Timeform Weekend Review: The flat season is here!

Weekend Review / Timeform / 23 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

Timeform look back over a weekend when racing on the level took centrestage.

Lingfield on Saturday saw Richard Hannon's Scintillo take the feature race, the Winter Derby.

Having won at Kempton just three days earlier, Scintillo followed up here, travelling well throughout the race and battling willingly to repel the challenge of market-leader Premio Loco to win by a nose. Premio Loco ran with great credit, trying the ten-furlong trip for the first time and there will be other days for him.

Elsewhere on the card, Nashmiah booked her ticket to the 1000 Guineas with an emphatic win in the Spring Cup. Clive Brittain's charge travelled well in a prominent position before showing a good turn of foot in the straight to beat Elnawin by two-and-a-half lengths. Whilst she certainly needs to improve further to be a Guineas contender, she was far from all out here and there should be more to come.

At Newbury Aimigayle produced a gutsy performance to win the mares novices chase final. She led from the outset and responded well for Colin Bolger all the way up the straight, tenaciously fending off Rate of Knots. Oliver Sherwood took the mares novices hurdle final for the second consecutive year courtesy of Argento Luna who got up in the very last stride to beat Nicky Henderson's Ravello Bay. This doubled Sherwood's win tally for the day after Lyes Green had taken the Greatwood Handicap Chase earlier in the card. The closing junior bumper saw Henderson unleash a very bright prospect in Oscar Whiskey. The well-regarded gelding was not extended to win by nine lengths and he would not look out of place in a graded bumper.

Sunday marked the first turf meeting of the year at the Curragh and there were some potentially useful performances seen. King Ledley took the first two-year-old maiden of the year, winning by five lengths and showing himself to be useful, at least.

The following race, a three-year old maiden, saw the John Oxx trained Zaralanta make an impressive debut. She travelled smoothly up with the pace and despite showing greenness when first shaken up, readily quickened clear to win by three lengths.

Jim Bolger's Oh Goodness Me got up late to foil Dermot Weld's attempt to win the Empress Stakes and the trainer was on the board again in the finale as Toraidhe broke his duck at the third time of asking. Despite his previous experience, the colt still looked green, hanging when first asked for his effort and taking until inside the final furlong to get on top. This tall and lengthy colt should be capable of better in time, particularly when upped in tip.

The Irish Lincoln went to the Tommy Stack trained Pollen who overcame trouble in running to get up in the dying strides.