Timeform / Editor / 20 April 2009 / Leave a comment

Timeform were busy watching the racing over the weekend and this is what they learnt that we as punters are well advised to remember for the future....

This weekend saw some important Classic trials take place at Newbury, the Greenham and the Fred Darling. The winner of the latter, Lahaleeb, was following up on her Rockfel Stakes win last year. She will certainly go for the 1000 Guineas and has strong each-way claims. The Greenham went to Jim Bolger's Vocalised, he is improving fast and deserves to take his chance at a higher level.

Elsewhere on the card, Enroller produced a career-best to win the John Porter Stakes. He stayed on gamely to beat Centennial with favourite Royal And Regal floundering back in fourth.
It was Scottish Grand National day at Ayr, and the feature race went to the evergreen Hello Bud, he made virtually all and held the late challenge of Gone To Lunch. The Scottish Champion Hurdle went to trainer Nicky Richards, courtesy of Noble Alan, with Secret Tune and Harper Valley chasing him home.

Doncaster's feature race, the Doncaster Mile Stakes, went to Staying On, who did just that to hold Unnefer with favourite King of Dixie a disappointing fifth. At Thirsk, Hitchens made a promising reappearance on his first run for David Barron. He quickened readily to beat Knot In Wood, with Wi Dud back in third. Trainer Dandy Nicholls netted a hat-trick of wins at Naas, with Inxile, Fol Hollow and Joseph Henry all going in. Inxile was the winner of the feature Woodland Stakes, beating Reverence by half-a-length.

Sunday's Ballysax stakes proved very informative for this year's Epsom Derby. Fame And Glory retained his unbeaten record and marked himself as a leading contender for the Classic. John Oxx's Mourayan ran a race full of promise back in third, and is certainly not one to write off for Epsom glory yet. Elsewhere on the card, Kargali won the Heritage Stakes; the Aga Khan owned colt looks well worth a try at a higher level. At Stratford, RSA Chase sixth, What A Friend, regained the winning thread with ease.