Lingfield Saturday

IT’S unsurprising that the focus of many weekend meetings is turning more to what impact results may have on various contests at Cheltenham in a little over four weeks, but we’re also approaching Good Friday and that excellent flat fixture at Lingfield, and qualifiers for the All-Weather Championships have been quietly taking place with minimal fanfare.

Last Saturday saw both the Winter Derby Trial and the Cleves Stakes, a pair listed contests and qualifiers for the Easter Classic and the All-Weather Sprint Championship back at Lingfield in April.

The Cleves Stakes ought to have signalled a triumphant return for last year’s star sprinter Kachy, but he was withdrawn on veterinary advice, and his participation on Finals day is now in serious doubt. In his absence Good Effort (Ismail Mohammed/Ben Curtis) ran out an impressive winner from Soldier’s Minute (Keith Dalgleish/Joe Fanning), completing a hat-trick on synthetics which started at Deauville in December. He may not have beaten Kachy, but deserves his place in the final of the series on the basis of this win.

The Winter Derby Trial was won in course-record time by Andrew Balding’s Bangkok, ridden by Rob Hornby in the King Power colours, the 13/8 favourite easily beating Court House (John Gosden/Rab Havlin) by four and a half lengths.

The son of Australia was gaining his first win since taking the Sandown Classic Trial last spring, but he looks an improved performer this year, and would be high on the pecking order for the Winter Derby later this month. Connections instead hope to get a call-up for the lavish and richly-endowed Saudi Cup.

Bryony in treble heaven

Musselburgh Saturday/Sunday

THE win of Quel Destin at Sandown showed what fine form Paul Nicholls is in, and the Ditcheat maestro took a team up to Musselburgh where he landed a treble on Saturday via Southfield Stone, Greaneteen and Bathsheba Bay, all ridden by Bryony Frost, who was registering her first treble under rules.

Nicholls also landed the feature race at Musselburgh on Sunday when Thyme White landed the Listed Scottish Triumph Hurdle in the famous Big Buck’s colours of Andy Stewart, and the trainer doubled up when Highland Hunter took the Pertemps Qualifier for owner Thomas Barr. Both horses were ridden by Harry Cobden, with Frost in action at Taunton.

The Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle saw some compensation for the connections of Call Me Lord, with Fred carrying the two-tone green of Munir & Suede as worn by Daryl Jacob for Nicky Henderson.

More needed from Newtide

Wetherby Saturday

THE Towton Novices’ Chase ended up going to Lady Dulverton’s Newtide (Kim Bailey/David Bass), who beat the Dan Skelton-trained Ardlethen by four and a quarter lengths, but the race would have gone to Boldmere (Caroline Bailey/James Bowen) but for a heavy last fence fall.

The winner lacks speed, and won’t be winning an RSA on this evidence, but he clearly jumps and stays, so connections may be tempted by the National Hunt Chase for all he appeals most for marathon handicaps further down the line.

Wetherby also saw the latest chapter in the career of a former National Hunt Chase winner and Gold Cup runner-up, with Minella Rocco landing the hunter chase, and thereby booking his place for the Foxhunter at the Cheltenham Festival, in doing so beating the reigning champion, Hazel Hill, who failed to jump as well as he can, going markedly right at times, and clearly has his work cut out to repeat last year’s heroics.

Shishkin shows plenty of speed

Huntingdon Thursday

WITH Asterion Forlonge winning the Chanelle Pharma at Leopardstown on Sunday, carrying the colours of Joe Donnelly, all eyes were on the same owner’s Shishkin (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) as he tackled the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Hurdle at Huntingdon on Thursday.

The prospect of the pair clashing for their big-name trainers in Cheltenham’s opening race is one of the more intriguing possibilities that the National Hunt Meeting has to offer.

Newbury winner Shishkin did not disappoint, the 1/2 market leader beating Shan Blue (Dan/Harry Skelton) by an easy 11 lengths after nearest rival Hang In There crashed out at the penultimate hurdle.

The winner looked very classy as he cruised to victory, and Henderson was adamant that the Supreme was the target for him.

In truth speed looked Shishkin’s main asset here despite the extended two-mile, three-furlong trip, and any talk of the Ballymore – instigated by his jockey – was quickly silenced.