200-1! Intercessor defies massive odds to win competitive Newbury novice

Outsider Intercessor emerged best in a thrilling five-way finish to run out a shock 200-1 winner of a competitive novice contest at Newbury.

John Gallagher's three-year-old was beaten 26 lengths on his only previous run last year but showed tremendous improvement to beat runners trained by John Gosden (Nasraawy) and Alan King (Tremor) under rising apprentice star Cieren Fallon. The winning margin was a head, with a further head back to the third.

Intercessor was an even bigger price at Betfair Starting Price (BSP), sent off at 612.

It was a result in stark contrast to the rest of the Newbury card, with the previous seven winners no bigger than an industry SP of 5-1.

Franconia earns Oaks quotes of 12-1 after Abingdon success

Franconia entered the Oaks equation with a comfortable win under Frankie Dettori in the Abingdon Fillies’ Stakes at Newbury.

The Listed race has been won by smart fillies like Sea Of Class in recent years and the ceiling for Franconia remains unknown after this impressive success.

Dettori always seemed at ease with his position on the 7-4 favourite and took up the lead on the Frankel filly from the two-furlong pole, pulling clear of main market rival Cabaletta.

Dettori said: “She’s a handful but she’s got a big engine. She showed a good turn of foot.”

John Gosden has already had one Oaks Trial winner in Miss Yoda and Frankly Darling has impressed at Newcastle since racing’s resumption, and Franconia has been introduced for the Oaks at 12-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook.

Doyle keeps it simple on Mubtasimah for Listed Newbury triumph

Mubtasimah showed improved form to win the Listed Maggie Dickson Fillies' Stakes and gain some valuable black type at Newbury.

The 11-4 favourite disputed the lead early under James Doyle and travelled strongly into the race before the jockey asked for her finishing effort in the final two furlongs. The four-year-old filly did not look under serious threat despite the late thrust of Miss Celestial and ran out a ready winner.

Speaking to ITV, Doyle said of the William Haggas-trained winner: "Everything went to plan today, we didn't see a whole lot of speed on paper. She has ran good at a mile before, but I think the seven furlongs with the nice, kind ground is perfect for her. Seven on quick ground she probably finds a bit sharp."

Super Saturday for Buick backers

William Buick was the star of the show at Sandown as he rode a 38.5-1 treble, featuring a Listed success with Lazuli.

The 15-8 favourite was on the pace throughout and was not for catching, quickening clear of his rivals impressively in the Unibet Scurry Stakes for a three-and-a-half length win.

Buick said: "He is going to be a good sprinter. He ran very well at Newmarket last weekend and he was very good today, very quick.

"He would stay six, but he is quick enough for five and you can ride him with that bit more confidence of getting home."

Buick's second win in the Godolphin colours was more straightforward than the first, as the jockey had to survive a stewards' inquiry following his 7f handicap win on Well Of Wisdom.

Well Of Wisdom beat Tomfre by a short head, although it was Haggas' Surf Dancer who suffered the worst of the interference, which was deemed accidental by the stewards.

Buick completed his treble out of the Godolphin blue when riding Solid Stone for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

The 6-4 favourite stayed on powerfully up the Sandown hill to reel in front-runner Muraad in the mile handicap.

Trainer reaction from Saturday's races at Newbury and Sandown

Newbury

12.15 Lord Campari (15-8)

Trainer Roger Varian said: "We liked him last year, he's a big raw horse. He travelled nicely and quickened well and that was a nice seasonal debut."

12.45 Fortune And Glory (7-2)

Trainer Joseph Tuite said: "This is his grade, the race panned out perfectly for him. We did the same as last year, won on the all-weather and then came here and won.

"He had a few little issues after he won last year but he's in better nick this year and I think, if we get lucky, he'll win again. A lot will depend on the handicapper and it'll be tougher."

1.15 Edmond Dantes (18-5F)

Trainer David Menuisier: "He was in good form and I thought he'd run a good race. He had done really well over the winter and the spring, he's a lot stronger than last year. He's got better with age and we're delighted."

1.50 Morisco (100-30)

Jockey Richard Kingscote: "He had a very successful year last season and he's progressed. He's done that very nicely and I was really pleased with the way he picked up. He settled lovely, got into a nice rhythm and when I asked him to pick up I got more than I expected."

Sandown

12.55 Happy Romance (10-11F)

Jockey Sean Levey said: "We fancied her first time out at Newmarket but she didn't handle the track and she was a bit green leaving the stalls. She has put that behind her, albeit it was fairly straightforward once the other two came out. She did it convincingly in the end and could be a nice filly."

1.30 Manigordo (2-11F)

Levey said: "I think he has done that fairly well and you could say the second is a nice horse as well to finish as close as he did to me first time out. He has done everything right today."

2.05 Well Of Wisdom (9-2)

Buick said: "It was a good performance. There were two people stood at the two pole that he spotted and he shifted to the left. Then he jinked right late on. It's unfortunate he did that because he was well on top at the end. He is tough horse and he brought his Dubai form to the table here."

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