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Tom Marquand shines with treble, but rider reckons his season is just hotting up

Tom Marquand enjoyed a fine afternoon in the Windsor sunshine on bank holiday Monday
Tom Marquand enjoyed a fine afternoon in the Windsor sunshine on bank holiday MondayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Tom Marquand stole the show on a red-hot day with a treble and fired a warning to his weighing room rivals by saying he is just starting to warm up.

Successful on Indian Creak in the 6f handicap, General Panic in the 6f novice and Rose Hip in the 5f handicap, Marquand said: "I'd have liked to have made it five winners, but you'll take three.

"Any day you go racing you never know what will happen and you just want as many as you can get, but three isn't bad. Until the last week things feel like they haven't heated up.

"I don't feel like the season has warmed up yet – maybe it was the changing ground and not being able to make plans – but it's drying out now and horses will start to make regular appearances.

"Reliable ground will help with the smoothness of the season and getting into gear."

Cole strikes as Generous is remembered

A winner for Paul Cole on the 30th anniversary of Generous capturing the Derby was apt as the final countdown to this season's Classics begins, and Sanitiser could be bound for Royal Ascot after a stylish victory in division two of the 6f novice.

"It's 30 years since a lot of things," joked Cole, who trains Sanitiser for Sir Martyn Arbib and his son Ben, whose yellow and blue silks were carried to St Leger glory in 1990 by the Cole-trained Snurge.

Sanitiser pounces under Oisin Murphy
Sanitiser pounces under Oisin MurphyCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We've had lots of decent winners in those colours over the years. Sanitiser has always worked well at home and we wanted to run him to see if there was any chance of going to Ascot.

"I did say to Martyn that if he was to win we'd consider the royal meeting – that's the dream now."

Cole now shares his training operation with son Oliver, who was thrilled to see Sanister win.

"I think we've got some nice two-year-olds, so it's great to have a yardstick with that horse winning," he added.

Murphy magic

Oisin Murphy rode Sanister and doubled up on the topically named Epidemic, who came late and fast to land the mile handicap.

The race had a jumps feel to it with Connor Brace riding against a horse owned by Johnny de la Hey and one trained by Colin Tizzard.

"I rode a winner here when they had the jumps course but you probably weren't born then!" Tizzard quipped when asked if he had got lost.

The jockeys walk to the parade ring for the opener
The jockeys walk to the parade ring for the openerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Faisal fires for owner

The feature 1m2f handicap went to Faisal and his owner Imad Alsagar was on hand to watch the four-year-old maintain his unbeaten run under a fine Hollie Doyle ride.

"We'll see how he comes out of the race as he's had a long time off," said co-trainer Thady Gosden.

"He should come on for that and we'll see what the handicapper does. I think a mile and a quarter is fine for him at the moment, but it wouldn't surprise me if he ended up getting further."


Results, replays and analysis


Read more Monday reports:

Manic Monday for punters as 100-1 and 200-1 shots win five minutes apart

'A massive turnaround' - King Golan strikes on stable debut for Newland


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James BurnLambourn correspondent

Published on 31 May 2021inReports

Last updated 18:12, 31 May 2021

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