20052021

Thursday, May 20, 2021 61

Newbury Weekly News

NEWBURY NEWS

Newbury Racecourse held another meeting behind closed doors

Concierge is on the money at Newbury Trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Silvestre De Sousa before his ride on Happy Power Ref: 20-0621F Pictures by Phil Cannings

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By LIAM HEADD liam.headd@newburynews.co.uk @liamh_nwn

CONCIERGE held off the challenge from Aplomb to land the Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap at New- bury on Friday. The five-year-old, trained by Michael Attwater, took the lead with a furlong re- maining to edge out Aplomb in a thrilling battle. Elsewhere, Kingsclere trainer Andrew Balding opened his account as Achelois won the opening race. Under David Probert, the three-year- old got in front of Soundslikethunder to seize the victory. After the race, the trainer said: “She doesn’t mind this ground and it’s nice to win a race with a bonus as well. “I think we’ll go back into handicaps now. She has broken her maiden so we’ll take it from there, but she’ll definitely stay a mile so there is more to come.” Lambourn trainer Archie Watson scooped victory in the Class 4 Novices Stakes as Badlands battled until the very end to pip Beheld to the post. Both Badlands and Beheld pushed along with a furlong remaining and it was the Watson-trained three-year-old who got the win. After the race, winning jockey Luke Morris said: “He was very honest and genuine, he was quite raw through the race and he never really travelled, but he stuck his head down and showed a willing attitude. “He went to the start absolutely perfect- ly. “He behaved great and he is a horse who I know and I think he’ll come on plenty. “In the autumn I am sure he’ll get a mile and a quarter, I am not sure if he’ll get further, but he can improve if he steps up in trip.” Elsewhere, Gisburn produced a stun- ning performance to cruise to victory in a Maiden Stakes for Richard Hannon. Backed in as a 6/4 favourite, the two- year-old went clear from over a furlong out and won in fashion. There was a surprise in the Class 5 Handicap Stakes as the 16/1 priced East Asia stormed to victory, finishing ahead of pre-race favourite Potenza . The Charlie Appleby-trained Manobo took the win in the Class 4 Maiden Stakes, under Adam Kirby. East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison saw Surrey Gold take victory in the Class 4 Handicap Stakes. The three-year-old took the lead with

Jockeys leaving the weighing room

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Jim Crowley and Eshaada lead from the front

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Trainer Charlie Hills (left) and Kieran Shoemark

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Frankie Dettori on the way to victory with Palace Pier

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“He is a nice horse, but these three- year-old handicaps are extremely compet- itive and I couldn’t see him doing it in a nice and progressive field like that.” In the final race of the day, the Ap- prentice Handicap Stakes, Madame Pel- tier won for Charlie Fellowes and jockey Saffie Osborne.

two furlongs left before moving further clear of Alpine Stroll , who finished sec- ond. After the race, Morrison said: “I think the conditions were right and we wanted a flat track so I think he did very well and I was very surprised he won as well as he did.

Jim Crowley after winning with Al Aasy

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