Arrest – sent off favourite for the Derby – saw his odds cut for the St Leger after getting back to winning ways under a masterful ride from Frankie Dettori in the BetVictor Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.
Given it was Dettori’s final ride in the Epsom Classic it was perhaps no surprise he was the market leader on that day in June, but he failed to handle the undulating track on ground quicker than ideal.
He had also been well beaten on his most recent outing behind King Of Steel at Royal Ascot, again with conditions against him.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the Frankel colt looked much more at home back on softer ground, on which he had looked so impressive at Chester earlier in the season.
On his only ride of the day, Dettori used all his experience to keep away from the rail going down the back straight and for the first three furlongs he was allowed to do his own thing before Neil Callan moved Jack Darcy over to join him.
As the entered the home straight Dettori wound up the pace and the 5-6 favourite soon had everything else of the bridle and when Jack Darcy wilted, the race was won. Ching Shih made late gains into second, but she was still beaten by a length and a half.
The winner was cut to 7/1 from 12s by Paddy Power for the Betfred-sponsored Leger at Doncaster next month.
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Dettori said: “Everyone expected the ground to be a bog, but it’s good to soft. He was the Derby favourite so he had to do that.
“He’s one card for the St Leger, but let’s see how Gregory gets on next Wednesday (Great Voltigeur Stakes).
“He’s one of a bunch of top horses John is sending to York, it’s a very strong team and I can’t wait.
“Soft ground is not an issue with him, if it’s soft at Doncaster it would be fine.”
Witch Hunter swoops for Hungerford glory
Witch Hunter added to his Royal Ascot gains when coming with a flying late run to win the BetVictor Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.
Always highly regarded, it has taken the Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old until now to finally start delivering on the undoubted promise those closest to him knew he possessed.
He has certainly been busy during the past nine months, having had a full season on the all-weather before reappearing in the Lincoln.
After that he was second on All-Weather Finals Day and since then he has been relatively consistent, with the highlight being a brave Jamie Spencer ride to win the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Ascot when 50/1.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsSent off 12/1 on this occasion, his stablemate Chindit was expected to prove tough to beat, but the 2/1 favourite found little when asked for an effort by Pat Dobbs and was only third.
New Endeavour looked to have seen them all off until Witch Hunter was produced last of all by Sean Levey and he won going away by a length.
“He’s improved all year and William (Stobart, owner) has always been a great supporter of the yard,” said Hannon.
“He won at Royal Ascot and you can’t get better then that, but it was always my intention to run him in the Great St Wilfrid and I only changed my mind when it started raining.
“I’m a bit disappointed with Chindit, but he’s not as good when confronted with a rain-softened surface. Two out he looked the winner, but then the wheels started spinning and he was treading water.
“Chindit was the best horse and you couldn’t see him (Witch Hunter) winning, but looking back he was very unlucky not to win the all-weather championships at Lingfield, while Jamie Spencer gave him a great ride at Ascot.
“Chindit will go to Mr Poonawalla’s stud in India.”
Levey said: “There was plenty of pace on with good horses to aim at. He had the perfect elements to be able to make a good show of himself and he’s turned up today.”
Desperate Hero delights Channons with Newbury win
Desperate Hero benefitted from a positive ride from Tom Marquand when running out a ready winner of the Highclere Castle Gin Handicap at Newbury.
Despite being 6lb above his last winning mark, the Jack Channon-trained grey had the race sewn up at halfway.
He was a little unlucky at Goodwood last time out when drawn on the wrong side, but Marquand made sure there were no excuses this time on the 4/1 chance.
Jack Channon said: “The horses are running well and in great form. He was chinned in a Racing League at Yarmouth, but today Tom said that after two strides he had won.
“The stallion (Captain Gerrard) put a lot of speed into him. He’s a lovely horse to have around.”
Mick Channon said: “Peter (Taplin, owner) and me grew up together and bred this horse who is a smasher.
“He ran a belter when drawn on the wrong side at Goodwood and has run well throughout the year.”
George Boughey’s Spangled Mac (15/2) came from almost last under William Buick to win the Heart Bingo Summer Sizzler Handicap, displaying a smart turn of foot.
Assistant trainer Henry Morshead said: “He’s a great fun horse to have and seven furlongs is perfect for him.
“It was a fabulous ride by Will to bring him through the eye of a needle and finish off so well.”
Roger Teal looks to have a nice prospect on his hands in the shape of Dancing Gemini (11/2) who wore down Fire Demon late on in the Chapel Down British EBF Maiden Stakes.
“First time out he was backed from 20/1 down to 5/2 but was too green to do himself justice,” said Teal.
“Then he ran into a good one at Ascot (Richard Hannon’s Rosallion).
“He’s proved today that he’s a good horse to go forward with.
“I’ll let the dust settle and might run him once or twice more, no more than that as he’s a good prospect.”
The Charlie Fellowes-trained El Jasor (11/2) burst impressively clear to win the Brian Rycraft Memorial Handicap under Jamie Spencer.
“I think the step up to a mile and a half has helped him. He’s still a bit of a baby, but the ground suited us well. He’s a horse that needs to be on the pace as he does tend to just gallop, but Jamie said the more he got at him the more he found,” said Fellowes’ assistant Mike Marshall.
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