Lingfield Friday

The Good Friday All-Weather Championships

SILVESTRE de Sousa was seen at his best as he coaxed the mercurial Bangkok to a narrow victory over Palavecino (Brian Meehan/Martin Dwyer) in the feature Easter Classic on the Good Friday All-Weather Championships day in Lingfield.

Andrew Balding’s odds-on favourite (5/6) looked to be travelling very well when De Sousa moved up wide of market rival Forest Of Dean on the home turn, but he didn’t immediately knuckle down, and conceded first run to Palavecino.

His rider didn’t panic, however, and just coaxed his mount into renewing his effort, and the winning margin was a neck at the line. Bangkok tends to come up short when tried above listed level these days, and while this win shows he’s as good as ever, he will not be easy to place back on turf.

Khuzaam (Roger Varian/Jack Mitchell) has been a model of consistency for connections in the past couple of years, and the 6/4 favourite ran out an authoritative five-length winner of the Mile, albeit in a race where only three horses ever saw sight of the front.

The early pace was strong, and set as expected by French challenger Canagat, and Khuzaam was perfectly positioned in second, with Mums Tipple (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey) also well placed, and the field quickly broken up by the fast pace.

In fairness, Bless Him did well to come from last to finish third, but only two had a chance from the final turn, and the challenge of Mums Tipple was quickly brushed aside as Khuzaam quickened clear. He did show a tendency to hang towards the rails, which slightly spoiled the aesthetic of this easy win.

How much he had to improve to register his victory is up for debate with the runner-up unproven beyond seven furlongs and most of the field out of the contest after the first turn, but Varian will certainly be looking for black-type opportunities on the horizon given this rout.

Marathon Conditions Stakes

A rather messy Marathon turned into a sprint in the straight, and the runner best able to deal with that was Andrew Balding’s 7/2 chance Ranch Hand (James Doyle), who proved a length and a half too good for Rock Eagle (Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan) with Lucky Deal a neck away in third, thereby repeating the finishing order from a three-runner contest at Chelmsford last month.

Australis cut out the early running, but slowed the gallop right down, and the race only developed when Martin Harley rushed favourite Rainbow Dreamer up to lead just before the turn for home.

As he did so, his mount shifted left, interfering with the long-time leader who had to be snatched up on the rails and lost all chance.

Ranch Hand improved to win the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newmarket last autumn, and has come back to that form on his last two starts.

He has that blend of stamina and speed which ought to see him successful at a decent level over hurdles, but although he won on his debut in that sphere, he disappointed on his only subsequent outing over timber, and will presumably be kept to the flat now.

Fillies’ And Mares’ Conditions Stakes

The old adage to respect winning form was demonstrated in the Filly & Mare race where the progressive Pholas (George Boughey/Hollie Doyle) gained her fourth win of the year, and took the big step up in class in her stride to defy odds of 25/1.

She produced an unlikely finishing burst to come from last to first in the final quarter mile, and won by a neck, a neck and a head from Shimmering Dawn (James Tate/James Doyle), Arafi and Fizzy Feet in the finish of the afternoon.

Her winning streak came off a lowly mark of 58 at Newcastle in January, and she was still only rated 78 coming into this contest by the BHA handicapper so her task against rivals rated 98 and 103 looked daunting, and daunting became almost impossible when she was forced very wide by the favourite Indie Angel off the final turn.

Out of shot for a furlong thereafter, it was easy to imagine she was being left behind, but suddenly she emerged, with Hollie Doyle throwing everything at her, and she went from a modest fourth with 75 yards to run to winning almost cosily at the line in a race which needs to be seen several times to be believed.

Summerghand still has the speed

All-Weather Sprint Conditions Stakes

David O’Meara’s Summerghand is not the easiest horse to catch right, but is capable of very smart form on his day.

Last year’s Stewards’ Cup winner got the strong pace he needs in this Sprint Championship, and he was given a confident ride by Adam Kirby, holding his position a little wide on the track rather than looking for cover, and that paid off, with the gelding – who was wearing a visor for the first time – enjoying a clear run.

He just had enough in the tank to run down Exalted Angel (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee) to win by a head, with Brian The Snail emerging from the pack to grab third, two lengths further back.

Ado McGuinness’s Harry’s Bar could only finish sixth but finished well and was only beaten three lengths.

Quickly

Summerghand was turned out quickly having not enjoyed the run of the race in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster last Saturday, and this tough campaigner showed no ill-effects for his earlier exertions.

He had worn cheekpieces for the first time when landing the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood last summer, and the switch of headgear here may well have been a major factor in his victory, such are the narrow margins at this level.

Adam Kirby was seen to particularly good effect in the Sprint, and he quickly doubled up on board Diligent Harry for old boss Clive Cox in the Three-Year-Old Championship.

The 2/1 favourite wasn’t best away, but his rider ensured he was soon well placed, and he enjoyed a much cleaner run than market rival Apollo One, tracking leader Mighty Gurkha (Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle), who worked hard to gain an early advantage from a wide draw.

He pounced on that rival inside the last to win by two lengths. The runner-up just held the charge of Zamaani by a nose to claim minor honours, with the luckless Apollo One fourth.

Diligent Harry suffered his only defeat when a short-head second to Rohaan on his handicap debut over this course and distance, but that still represented improvement on his earlier wins, and despite still looking as if he has a bit to learn here, he knuckled down well to produce another career-best effort.

He was quoted at around 16/1 for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but Clive Cox was inclined to give the horse a break after this, and consider his options in the meantime.

He would certainly need to improve to win at Group 1 level. On the plus side, he’s yet to reach his ceiling, and his canny trainer is sure to place him to advantage.

The closing Bombardier All-Weather Championships Apprentice Handicap went to Karl Burke’s joint top-weight Lord Of The Lodge (5/1) who kicked clear off the bend under Pierre-Louis Jamin and held on well from the closers.

THE Good Friday All-Weather Championships marks not just the series finals for the horses themselves, but also the end of the championship period for trainers and jockeys, and the plaudits went to Mick Appleby and Richard Kingscote.

Appleby sealed his prize when Cashel won at Chelmsford and he duly doubled up at the Essex venue courtesy of United Front. He edged out Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston in the prizemoney-based competition, while Kingscote matched Hollie Doyle on the day courtesy of the victory of Michael Wigham’s Gloves Lynch at Chelmsford, and that brought his total for the all-weather season to 78. Marco Ghiani was the leading apprentice with 28 winners in the winter season.