Stone is strong for Stoute

Windsor Saturday

ONLY four went to post for the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor, but all four were virtually in line a furlong out, with Solid Stone (Richard Kingscote) keeping on best having made all.

The 9/4 chance had three-parts of a length to spare over favourite Fancy Man at the line, and in winning was providing Sir Michael Stoute with an eighth success in the track’s feature contest. The winner had to be resolute to withstand a challenge from outsider Harrovian on the rail, but Kingscote gave no quarter as he maintained his own position, and that may have been decisive. The winner was wearing cheekpieces for the first time, incidentally.

In truth, the winner was seen to maximum effect in dictating a steady early pace, and he may prove hard to place for a while. Fancy Man has been frustrating this season, but the good-to-firm ground would have been fast enough for him, and he should find a listed race at least before the season is out given the overall strength of his form.

Listed race round-up

THERE was plenty of listed action over the weekend, with Windsor’s Autumn Stakes going to the Roger Varian-trained Teona, who was running for the first time since disappointing in the Oaks.

The daughter of Sea The Stars proved much too strong for the reliable Desert Encounter, and remains with potential, especially as she went without her usual hood, and still looks a work in progress.

At Beverley, the Bullet saw Clive Cox’s Tis Marvellous account for recent Great St Wilfrid winner Justanotherbottle, while Summerghand bounced back to form to land the Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket for David O’Meara, adding to his win in the Abernant Stakes at the track in April.

On Monday, Flotus (Simon & Ed Crisford) made all from a poor draw to win the Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy at Ripon by a wide margin, belatedly confirming the immense promise of her debut win at Goodwood, and setting up a possible crack at the Cheveley Park Stakes.

Cartmel proved a happy hunting ground for Irish trainers, with Noel Kelly saddling 4/7 favourite Gladiatorial to win a novice hurdle there on Saturday, while John McConnell landed a double on the Bank Holiday card courtesy of Bardenstown (1/10 fav) in the opening novice hurdle, and Roi de Dubai (7/2) in the handicap chase. There was further Irish-trained success at Hexham on Tuesday when Kevin Brogan got the Patrick Neville-trained Henry Sellers (5/1) home in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.