Prescott's Lady succumbs to penalty

Confidential Lady found a 3lb penalty just too much when going down by a head to Nasheej in the Swynford Paddocks Hotel Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket today.

Having beaten the winner into third at Sandown last month, the extra weight for Confidential Lady just swung the balance enough to enable the less-exposed Nasheej to reverse the placings.

Seb Sanders plotted a slightly wider course in the early stages of the Group Three race aboard the runner-up before taking her to the lead three furlongs out.

Sir Mark Prescott’s charge worked hard to get the better of the gutsy Deveron from the two furlong pole, but having just won that battle she was then nailed by the Richard Hannon-trained winner, a 4-1 chance, in the dying strides.

Deveron was a further length away in third, losing little in defeat on her first run outside of maiden company.

Hannon said: “I thought that the second horse was the one we had to beat.

“But my filly got into a lot of trouble at Sandown when she couldn’t get out and that was it really, so I was confident of reversing the placings.”

The daughter of Swain holds an entry in the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile on the Rowley Mile course next month and the trainer added: “She has got a Group Three race now so we will give her a bit of time. She will stay a mile, so we will probably bring her back for something like that.”

Confidential Lady’s trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, agreed that the turnaround in weights had made the difference to the result.

“This time we had to give the winner 3lb and she was drawn well while we were wide,” he said.

“Both fillies have run their race. We will talk to Mr and Mrs Thompson and Chris Richardson (of Cheveley Park Stud) and if she is fit and well then we will go for the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood or maybe the Prix Calvados at Deauville.”

The stewards enquired into the bumping match between Confidential Lady and the third horse in the final stages but apportioned no blame.

They did, however, suspend Sanders for one day (August 19) for using his whip without giving his mount sufficient time to respond.

Tim Fitzgerald broke his July Course duck as Inchnadamph saw out two miles well on his debut at the trip to take the Silks Bistro at Swynford Handicap.

With a fast pace set by Jeepstar stretching the field, the race looked to be going the way of All Star who struck the front going well with over half a mile to run.

But the early gallop told in the final stages as the 12-1 winner stayed on steadily from off the pace to lead at the furlong pole and edge away to beat favourite Red Damson by three lengths.

“I didn’t realise I hadn’t had a winner here until I looked in the paper but I am delighted to do it, especially as I brought the owners down with me today,” said Malton-based Fitzgerald.

“What I thought had stopped us was when we won the best turned out award because you never seem to win both.

“Now that we know he stays two miles we might have to have a look at the Cesarewitch as he could get in with a nice weight.”

Yorkshire runners were on the mark again in the £30,000 Letheby & Christopher Silver Salver Stakes as 12-1 chance My Paris stuck his head out to take the spoils.

The Kevin Ryan-trained gelding can be a tricky horse to get right but he was quietly supported in the betting ring and justified that interest as he held off Capable Guest in a photograph.

“He comes good at this time of the year,” said the successful rider, 5lb claiming apprentice Andrew Mullen. “He loves this track too.

“He can be a difficult horse to train, you have to take your time with him, and Mr Ryan has done a great job.”

The local team struck back in the Team Events EBF Fillies’ Handicap as My Princess gamely held off Zayn Zen and Easy Mover for a Newmarket clean sweep of the placings.

Neville Callaghan, the trainer and part-owner of the successful filly, said he felt the daughter of Danehill Dancer had appreciated the quick conditions underfoot and the return to a mile after seeing her hold off Zayn Zen by a head.

“It was only an extra half a furlong last time when she was third at Epsom, but it seemed to make the difference and the fact we had a nice dry night helped today too,” he said.

“She will probably have a break now with a view to staying in training next season as a four-year-old. She is very tough and sound and hopefully she might win us a nice handicap next year.”

Fresh from his three-day ban for failing to weigh in on Friday, Nicky Mackay collected another day off (August 19) when being found guilty of careless riding aboard third-home Easy Mover.