Passion passes Derby trial
Grand Passion booked his place in betdirect.co.uk Lingfield Winter Derby next month with a smooth victory in the dress rehearsal over the course and distance.
The six-year-old, trained by Geoff Wragg, was only ninth behind Eccentric in the Listed contest last March but showed his well-being in the Winter Derby Trial Conditions Stakes under the same sponsorship.
Well-ridden by Steve Drowne, the 11-2 shot had too much speed for his rivals and held Red Spell by three quarters of a length.
Drowne said: “He was absolutely spot on today and gave me a superb ride. It was his day.”
Hayley Turner ended a relatively lean spell in the Betlive In-Running At betdirect.co.uk Fillies’ Handicap when Sweetest Revenge (10-1), trained by Mark Usher, won by three-quarters of a length from Ivory Lace.
Turner rode a well-judged race, keeping enough in hand for the five year old to cope with her rivals.
She said: “That was sweet and is my eighth winner this year after a brief period where the luck wasn’t exactly going my way.”
Spalding trainer Conor Dore chalked up his fifth winner of the campaign when White Bear took division one of the Play £Spot The Ball On 0800 500 000 Handicap in a thriller under Robert Winston.
The chestnut got up at 5-1 to beat Hand Chime by a short-head and the way the gelding overcame his 5lb penalty for scoring at the Surrey course last time, a three-timer might not be far away.
Winston went on to complete double on the John Wainwright-trained Riquewihr (8-1) in division two.
Something, well-beaten last time in a Grade Two event at Newmarket in October, bounced back to form with victory in the Betdirect Freephone 0800 211 222 Handicap for Ian Mongan and Terry Mills.
Mills said: “He’s a bit of a morning glory and up until now wasn’t showing his best on the track.”
The colt had a length and a half to spare over 9-4 favourite Moayed.
A bad road crash on the M11 before racing saw trainer John Jenkins accept neither he nor his three horses could make it to the track.
Jockeys Jamie Spencer and Darryll Holland were also affected but managed to keep their riding engagements.
