Ella set to step up
Trainer Alan Swinbank is keen to step Ella up in class so she can try to earn some black type for breeding purposes.
The three-year-old, owned and bred by Guy Reed, has some way to go but she put up a gutsy display in the mud to open her account in the Ladbrokes Fillies’ Handicap at Pontefract.
Her pedigree hinted she would cope with the tough conditions and being out the 1999 November Handicap winner Flossy, she had the stamina to make all the running over a mile and a quarter.
Henry Cecil’s Born Tobouggie was the only serious challenger but she brushed the 7-4 favourite aside to win by five lengths.
Neil Callan was as easy as he could be on the 11-4 shot in the gruelling conditions.
“She’s done nothing wrong but she had a few niggly little problems when we first got her,” said Swinbank.
“She’s coming into herself now and what we want to do is to keep going and try to get some black type so the boss (Guy Reed) can get her covered.
Reed added: “She did it well in the ground. She has breeding that has stamina and I think she would get a mile and a half but perhaps not on this ground – I’m surprised we’ve been able to race.”
Allied Powers (5-2) gained compensation for a narrow defeat at Haydock on Saturday with a convincing success in the Coralbet By Freephone 0800 242 232 Handicap.
Storming past long-time leader Blimey O’Riley, Michael Bell’s runner shot clear by four lengths.
“He was unlucky at Haydock where he was beaten two short. We were hoping that race hadn’t taken too much out of him,” said Bell’s representative Tim Dennis.
In the Friends of the Northern Racing College Handicap, Force Group (9-4 joint-favourite) followed up his victory over the course and distance nine days earlier but it was hard work in the deteriorating conditions.
His stride shortened in the final half-furlong but he held on by three-quarters of a length from Mandalay Prince.
“He had a long time off last year, but he’s won two and I think he’ll win again, maybe over a bit further and on better ground,” said trainer Mark Tompkins.“
The David Barron-trained Dispol Isle (14-1) came with a wet sail to land the skybet.com Handicap which was run in a downpour.
The mare responded gamely to Paul Fessey’s urgings to get home by a length and three-quarters from Hula Ballew.
“She handled the ground well, but we couldn’t be confident as she hadn’t run for almost six months,” said owner Bill Imison.
Toby Tyler (12-1) won his purchase price back with interest when making a winning debut in the EBF betdirect.com Maiden Stakes.
A bargain buy at just 2,500 guineas. Paul Midgley’s charge beat Cutting Comments by a length and a quarter.
“He’s always been straightforward and probably wants seven furlongs. He loved the ground which was a big help,” said Midgley.
Ephorus (6-1) was Sir Michael Stoute’s only runner at the West Yorkshire track and the once-raced Galileo colt obliged in the totesport.com Maiden Stakes by half a length from Sir Royal.
