GOODWOOD

PEOPLE have lost count of the times Mark Johnston-trained horses have led and kicked clear at Goodwood and it seemed another Group 3 was coming his way when 11/4 favourite Fireglow, given a perfect ride by Franny Norton, made the best of her way home in the 888sport Prestige Stakes over seven furlongs.

She is tough but was nailed right on the line by Hugo Palmer’s 5/1 chance Hawksmoor, ridden by Harry Bentley.

The Sweet Solera form at Newmarket counted for plenty here. Fireglow had finished second with Hawksmoor beating only one home. However, the latter pulled too hard early on. She settled better on this occasion and enjoyed the easier ground, coming with a rare rattle close home.

Bentley said: “She picked up really well. The ground is massive for her and she’s always shown a lot at home. The obvious thing is to step up to a mile now.”

TWISLER SURPRISES

It would be fair to say a fairly mixed bunch lined up for the Listed 888sport March Stakes over a mile and three-quarters. One or two had not been seen for quite a while, Fun Mac was taken out of the Ebor on vet’s advice at the start and Blue Surf had lost his way to a degree.

So, even though Jane Chapple-Hyam’s 16/1 shot The Twisler had a mountain to climb on official ratings, he was nibbled at in the market and won with complete authority, taking over from Vive Ma Fille two furlongs out and galloping on to beat Fun Mac by three lengths.

“It’s not a surprise to me because he had his ground and I felt, if he could finish in the first three, it would be a good build-up for the Cesarewitch,” Chapple-Hyam said. “He doesn’t pick up a penalty, though, so it’s just a question of whether he gets in off 85. If not, the other option is the November Handicap at Leopardstown.”

Either would suit winning owner Mark Hodsoll, who remarked that The Twisler was doing rather well “for a horse bought cheaply to plod around Chelmsford, Lingfield and Yarmouth”.

FAHEY AGAIN

There are grounds for saying that Saturday betting should involve doubles and trebles on Richard Fahey’s runners with anything else following on later.

His Rene Mathis, not truly sighted since winning the Bunbury Cup three runs ago, took the valuable 888sport Handicap over seven furlongs in clear-cut style from Jallota with the consistent Shared Equity third and the winner’s stable-companion Farlow fourth.Rene Mathis, 10/1 from 14s on course, led before the furlong pole and went clear. It was a boost for jockey George Chaloner, who rode good winners for the yard last term but has lost his claim and is in at the deep end now.

Two should be noted for the future. Can’t Change it, seventh, had no sort of run up the straight while yet another of Fahey’s, Withernsea, was trapped behind runners for too long and stayed on too late.

The trainer added another to his tally when 16/1 shot Imshivalla, more smartly away for Sammy Jo Bell than she was at the big meeting, proved nearly two lengths too good for Kapstadt in the nine-furlong handicap. Fahey added Drifting Spirit at Newmarket and Zaina Rizeena at Beverley to his haul and is simply unstoppable.