonds’ Lud’or up the home straight before easily breezing past that rival for a five-and-a-half-length strike.

Horaces Pearl could now return to the scene of his finest hour, with O’Brien minded to freshen up his charge for a crack at the Grade One Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle on Grand National day.

O’Brien said: “He won well and both Olly Murphy (Pierrot Jaguen in third) and Tom Symonds’ horses looked nice and we weren’t overly sure about the ground there.

“Full credit to the guys who look after him, as you can see from the amount of times he has run he’s a bit fragile and you have to get him there on the day – and they have done a great job with him.

“I’m delighted for the owners Matt and Sally Burford and he is named after Sally’s parents, Horace and Pearl, so I’m chuffed for them.

“He will probably stay further than this, but he’s just a lovely horse and we’re very lucky to have him. I’d like to think he’ll go to Aintree now for the two-and-a-half-mile novice and he’s definitely earned a go at that. Having won there last year, it’ll just be a case of teeing him up for that now.”

Sam Drinkwater’s Rath Gaul Hill enhanced his fine course record when bringing up a hat-trick in the Howden Supporting West Berkshire Mencap Handicap Chase, while Gary and Josh Moore’s Give It To Me Oj got off the mark over hurdles with a facile success in the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Juvenile Hurdle.

“On his previous runs, he was entitled to win today and I was very pleased with him,” said Gary Moore of his 4-9 favourite.

“He’s quite a nice horse and he wants to be because he has a mark of 122. There’s not a lot of leeway there.

“The reason we haven’t done a lot of racing with him is because he’ll go back on the Flat, but there’s a couple of handicaps for him before the end of the season.

“There’s one at Sandown next weekend and that might come soon enough, but the race at Ascot (Sodexo Live! Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, March 30) is probably the race for him.”