Sandown Saturday

COLIN Keane managed to make his first ride at Sandown a winning one on board Town And Country in the Listed BetMGM Scurry Stakes last Saturday.

Trained by Grand National and Gold Cup-winning Henry de Bromhead, who has a fine record on the flat in Britain, the Earthlight filly had gone close in two efforts so far this term and at one stage looked like she could be an unlucky loser once again, as her rider searched for an opening on the rails aboard his powerfully-travelling mount.

However, Keane got the 5/2 second favourite out and motoring just in time to hit the line in front of Clive Cox’s Hold A Dream, with a photo required to determine the short-head verdict.

Keane said: “She was keen and Billy Lee told me she could be, but I didn’t think she would be that bad and she ended up bringing me into a few of pockets.

“To be fair to her, she only got out in the last half furlong and she has done well to win. I think over here when she gets used to proper sprinting, it will suit her and the quicker they go the better, as she will relax and we’ll see the best of her. I would have thought she could go on to run well in group company.”

York Saturday

AL Qareem shone on the Knavesmire with an impressive success in the Listed Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes.

Karl Burke and Nick Bradley Racing’s reliable six-year-old was a 9/2 chance under Clifford Lee, with Willie Mullins’ 2023 Ebor winner Absurde, the even-money favourite.

They did battle from a long way out, but Al Qareem put his head down to pull clear and prevail by four and a half lengths.

“He’s so honest, he’s a very sound horse and he just does it every time you ask him to,” said Burke.

“When the favourite came looming up, I had a smile on my face, the commentator was saying the favourite was coming after him, but you know he’s going to fight for it.

“I think he’ll be handicapped out of the Ebor, but the Irish St Leger and the Curragh Cup, especially the Irish St Leger, could be very interesting.

“It’s on a lovely, big, galloping track and he stays that one-mile-six so well. They are the two races we’ll be looking at.”