3 minute read
Alrehb defied a career-high mark to get the better of Unforgotten in the Spreadex Sports Lincoln Trial Handicap at Wolverhampton.
Trained by Kevin Philippart de Foy, the grey had won last time out at Southwell but had been raised 4lb for that half-length success.
The 5-1 shot looked up against it when John and Thady Gosden's 11-4 favourite Unforgotten hit the front a furlong out in his bid for a fourth successive victory – but Alrehb had other ideas.
Delivered with a perfectly timed challenge by the red-hot Danny Muscutt, he went on to win by half a length, with last year's winner Notre Belle Bete back in third.
Paddy Power cut the winner to 14-1 from 20s for the Lincoln at Doncaster on April 1.
Muscutt told Sky Sports Racing: "There's always a lot of speed in this race and it was a bit messy the first 50 yards but I ended up in a lovely spot and found a really nice rhythm.
"He's really stepped up his game since he's gone up to the mile and Kevin has his horses in super form. He actually beat me at Southwell so it's nice to get on him today.
"I don't see any reason why he can't win on turf, he's quite a big horse to be going around these tight turns. His action suggests he should be fine on turf.
"I think it's either the Lincoln or the Spring Cup next. I think the weather will decide where he goes."
Dubai Station (17-2), having just his second start for Stuart Williams, won the Huge Daily Boosts Only BetUK Handicap.
Previously with Robert Cowell, Dubai Station had finished fifth over five furlongs on his stable debut and upped to six furlongs Rossa Ryan brough him home to win by half a length.
Ryan said: "I won a nice race on him at Chelmsford and he's just gone to Stuart's.
"The form of his last race stacked up well, he had a nice gallop to aim at and it worked out well. He's a proper handicapper, he'll always run well in them and the odd one will fall his way."
Earlofthecotswolds (6-1) gave himself the perfect preparation in defence of his All-Weather Marathon title on Finals Day at Newcastle when prevailing in a blanket finish for the SCU Selects Expert Tips At BetUK Conditions Stakes.
Tom Queally set out to make all but looked a sitting duck as Roberto Escobarr, Calling The Wind and Fleurman all closed in on him but he held them off.
It was Fleurman who got closest to Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge, beaten a head, with a neck back to the odds-on favourite Roberto Escobarr.
"Earlofthecotswolds is a good horse with a lot of ability. They want him there for Finals Day and it is good that he got to win again," said Queally.
"I ride a lot of Nigel's on the Flat but I was suspended a couple of years ago and Liam Keniry took the ride. Admittedly, I am just getting used to the horse and probably did not go fast enough the last day, whereas today I did. I wanted to fill his lungs at crucial stages and that seemed to give him an edge at the end.
"Nigel only runs a few on the Flat but he has a magnificent strike rate. It would be great if they gave him a few more Flat horses."
