Veteran Venturous springs 25-1 shock in fast-track qualifier

Sunday: Newcastle

Venturous defied market expectations and his age to spring an upset in the feature All-Weather Championships fast-track qualifier.

The oldest horse in the 5f contest was also the 25-1 rank outsider, but despite finding all four rivals ahead of him entering the final furlong, Connor Beasley galvanised the David Barron-trained veteran, who surged clear.

A delighted Barron said: "Venturous doesn’t know what price he is! He won at York at 33-1. When you get small-runner fields they can mess about but they didn’t; they jumped out, went a gallop and when they go a gallop he’s always dangerous."

The nine-year-old was winning at the course for the fourth time and is likely to be suited by the change in venue for the All-Weather Championships finals day, due to be staged on April 15, from Lingfield to Newcastle.

"The track’s ideal for him, he loves the track," Barron added. "Today was the plan for quite a while. I wanted to qualify him if I could. Thankfully, it worked out for him and I wouldn’t think we’d do a great deal with him now. We don’t need to run him to have him ready."

Tempus (right) provides Hollie Doyle with a first winner of the new yearCredit: Grossick Racing 07710461723

The other fast-track qualifier on the card went the way of Tempus, who defied a 435-day layoff to strike on his stable debut for Archie Watson in the mile conditions stakes and provide Hollie Doyle with her first winner of the new year.

Favourites deliver

Daniel Tudhope and William Haggas combined for a short-priced double as Resumption got off the mark at the sixth attempt in the 1m4½f handicap before Tiber Flow made it back-to-back wins at the track in the 7f novice stakes.

Results, replays and analysis

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