Opal Tiara happy in handicap company

Mick Channon does not have quite the same battery of influential owners these days but he is enjoying a successful season and 8/1 chance Opal Tiara made the record look even better when landing the closing fillies’ handicap over seven furlongs.

Opal Tiara found a listed event at Carlisle in June much to her liking but Group 3 opposition was probably a little too tough last time.

Back in a handicap, she came with a nicely-timed run under Oisin Murphy to beat Jadayyil by nearly two lengths.

The latter had won last time and started 6/1 joint-favourite but could not quite go on in the closing stages. This looked a very competitive handicap and the form should pay to follow.

Abingdon is a filly that’s in flying form

DAVID O’Meara might well have won the Listed EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes for fillies and mares, as well, but third-placed Pandora was badly hampered and carried left when Anzhelika came off a true line in the closing stages.

She did well to claim the minor berth but Stoute’s Abingdon, 13/8 favourite, is a filly in fine form this term and was making it three wins from the last four starts, her one defeat a good second to the talented Fireglow at Newmarket.

Here, she came through on the inner for Andrea Atzeni and proved too good for the lightly-raced To Eternity.

Stoute does not believe in rushing his horses and it will be interesting to see where Abingdon goes next. She is clearly progressive and will probably step up to group company before the season is out.