Up a bit, down a bit - 20th April 2011

Newmarket - Tattersalls Millions 3yo Sprint, Class 2 - 6f
This was a competitive little sprint and it was won by "Jimbo" McGrath's Sir Reginald, although you would have to consider the second Medany an unlucky loser. The winner won by 3/4 length but the second struggled to find an opening to get through, but once she did she ran on well to be just denied. The time of the race compared favourably with the following days Abernant Stakes won by Genki and the form should prove to be reliable. The 3rd Khor Sheed had won the Listed Empress Stakes last season and prior to the race Luca Cumani had this to say "We start off tomorrow with Khor Sheed in the Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Sprint. She has been working well and is in very good order and looks like she has progressed since last year. Six furlongs on fast ground look to be her ideal conditions and though she has the second highest official rating of the runners, that might not count for too much if some of those with less racing than she has had have improved a good deal over the winter".

Time : 1m 11.33s - slow by 1.33
Trainers post race comments
Barry Hills stable - Medany "She was slightly unlucky not to win the sales race at Newmarket on Wednesday, although the winner may have found more if she had tackled him earlier. It's great to see she has improved over the winter as she is a lovely filly to be around and tries really hard. Hopefully she can pick up some black type


Newmarket - Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes, Listed Race - 6f 
This was won by Genki who ran on well down the outside, just as he had done last year here, albeit that was in a Handicap. He got the better of the race fit Iver Bridge Lad by a neck and he looks set for another good season ahead. Iver Bridge Lad looks like one we can set our clocks by on what we have seen from him so far. Dinkum Diamond ran well considering he was the only 3yo in the lineup and the trainer had reported pre race that he hadnt grown over the winter and he certainly stays 6f on this showing. Anne of Kiev in 4th ran a blinder and as a result has been raised 4lb by the handicapper to a mark of 102.
Time : 1m 11.12s slow by 1.12
Trainers post race comments
Roger Charlton - Genki "I was really delighted with Genki's run in the Abernant yesterday, he has been so lazy in his work at home with most of my sprinters leaving him trailing behind. Luckily when he gets to the races he wakes up and I thought that Steve rode a good race allowing him to free wheel down the hill before launching him in the final furlong. His next race is likely to be The Duke Of York at their May meeting".
Barry Hills stable - Prime Defender "he wasn't beaten far in his race, but came back blowing hard. Following his break it is taking a while to get him fit and he probably needed the run again. He doesn't overdo himself at home and some of his best runs last season came after short breaks. We will keep him on the go.

Newbury - Dubai Duty Free Double Millionaire Handicap, Class 2 - 5f 34yds
This was won by the top weight Noble Storm in good fashion and for me it was the most eyecatching performance I have seen so far by a sprinter this year. He had the field struggling and yet he seemed to be going very well within himself and he won by half a length from the race fit Rain Delayed as his own lack of race fitness told at the end of the race. He has been raised 6lb by the Handicapper to a mark of 108 and on this showing there's every chance he can emulate the stables Astrophysical Jet. The second raised 4lb to 103 had previously been trained by Ger Lyons and connections had felt that he was bordering on Group Class so this augurs well for the winner too. Malcolm Saunders Captain Carey was 3 lengths back in third and he has been dropped 1lb to 92 and his time will come.
Time : 1m 0.63s slow by 1.13
Trainers post race comments
Ed McMahon - Noble Storm "He was out of sorts last year but I hope I'll be able to do an Astrophysical Jet and win the Flying Five at the Curragh, I think there's a Group race in him."
Roger Charlton - Run For The Hills "For a moment he threatened to get involved in the finish but his run faded and he is due to continue his racing career in Singapore where I hope he does well".
Tom Dascombe - Noverre To Go "Now a 5-y-o, he has always needed his first run of the season to fine tune his race fitness".

Ripon - Stowe Family Law LLP Handicap, Class 5 - 5f
This was won by David Nicholls Mandurah by short head from David Barons Bosun Breeze. The winner had previously been trained by Nicholls back in 2009 when he was beaten 5 lengths off a mark of 88 be Group Therapy. Here he was back with Nicholls for the sart of 2011 with a mark of just
64, so all the signs were there, especially as he had a 3lb claimer on board too. As a result of his win he has been raised 5lb's to 69 but surely Mr Nicholls can extract some more meat from the bones and get him to win a couple more times. In the circumstances the 2nd (raised 4lb to 76) did well to be beaten a short head as he was carrying a stone more in weight and he didnt have the race fitness edge of the winner also the race was run in a fair time. Third placed Senate Majority was on the opposite side of the track to the first two so he also deserves a mention as does another Nicholls runner Supreme Spirit who was only contesting her fourth race, she missed the break but was staying on to good effect in the closing stages of the race and she looks sure to win shortly with her trainer reporting recently that she has wintered well and is on the upgrade.
Time : 58.79s slow by 0.69