Patavellian hits top form
Patavellian regained the winning thread at Yarmouth when taking the At The Races Conditions Stakes and could bid for another success in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp next month.
Roger Charlton’s seven-year-old had gone 11 races without a win after a 2003 hat-trick that culminated with victory in the French Group One.
And jockey Steve Drowne believes the gelding could run well in the Abbaye on October 2, if allowed to take his chance, following his pillar-to-post romp at Yarmouth.
The 6-5 favourite jumped from the stalls and never saw another rival despite fellow Group One winner Fayr Jag throwing down a late bid, eventually scoring by two and a half lengths.
“He’s no back number. He’s moving well, everything seems right and that was a lovely confidence booster,” said Drowne.
“It’s been nice for him to win. He hasn’t had a smack and done it how he wanted.
“I hope with a bit of soft ground he could go there (Longchamp) and run well again.”
Famcred had plenty to do over three furlongs out when at the back of the 13-runner field in the Jack Leader Challenge Trophy Fillies’ Nursery.
But the Luca Cumani-trained filly revealed a striking turn of foot to speed past her rivals, collaring Creative Mind inside the final 50 yards.
Guillermo Arizkorreta, assistant to Cumani, said: “She is a lovely filly and has been working well at home. She keeps improving and did it well at the end.”
After a 291-day lay-off Great Fox made a winning return to action in the At The Races Sprint.
Chris Catlin had the four-year-old chasing the leaders on the stands side before going clear in the final furlong to takethe race by three-quarters of a length.
Pat Gilligan, who trained the 10-1 shot, said: “He’s a nice horse who we really liked at two.
“He didn’t give us the right signals last year and his recent work wasn’t that impressive but his general demeanour was much better so we had to take it on trust.”
Newmarket-based trainer John Berry is enjoying a decent run at the moment and Picot De Say gave him a third success from five runners when securing the J & H Signs Claiming Stakes with three lengths to spare.
Berry said: “This is made very special by the fact he is the first winner I’ve trained by Largesse, who was our stable star a few years ago. I actually trained the dam as well, so this has given me a lot of pleasure.”
The Fulke Johnson Houghton-trained Rubies (6-1) made all to win the first division of the six-furlong Thomas Prior Maiden Stakes as she pleased.
Eve Johnson Houghton, assistant to her father, said: “It really suited her, not being challenged and just being allowed to bowl along. We might try and find a little handicap for her next as she’s in very good nick.”
The second division was clinched by Redeye Special to give the season’s leading jockey Jamie Spencer his 133rd winner of the campaign.
Bowled Out was a topically named winner of the concluding Constitution Motors Norwich constitution.co.uk handicap.
With the country basking in the Ashes success of England’s cricketers, the 16-1 chance came out best in a thrilling finale to the extended 11-furlong contest, prevailing by a neck from the game Velvet Waters.
