Highclere do the Hustle
Members of the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate almost outnumbered racegoers at Lingfield on Monday – but their presence was worthwhile as Hustle took the feature HBLB Handicap.
Trained by Richard Hannon, the chestnut colt had shown winning form at the same track already, breaking his duck as a juvenile last September.
Money came for the Michael Jarvis filly Maslaha, the 10-11 favourite, but she could not get on terms with 100-30 shot Hustle when Richard Hughes kicked on after the home bend and pushed her out for a one-length success.
“He was a little bit keen early on, but will be a lot more settled next time,” said Richard Hannon jnr, the trainer’s son and assistant.
“I think we’ll step him up in trip for a mile handicap somewhere now.”
Former champion jockey Ryan Moore returned from a weekend in Dubai to land a 17-1 treble, the pick of which was Geoff Wragg’s Monterrico, backed into even-money favourite for the Book Your Pontin’s Family Holiday Now Maiden Stakes.
A typically handsome sort from the veteran trainer’s yard, he strode nicely away from Always Cruising to win by a length.
“I think he’ll stay a mile and a half,” said Wragg. “I was thinking about the Dee Stakes at Chester, but I don’t know if he’ll be good enough.”
The There’s No Place Quite Like Pontin’s Selling Stakes was easy pickings for Moore’s mount, the 11-10 favourite Samuel Charles, who was taking a notable drop in class.
What Katie Did (100-30 favourite) took the Go Completely Pontin’s This Summer Handicap.
The Paul Cole-trained colt is proving to be a decent sort on the Polytrack surface and took a prominent interest in the six-furlong dash.
He had to be driven along by Moore but won in reasonable style to keep half a length in hand over the fast-finishing Hobson.
Cole turned to Joe Fanning to complete his own brace in the Wish You Were Here Pontin’s Maiden Auction Fillies’ Stakes.
Percolator was sent off the even-money favourite after finishing second on her debut last week and dashed away from her rivals to win by an eased-up two and a half lengths from Grand Plan.
“She’s very speedy but still a bit green around the bends,” reported her jockey.
Yet another pace-setter to score was King’s Ransom (11-2) in the Dine In Trackside Carvery Handicap, after which Steve Gollings deduced why he had not completed a hat-trick of victories at Southwell last time.
“The run was too bad to be true and it must be because he didn’t like the Fibresand,” he reflected.
“Chris Catlin got the tactics just right, as he has to be able to relax in front.”
Epsom trainer Simon Dow captured the Golf And Racing Days Out Handicap as My Shadow (8-1) came with a decisive late drive under Ian Mongan.
