This fixture, transferred recently from Chepstow, was run on good going. It was a bright and breezy day. Finishes tended to come up the centre of the track.
The obvious one in the first race, over 5f, was Captain Lars, trained by Archie Watson and ridden by Eddie Greatrex. The nine-year-old had won 19 times already, but 14 of them were on the all-weather and he is rated a stone lower on the turf. He capitalised on that today, making a quick start, bagging the rail and never seeing another rival, justifying good support into 6/5 favouritism. Awesome Allan finished almost three lengths back in second.
In the 5f race for two-year-old fillies Enchanted Linda (7/2) overcame early interference and a stumble to run on well from the rear and lead a furlong out. Considering she was lucky not to come down, and won with a bit in hand, it was a very good performance. Royal Dynasty was runner-up, a length and a half away. Eddie Greatrex rode the winner for the Richard Hannon stable.
The 7f handicap was a closely-fought affair until the furlong pole, when Amplification (9/2) drew right away to give Eddie Greatrex his hat-trick. This time it was Ed Dunlop’s stable who provided the winner. First-time blinkers no doubt sparked the horse’s return to form. Almost three lengths back in second, Arrogant ran his best race for a while.
The 7f novices race was, in effect a match between Wufud (10/11 fav) and Preacher Man, who was fifth behind the Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee a year ago. Wufud, prominent early, led a furlong and a half out and ran fairly straight up the middle of the track to the line. Preacher Man, who had been tracking the favourite, went from the centre over to the far rail while making his run. The result might have been different if he’d kept straight, as there was only a length between them at the line. Dane O’Neill rode the winner for Charlie Hills.
A stewards inquiry at Windsor promoted a Rod Millman runner from second to first at almost the same moment as stablemate Sir Plato (8/1) took the lead off the trail-blazing Bombastic in the 4.15 at Ffos Las, a one mile handicap. The excellently named Cuban Heel (by Havana Gold out of Tipping Over) ran on well in the final furlong, and lost out on the nod by a short head. The promising apprentice Finley Marsh rode the winner.
Marsh rode his second winner of the afternoon in the 1m2f handicap. Jacbequick (3/1 fav) completed a hat-trick in the space of five weeks, leading two out and galloping on strongly to win by a length and three quarters. Having his first race for David Pipe, the seven-year-old is bound to resume a brief jumping career. The runner-up Camakasi missed the break, but given his past record it probably didn’t affect the result.
The 1m4f finale went to Landue (8/15 fav), who Tyler Saunders brought from last to first. Marcus Tregoning’s horse had won over two furlongs fewer last time out, but his runners generally do well stepping up to this sort of trip. He had three quarters of a length to spare over the tail-swishing Sky Rocket in second place.
