Double keeps Fallon in title hunt
Wins from Jack’s Revenge and Franciscan at Leicester saw Kieren Fallon erode Paul Hanagan’s lead in the jockeys’ championship to seven.
Fallon has spoken in recent days about his enjoyment of the competition with Hanagan and Silvestre De Sousa as he rides in as many races as possible from Group One contenders to platers.
The options in Oadby were more of a humdrum variety and he kicked off by forcing George Baker’s 8-13 favourite Jack’s Revenge home in the Stoat Selling Stakes.
The heat was taken last year by Marsh Warbler, who became a very high-class juvenile hurdler, but there were no bids for Jack’s Revenge at the subsequent auction.
Fallon also had to keep the Luca Cumani-trained Franciscan (11-4) up to his task to close out the Quorn Handicap.
Just three faced the starter for the feature race of the day, the Squirrel Conditions Stakes, where Richard Hannon’s Rougement regained winning ways.
The Montjeu colt looked an exciting prospect for the stable when making a successful debut at Newmarket in July but he failed to build on that effort in a Listed race at Newbury landed by John Gosden’s Dewhurst contender Fencing.
Rougement (13-8) made all the running to win by a head – but even-money favourite Repeater was closing all the time after being switched for a run and could have been in front in another few yards.
“He started well at Newmarket, although he was maybe flattered a bit by that,” said jockey Richard Hughes.
“But at Newbury he was very flat, he went down to the start off the bridle, and I think that was a bit more like him.
“He’s still very weak but still progressive.”
Hughes later reflected that while a race like the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket would be an option, his boss would be mindful of his handicap mark with regard to next season.
Mark Johnston’s strapping Abishena overcame evident inexperience in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
The daughter of Pivotal went off at 16-1 and her chance looked to have gone at half-way when she stumbled slightly and needed Franny Norton’s guile to get her back on track.
James Eustace newcomer Fulney very nearly caused an 100-1 upset but Abishena forged down the stands rail to put her nose in front on the line.
“She came to us quite late from Darley, but her last two pieces of work had been encouraging,” explained Johnston’s representative Jock Bennett.
“Franny reckoned she would come on a lot for that and winning today is a bonus. Our two-year-olds have let us down a bit, so that was nice to see.”
There was an even more impressive winner of the Dormouse Maiden Stakes for three-year-olds when Charlie Hills’ Upcountry (4-9 favourite) had four lengths in hand despite drifting right across the track.
“The quicker ground was key today – he’s by Oasis Dream and it was soft when he was second at Newmarket and good to soft when he was second at Folkestone. He’s a nice horse,” reported jockey Michael Hills.
Meandmyshadow (6-1) made it four wins for the season in the Greta & Terry Stray 50th Wedding Anniversary Fillies’ Handicap.
All her other victories had been in Yorkshire, most recently in a seller at Ripon last month, and she finished with a rattle under Darryll Holland.
“Tough, isn’t she?” remarked Alan Brown, who trains her from Yedingham near Malton.
“She’s been running well all year and that was her 15th start. She’ll run at Catterick on the 15th and then finish for the season.”
