Bell excells at Southwell
Southwell's moderate all-weather fare was enlivened by the exploits of Mingun Bell today, who now looks destined for far loftier assignments.
The two-year-old colt cruised to victory in the Endurance Ride at Southwell 5th September Novice Stakes under a supremely confident ride by Tom Queally.
It was Henry Cecil's first victory at the Nottinghamshire track in five years - and it could not have been achieved in better style.
The 5-6 favourite was prominent from the start and effortlessly moved into the lead coming into the home straight, leaving his rivals floundering.
Indeed, the eventual three-and-three-quarter-length victory over Florio Vincitore barely reflected the superiority of the winner.
Queally said: "He did it easily. He liked the surface here. He would have either loved it or hated it - thankfully he loved it.
"He travelled sweetly - a little bit gassy early on - and as the race unfolded I was always controlling.
"He's got that experience so he knows what he's doing and improves with every run."
Circumvent's win in the southwell-racecourse.co.uk Median Auction Maiden Stakes 30 minutes later may not have had matched Mingun Bell's breezy dominance, but it did showcase the hallmarks of a gutsy fighter.
The Paul Hanagan-ridden 7-1 shot was involved in a three-way scrap along the home straight as Prince Of Vasa and Comedy Hall moved up to offer determined challenges.
Despite being headed by the latter, the Paul Cole-trained newcomer came back for more to collect by a short head.
Oliver Cole, son of the winning trainer, said: "He's always showed a bit of speed at home, but I think in time he'll need a mile.
"The reason we came here is that he had a sore shin and we thought it's a better surface than the grass.
"Our idea was to be there or thereabouts and he just came back at them, so we're quite encouraged by the run."
An audacious ride by Chris Catlin helped Eightdaysaweek (5-1) to a length-and-a-quarter defeat of Applaude in the Membership of Southwell Golf Club Claiming Stakes.
Sylvester Kirk's filly was one of the first to come under pressure, but Catlin decided to take matters into his own hands and was the first to send his mount for home.
Once in front, the daughter of Montjeu kicked clear to take top honours.
Catlin said: "She might want a little bit farther.
"You can tell by the way she moves that she likes it here, she's only ever won here before.
"I spoke to connections before and they were quietly confident."
Tom Eaves perfectly timed his run on Fuzzy Cat to get up on the line in the Golf Societies Welcome At Southwell Handicap.
The David Barron-trained 4-1 favourite looked out of contention before diving towards the line late on, getting up to beat Monte Mayor Eagle by a neck.
Mark Prescott's Eloise (9-1) was given a positive ride by Seb Sanders to hold off Spring Quartet, who missed the break by some 15 lengths, in the Book On Line @ southwell-racecourse.co.uk Handicap.
Sanders then made it a double in the concluding Southwell Golf Club Lady Members Handicap when prevailing by a nose on Paul D'Arcy's Calahonda (12-1).
