Bara makes classic impact at Newbury

Natagora and Infallible both did their bit to liven up the ante-post 1000 Guineas market in the week before John Dunlop’s Muthabara followed suit at Newbury on Saturday.

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s filly had been the subject of rave reviews and ran out an ultimately impressive winner of the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, having initially taken a while to hit top gear.

Stan James and Cashmans cut her to 4-1 for Newmarket’s May 4 Classic, while Ladbrokes were more impressed and have her as their new 7-2 favourite.

Dunlop said: “It was complicated as we were drawn 10 of 13 and two of the runners came stands side and Richard (Hills) followed, which didn’t work out too well for her.

“I was slightly concerned at the furlong pole, but she’s won well in the end and Richard said the last half-furlong was the best part of the race for her.

“She’s won with a fair bit in hand and going up to a mile will suit her well.

“Both of the other fillies (Natagora and Infallible) who won their trials this week have won very well indeed.

“Ours is a very nice filly, but whether she is very good, we’ll just have to see.”

The colts had their chance to impress in the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes, which went the way of Richard Hannon’s Paco Boy.

Big guns Confront and Sir Gerry both failed to fire, and while the winner looked a smart colt, he is not currently in the 2000 Guineas.

Hannon said: “Richard (Hughes) said he wasn’t liking the ground, but he thinks he will stay a mile.

“After winning this we have got the money now, so we will have a good think about supplementing him for the Guineas.”

Royal And Regal was another to impress as he ground out victory on his first start for Michael Jarvis in the Dubai Tennis Championships Stakes.

Owner Peter Savill transferred the four-year-old to the Newmarket handler from Andre Fabre’s French yard after he landed the Jockey Club Cup last autumn and the decision appears to have paid dividends.

Of his 13-2 winner, Jarvis said: “I am delighted he has come out and won over a mile and a half as he is a two-miler really.

“He needs a good, strong gallop and the plan was to come here and then move on to the Yorkshire Cup.”

Although the Flat action took centre stage, there was plenty for National Hunt fans to get stuck into with the Coral Scottish Grand National headlining Ayr’s meeting.

Halcon Genelardais kept most of his rivals out of the weights and produced a sterling effort to claim second under a huge weight.

However, Alan King’s charge had no answer to 66-1 scorer Iris De Balme, who careered away for a 14-length triumph despite being nearly two stone out of the handicap.

Winning trainer Sean Curran said: “He is in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown next Saturday and although he is out of the handicap again, I think we will run him before the handicapper gets a hold of him.

“And we will have to have a think about the Aintree National next year. He was entered two seasons ago but was not rated high enough to get in.”

Sunday saw Ed Dunlop’s Temple Of Thebes create a little piece of history as she took the inaugural event at Great Leighs, the first new British racecourse since Taunton began operating in 1927.

Dunlop said: “We came here a week ago for the trials and they’ve done a very good job.”

Across the Irish Sea, the ever-informative P.W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes proved the highlight on Leopardstown’s card.

Kevin Prendergast’s Moiqen earned himself a quote of 50-1 with VC Bet for the Derby after fending off Hebridean by a length.

“He is the best I have got and he is highly-rated, so he is entered in everything including the Derby,” said the County Kildare trainer.

“He might come back here for the Derrinstown but we’ll see how he comes out of this and let the boss decide.”