High hopes for hustle at Lingfield

Hustle has taken a while to find his stride but connections have high hopes for the youngster after he found the winner’s enclosure in division two of the Happy Birthday Bob Hacking Maiden Stakes at Lingfield.

The Richard Hannon-trained 6-4 favourite made all and after being joined three furlongs out he found more to pull away and secure victory by a length under Ryan Moore.

Hannon’s son and assistant Richard junior said: “He is green but has improved 10 to 15lbs with each run.

“He is a big horse with loads of scope and he could be anything – he is a horse for the backend and next year.

“He’s a real three-year-old type and will probably run once more this year in something like the Horris Hill.”

Mujaadel gave the form of leading Stan James 2000 Guineas fancy Rio De La Plata yet another boost when coasting home in division one.

Ed Dunlop’s 1-3 favourite finished fourth to the Godolphin star last time in a race which has already thrown up a number of winners.

And the mount of Richard Hills added to the tally when effortlessly going clear inside the final two furlongs to see off newcomer Bullet Man by two lengths.

Dunlop said: “He ran well first time and last time he ran in one of the hottest maidens of the year.

“I will look for a Listed or Conditions race for him next and then put him away as I think he will improve over the winter.”

Moore initiated a 10-1 double as he rode his rivals to sleep when making all aboard the Mark Buckley-trained Viewforth in the Lingfield Park For Weddings Handicap.

The champion jockey stole a couple of lengths leaving the stalls and always had a handy advantage, which allowed the 100-30 chance to collect by a handsome three lengths.

Buckley said: “He was always going to get the rail from that draw but you don’t need to give Ryan many instructions!”

A change of codes beckons for Tom Keddy’s Apache Fort after the 11-4 chance burst through to take the arenaleisureplc.com Handicap by a length and a quarter.

Keddy said: “He hasn’t schooled yet but the plan is to take him jumping.

“He has been knocking on the door recently and I do think he is better on the all-weather.”

Carrickmacross (7-1) has been running well in similar events and got off the mark at the sixth time of asking with a hard-fought victory under Richard Mullen in the Play Golf At Lingfield Park Nursery.

Kevin Ryan sent just one runner on the 518-mile round trip from his Yorkshire base and Captain Jacksparra (7-2) repaid his travelling fee by seeing off 2-1 favourite Nadawat in the lingfieldpark.co.uk Handicap.

Jim Crowley got Blue Quiver (8-1) up on the line to claim the Lingfield Park For Exhibitions Handicap, but he could only manage second place in the Hotel On It’s Way Here Classified Stakes as his Almahaza was reeled in by Picky (13-2).