Flight earns victory roll at Sandown

Day Flight set himself up for what trainer John Gosden hopes will be a productive campaign in top middle-distance races when getting the better of Notable Guest in the Betfred Gordon Richard Stakes at Sandown.

In what turned out to be a battle up the hill between two Khalid Abdullah-owned horses, Day Flight (100-30) and Richard Hughes proved a length too strong for the Sir Michael Stoute-tained runner-up.

Crosspeace was just neck away third.

Gosden is keen to take Day Flight to either Chester or York next month.

“There’s a strong possibility he will run in the Ormonde at Chester or we may let him try a mile and three quarters in the Yorkshire Cup,” he said.

“A mile and a quarter is plenty sharp enough for him but this good ground was ideal and Richard said he quickened up nicely.”

Chester is also on the horizon for Ivy Creek after the colt followed up his Warwick success with a head verdict over Tell in the Betfredcasino.com Conditions Stakes.

Turning for home Ivy Creek was last as Gosden’s West of Amarillo made the best of his way home, but Steve Drowne was biding his time on the 2-1 favourite who gradually ate into his lead and after leading inside the final furlong held on in a triple photo.

Ivy Creek has given his trainer Geoff Wragg a few headaches in the stalls but he was accompanied by Yarmy (Steve Dyble), who reported he was basically well behaved.

Wragg said: “He’ll improve with age and could be a nice horse. His Warwick race is working out well and I feel we should move him up to a mile and a quarter and run him in the Dee Stakes at Chester.”

A possible Champion Hurdle contender for next year could have emerged when Noble Request proved his win at Ayr was no fluke as he landed the Betfred Million Hurdle in the hands of Richard Johnson.

Philip Hobbs has elevated the grey from being a handicapper to a contender for top honours and having bolted up in the Scottish Champion Hurdle he proved too resolute for Faasel up the hill, scoring by a length and a half, despite meeting that rival on worse terms.

Hobbs was represented by his wife Sarah, who said of th 2-1 favourite: “I must admit we were worried when he coughed as he got off the lorry and he was 15lb wrong with the second.

“He’s certainly learned how to relax and take everything in his stride which has made a big difference.”

Bookmaker reaction to the success varied with Paddy Power leaving the winner at 33-1 for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, William Hill cutting him to 25-1 from that price and Stan James being the most impressed as they slashed him from 25-1 into 14-1.

Paul Webber has had to show the patience of Job this winter when the majority of his team were hit with a bacterial infection and his best horse De Soto sidelined with a hairline fracture.

However, the 15-length victory of Full House over Winsley in the betfredpoker.com Handicap Chase suggests the Cropredy horses are about to turn the corner.

After Tom Doyle had crossed the line with his hands full on the 11-4 favourite, Webber said: “He loves fast ground and would have won more with a bit more luck with his jumping.

“He could go for a valuable race at Market Rasen in July while there is also an attractive one at Newton Abbot in August in which Duke of Buckingham finished third for us last year.”

There was a cracking finish to the Betfred Esher Cup in which the judge could not split Yarqus (13-2) and King’s Head (11-2).

King’s Head’s trainer Michael Jarvis felt his colt was beaten, while Clive Brittain was happy to share the spoils with his Newmarket neighbour and will now take Yarqus to Chester for the Dee Stakes.

Harris Bay (7-2) was the best-backed horse in the Betfred Million Novices Handicap Chase but his victory for Henrietta Knight and Timmy Murphy was a shade fortuitous as Mr Boo was going equally as well when capsizing at the second-last.

The concluding Betfred 570 Shops Nationwide Handicap went to the evens favourite Linas Selection for the Mark Johnston-Kevin Darley combination.