Haslam plotting Cambridgeshire course with Lightening Company after gutsy win
Monday: Redcar
Ben Haslam is eyeing a potential Cambridgeshire tilt with Lightening Company after the Middleham Park-owned gelding took the feature mile handicap.
Paul Mulrennan was an eyecatching jockey booking for the lightly-raced four-year-old and he edged ahead by a nose in a thrilling finish, holding off a late challenge from Hortzadar.
Haslam said: "We’re delighted with that. He carried a bit of fitness from a couple of recent runs so we had that on our side, but he’s a young and unexposed horse who really knuckled down.
"It’s a bit cliche, but you’d like to think his career is in front of him, he looks to be a horse who could keep improving."
Of the major Newmarket handicap, Haslam added: "I thought the Cambridgeshire could be an option. He’d have to keep improving but I would have thought that 1m1f on autumn ground could be right up his alley."
Giving back
Kevin Philippart De Foy was quick to thank supportive owners after Nicholas George’s impressive victory in the 1m2f novice. De Foy is hopeful his three-year-old has plenty more to offer after a comfortable success on second start.
He said: "We know he will stay a bit further, he’s from a nice late-maturing family and it’s good for the future.
"It's especially nice to train a winner for Philippa Cooper and Normandie Stud, she sent us two horses when I started training and it’s great to give her a winner."
Double delight
David O’Meara got off the mark for the turf season with a double thanks to victories by Star Of Lady M and Autumn Festival, both ridden by Danny Tudhope.
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