Jet-setting Tom Marquand back with a bang after Australian adventure

Globetrotting jockey Tom Marquand does not do jetlag and showed no signs of weariness by winning the bet365 Classic Trial on Alenquer – his first ride back in Britain after another successful stint in Australia.

"I'm pretty good and have got used to jumping off planes from Australia and getting straight back into business," he said. "I got back on Monday so have had a few days to paint the garden fence."

Marquand went on to hail his relationship with Alenquer's trainer William Haggas, which he believes gives him the freedom to clock up the air miles.

"I was down there for him, but knowing I can come back and jump on a horse like this gives you a massive vote of confidence," said the rider who won a Group 1 on the yard's Addeybb at Randwick last week.

"I'm really lucky that I have that security otherwise would you go to Australia for three months? Probably not. Knowing I can come back and get on these nice horses is enormous."

Hughes keeps it in the family

It makes sense to keep the in-laws happy and Richard Hughes will have done just that with Nelson Gay, an impressive winner of the 5f handicap.

The three-year-old, who was highly regarded last year, is owned by Ron Gander and Richard and Jo Hannon – parents of Hughes's wife Lizzie.

"He flew last year as a two-year-old on the gallops, but I sent a two-year-old with him the other day just to keep him happy," said the Lambourn trainer.

Nelson Gay powers clear in the hands of David EganCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"I just think he's showing us now what he showed as a juvenile on the gallops."

Hughes might not have been able to give connections the nod, however.

"That's shocked me today – I didn't fancy him as the form of his last two runs was very ordinary," he added.

"I felt the last time he won he knew he was very good and that's what he does at home. I didn't know what he'd be like in a proper race on grass, but it did set up for him a bit."

Don't mention Waldkonig's brother

Waldkonig won the Gordon Richards Stakes, giving co-trainers John and Thady Gosden a Group-race double on the card, but also brought back some less fond memories.

A fleeting Derby hope at one stage, Waldkonig is making up for lost time but has some bona fide alibis.

Waldkonig strides out with purposeCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He was beaten at Haydock in June, but had a discharge and it turned out he had a horribly infected tooth and a blocked sinus. It took two operations to get the tooth out because it was so far in the head," John Gosden explained. "He was very ill, but he came back and was where we wanted him, but the autumn and season had gone.

"Dietrich von Boetticher, the owner-breeder, said to me, 'John, if we miss most of last year it will be good for this horse, who'll be at his best at four and five'."

That was certainly the case for Waldkonig's half-brother Waldgeist, who – at the age of five – denied Gosden darling Enable a record-breaking third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2019.

"But will you not talk about Waldgeist as I have bad memories of him!" Gosden joked.

Mixed result for Johnston

An eventful Esher Cup, which was robbed of interest when Rifleman unseated Ryan Moore inside the final furlong, went to the front-running Naamoos, who won under Ben Curtis despite picking up a cut on his leg.

"Ben said he felt it happened a furlong after the start," said winning trainer Mark Johnston, enjoying something of a informal link this season with the rider, who could be in the conversation for champion jockey on the Flat.

Ryan Moore gets unseated from Rifleman as Naamoos skips clearCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I think Kevin Darley was the last retained jockey we had, so there are no retainers, but it's a similar arrangement to Joe [Fanning] and Franny [Norton].

"If he gives us priority, we'll give him priority. There's no hint of Joe or Franny giving up, but at the same time they can't go on forever so we've got to have some younger jockeys coming behind."

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