Munfallet victory ends David Brown’s lean run

Richard Fahey: Handicap win. Picture: Getty

Backed from a morning price of 15-2, he was sent off 11-4 favourite before making all in the Taggarts Jaguar XE Handicap under Hector Crouch.

Brown, who had gone 55 days and 43 runners without a winner, said: “I thought he’d win. In fact, he’d been working so well I couldn’t see him being beat. I’ve a good strike rate here and that’s 11 winners now from my last 31 runners.

“It’s a lovely place and they really know how to look after you. I love coming up and this horse has also won here in the past.”

Jim Goldie has his string in red-hot form and he struck with Fergal Lynch-ridden Latin Rebel, who was winning his first race in 23 Flat starts plus four in NHF races, in the racinguk/freetrial Handicap.

The winning trainer said: “He was always finding one too good, but it fell into his lap tonight. They went a good gallop and Fergal said he had a think about it, but he didn’t want to bully him.”

Sammy Jo Bell kept her good run going when scoring on Milady Eileen for her boss, Richard Fahey, in the Taggarts Lanarkshire Handicap.

At Newbury today, Encore L’Amour, who had to settle for second on her seasonal return, can improve on that effort in the Lord Weinstock Memorial EBF Stallions Stakes.

David Simcock’s charge shaped with real promise during her juvenile campaign, shedding her maiden at the third attempt before turning in a thoroughly decent effort when not beaten far at all in a Deauville Group Three last October.

She was well behind Irish Rookie at Newmarket with Lady Of Dubai second. She again had the beating of Encore L’Amour at Goodwood last month, but Simcock’s charge narrowed the gap from seven lengths to just over three, suggesting that she has made some serious progress during the winter.

She easily accounted for a handful of her rivals here on that occasion, making eye-catching late headway, and it is hard to see how they will reel her back in this time.

Berkeley Vale is an interesting contender as he returns to turf in the Al Basti Equiworld Handicap after enjoying some all-weather success. His previous four outings on grass have yielded little joy while five spins on the all-weather have produced a win and a second place.

That win came in a weak handicap but he impressed in winning by more than three lengths with a first-time visor appearing to sharpen him up. The visor stays on and, while he has had a hike in weight, Berkeley Vale is only lightly raced and could have a little up his sleeve.

SELECTIONS

Haydock

6:50 Nellies Quest

7:20 Newera

7:50 Newton’s Law

8:20 Carlovian

8:50 Fast Charlie

9:20 Lucky Henry

Newbury

2:20 Papa Luigi

2:50 Heartless

3:25 Encore L’Amour

4:00 Berkeley Vale

4:30 On The Huh

5:05 Cahill

5:35 Silver Dixie

Nottingham

2:00 Kafoo

2:30 Impressive Victory

3:05 Frederic Chopin

3:40 Shingle

4:10 Maymyo

4:45 Faith Matters

5:15 Mysterial

Uttoxeter

6:10 Royal Street

6:40 One For Hocky

7:10 Modeligo

7:40 High Ron

8:10 Sir Note

8:40 Taroum

9:10 Lemtara Bay

Worcester

1:40 Stephen Hero

2:10 Fast Exit

2:40 Shady Lane

3:15 Epic Warrior

3:50 Aalim

4:20 Dubai Star

4:55 Prince of Poets (nap)

5:25 In The Crowd

Double

Prince of Poets

4.55 Worcester

Encore L’Amour

3:25 Newbury