Saturday Racing Reports from Doncaster, Newbury & more

Red rockets into National picture

Definitly Red surged into the Randox Health Grand National picture after an easy win at Doncaster on Saturday.

Brian Ellison’s horse made a mockery of a handicap mark of 149 in the BetBright Grimthorpe Chase and he will go to Aintree unpenalised for the success following the recent unveiling of the weights.

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Meanwhile, the colours carried to glory by triple Grand National hero Red Rum were once again seen in the winner's enclosure after an emotional victory by Lastbutnotleast (2/1) in the BetBright Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

The seven-year-old was the last horse bought by the late Ginger McCain, for €14,000, and is trained by his son Donald and co-owned by his widow Beryl.

Lastbutnotleast showed that staying is her game as she made all the running and kept on resolutely for Will Kennedy to hold the 5/4 favourite Happy Diva by three and a quarter lengths in this Listed contest and take her 100% record over hurdles to three. 

Also at Doncaster, Bryden Boy came from last to first under an inspired ride from Sean Quinlan to land the BetBright Casino Handicap Hurdle, while  San Benedeto (100/30) cemented his ticket to next month's big Aintree meeting when landing the BetBright Handicap Chase in gutsy fashion. 

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Crapper sinks Greatwood rivals

Thomas Crapper was a resounding winner of the William Hill ‘High 5’ Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury.

Robin Dickin’s horse had only won once in his previous 19 starts over fences but that was also at Newbury and he thrived on his return to the track under Charlie Poste.

Well-handicapped on that previous win, Thomas Crapper jumped and galloped his rivals into the ground with a mistake-free run and he was 20 lengths clear at the line.

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Also at Newbury,  Hello George put his injury problems behind him when grinding out victory in the William Hill "High 5" Supporting Greatwood Seniors' Handicap Hurdle.

After finishing fifth on his return from more than a year on the sidelines at Exeter on New Year's Day, the eight-year-old stepped up on that effort to take his first win since October 2015 in the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest. 

Meanwhile, Harry Cobden delivered Just A Par with a well-timed ride to get up late and claim the Betway Supporting Greatwood Veterans' Handicap Chase. 

Although failing to inspire in both his previous outings this season, the 10-year-old showed what he is capable of when on a going day. 

Benefiting from a patient ride, the the Paul Nicholls-trained 14-1 shot steadily picked off his rivals throughout the three-and-a-quarter-mile prize before staying on strongly up the run in to defeat No Duffer by two and a quarter lengths.  

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Mews in the Premier league at Kelso

Mount Mews ran out an effortless winner of the totescoop6 Premier Kelso Novices' Hurdle under Brian Hughes.

Fairlee Grey, the outsider of the four-strong field, took them along for most of the way under Jan Faltjesek, but was swamped on the home turn by both Mount Mews and Chalonnial.

The pair took the second-last flight neck and neck, but within a matter of strides from that point it became obvious that Chalonnial was paddling in the heavy conditions and Mount Mews simply strode away, scoring by lengths from his exhausted rival without having to be asked for any real sort of effort.

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It was some day for Hughes who rode a four-timer, with Seldom Inn giving him another big win in the Premier Chase.

Prize Money sinks Postponed at Meydan

Godolphin’s Prize Money (4-1) lowered the colours of Postponed in the Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored by Emirates Skycargo at Meydan on Saturday.

Roger Varian’s Postponed (2-5 favourite) was last seen finishing fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and was using this race as a warm-up to the Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night.

Postponed won that race and his warm-up last season, but will go into the $4million contest on the back of a defeat this time around after Prize Money barged his way down the outside under Adrie de Vries.

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Second Thought has Spring heels

Second Thought showed a smart turn of foot to win the Listed 32Red Spring Cup Stakes under Robert Winston at Lingfield on Saturday.

William Haggas’s son of Kodiac was under pressure rounding the turn for home in fourth, but he moved up into second to chase down leader Sutter County inside the final fulong.

It looked for a brief moment like Mark Johnston’s charge had got away under Joe Fanning, but Second Thought showed an impressive change of gear to mow him down and land the £25,520 prize.

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