UK Racing on Wednesday went off with a bang as both Kempton and Yarmouth returned to racing with plenty of storylines to follow.
Here are the top headlines from Wednesday UK racing.
Celestran storms home for John Gosden in first race at Yarmouth
As racing returned to Yarmouth on Wednesday, Celestran took out the mantle as the day’s first winner and in doing so, was the winner of the first flat race on turf in 2020.
The John Gosden-trained three-year-old had no issue at the mile-and-a-quarter, with jockey Robert Havlin pleased with his output.
“The plan was to lead and let him roll along in front but I missed the start.” he said.
“He quickened well on that ground. I wouldn’t be jumping to step him up in trip at the moment.
“I thought he had the best form coming into the race as his Wolverhampton race has worked out well.”
The Lir Jet to takeoff toward Royal Ascot
The Lir Jet showed plenty on debut in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Auction Stakes.
Jockey Silvestre de Sousa steered the 9-2 shot to clear to ultimately win by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
Assistant trainer Nick Bell was bullish about his prospects moving forward.
“That was good. We brought him from Ireland about a month ago. People had been working hard to find a good Breeze Up and this horse became available so we picked him up.
“He has done everything right at home and has shown plenty of speed. He has got a great attitude for a horse that was supposed to be a Breeze Up horse.
“We were sweet on him today and the logical step would be to go to Ascot. I think we will see how he is but I’d say it would be for the Norfolk.
“Silvestre said he looks a ready-made Ascot two-year-old so hopefully he will go there next.”
Nazeef could be aimed at Royal Ascot
Nazeef has successfully joined Listed company after edging out Billesdon Brook in the Fillies’ Stakes at Kempton on Wednesday.
The John Gosden-trained three-year-old was a winner in three of her starts as a juvenile and made the stepping up to the mile look easy with a strong win.
Gosden was full of praise for his filly post-race.
“They often improve as they get older and she’s definitely come on well. She ran very well last year but she has strengthened and matured nicely this year. Hopefully she will continue to improve.
“We will see how she is after the race and we could possibly look at Royal Ascot with her, but it’s entirely up to Sheikh Hamdan (al Maktoum, owner).
“I’m sure he’ll decide what he wants to do, but possibly a tilt at something like the Duke of Cambridge (Stakes).”
Shatha salutes as a long shot for Tom Marquand’s first winner
At 66-1, Shatha delivered Tom Marquand’s first winner since the resumption of racing in the Fillies Novice at Kempton.
Marquand was enjoying racing life in Australia while racing was paused throughout the UK and Europe, winning two Group One events on William Haggas’ Addeybb.
With only a short head separating them at the line, Marquand got his mount to the front in a hard-fought battle that has once again underlined why the star hoop will have no shortage of rides this season.
Marquand said: “It was very good, it probably wasn’t the winner I thought was going to happen initially looking at my rides.
“She is relatively green, but she is a nice, big filly and she is going to do well going forward after that.”
Lord of the Lodge to give Haydock a Miss
Lord Of The Lodge is set to bypass his entry at Haydock this weekend in favour of taking a direct route to Royal Ascot.
Karl Burke’s colt already has a win under his belt from Newcastle in February, and will be prepped for a tilt at Royal Ascot after the stable opted out of Sunday’s Betway Spring Trophy.
The Middleham trainer spoke to Racing TV about Lord of the Lodge’s plans.
“It was a big ask to go in a Classic stepping up in trip. His style of running is to go forward but common sense is to take it in stages.”
