Saturday stories: Frankie 'good to go' and a Cheltenham contender emerges

Dettori is getting there

Frankie Dettori's bid to be fully fit in time for the King George meeting and Glorious Goodwood took a definite step in the right direction at Newbury, with a win, second and fourth from three rides.

Dettori looked much more his usual self than he had six days previously at Maisons-Laffitte and the intensive rehab regime is clearly working, as is his policy of picking and choosing rides as he returns to full fitness.

With the King George next Saturday and Goodwood just over a week away, the shoulder he injured at Yarmouth appears in better working order now.

Which is great news for Dettori and his legion of fans looking forward to him riding the likes of Big Orange – who takes some pushing – and Shutter Speed or So Mi Dar at Goodwood.

Having performed a flying dismount off Magical Memory at Newbury, he confirmed himself "good to go".

Constable in Champion Hurdle picture

We may be in the midst of the Flat season but John Constable appears a genuine Stan James Champion Hurdle contender after running away with the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen.

Dai Walters' six-year-old made light work of the 16lb hike for his sensational Swinton Hurdle success, pulling two and a half lengths clear of well-fancied Red Tornado, with the similarly well supported Kapstadt a further two lengths back in third.

What made this handicap-winning performance that of a bona fide Champion Hurdle contender was the fact he did it off a mark of 150.

Since 2010 a mark of 150 has been defied just 17 times in valuable British handicap hurdles. The likes of Menorah, Ashkazar, Overturn, Celestial Halo (twice), Any Given Day, Zarkandar (twice), Cape Tribulation, Melodic Rendezvous, Saphir Du Rheu, Whisper, Purple Bay, Silsol (twice), Irving and Arctic Fire proving the calibre of horse required for such a feat.

Something like the Fighting Fifth has to be on the agenda for John Constable after this as his days as a handicapper look over.

He is a credit to Evan Williams' patience, the trainer keeping the faith despite a disappointing run of nine consecutive defeats, with a gelding operation in the middle for good measure. Now that John Constable has come right, the trainer is in for a fun winter.

Young riders to the fore

JJ Slevin caught the eye when riding in Britain for Nigel Twiston-Davies, most notably when getting the better of a Richard Johnson-ridden favourite at Newbury on Betfair Hurdle day in 2016.

Joseph O'Brien's cousin has since returned to Ireland and followed his Cheltenham Festival success on Champagne Classic by landing the Limerick GAA Chase aboard Attribution in the same Gigginstown silks.

It was a great effort too, felling 4-9 favourite Ballyoisin with a canny ride in a tactical affair. Expect Attribution's trainer Henry de Bromhead to continue to make full use of Slevin's 5lb claim.

Attribution and JJ Slevin on their way to victory in the Limerick GAA ChaseCredit: Alain Barr

On the same card there was a heartwarming victory for another young conditional on a Gordon Elliott conveyance, a certain Chris Meehan.

Meehan was the rider who earned worldwide notoriety when breaking his nose and cutting his jaw in a fall in Italy, only to have a broken leg added to his list of injuries courtesy of the ambulance rushing to his aid.

Then, as he tried to strengthen his leg during some trampoline work during his rehabilitation, he landed awkwardly and broke it in exactly the same place.

It has been a long road back but in partnering Presenting Julio to victory he registered his first winner under rules and over obstacles in Ireland. He'll be bouncing.

Carlo's Newbury love affair

What is it about Newbury that What About Carlo likes so much?

He won at the track for the third time – and registered his first success in Listed company – in impressive fashion.

Yes, the race cut up, with two non-runners and one withdrawn, but this is a venue he loves so much he even gave hurdling a go here, and his last three wins have all come at the track.