The jockeys’ title race on the flat will be a good deal more competitive than the current one over jumps and Andrea Atzeni’s chances should not be lightly dismissed. He was in cracking form at Kempton on Saturday, reeling off a 99/1 four-timer on Ennaadd, Crazy Chic, Kyllachy Queen and Dougan.

In a remarkably short time Roger Varian, who employs the Sardinian, has become Newmarket’s biggest trainer, numerically speaking. Ennaadd is in the Qipco 2000 Guineas and came with a perfectly-timed challenge to head Adventurous close home in the mile conditions race.

Marco Botti is trying to match strides with Varian and completed a double, Atzeni again coming late on Crazy Chic in the seven-furlong handicap before having the better of another photo-finish on Kyllachy Queen, who beat prolific all-weather champion Volunteer Point in the Listed Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes. The four-timer was completed by David Evans’ Dougan, who scored rather more comfortably in the six-furlong handicap.

Adrien all the way

Paul Nicholls will not be giving up his title lightly and 13/8 favourite Adrien Du Pont ran out a comfortable winner of the valuable Coutts Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Ascot last Sunday.

Grade 1 horses will sometimes laugh at a big weight in a handicap and Adrien Du Pont, an imposing four-year-old by Califet, was allowed to stride on by Sam Twiston-Davies when it became obvious he was not interested in restraint anyway.

Soon well clear, he passed the post six lengths ahead of Oceane. Winner of the Grade 1 Finale Hurdle at Chepstow, he may well revert to that level in the French Champion Hurdle in November.

Nicholls completed a double when Polisky, 3/1, proved too good for warm favourite Penmore Mill in the hunter chase.

Sligo winner

Coolaney, Co Sligo trainer Mark McNiff shrewdly found a nice opportunity for Buckskin Boulta at Uttoxeter on Saturday. Much more accustomed to points, where he performed consistently well last year, the eight-year-old switched to a maiden hurdle and his stamina saw him home in very heavy ground, though Marquis Of Carabas chased him all the way to the line, going down by a neck.

Conor Smith was seen to good advantage on the winner, who was relatively easy to back at 11/1.