Nymph up for the Cup
River Nymph, tipped at 20/1 by Chris Day in his Weekend View column and the headline selection in this week's Catching Pigeons, came with a sustained run to win the tote+ Victoria Cup.
Sent off an 11/1 chance, Adam Kirby brought the winner with his run down the stands’ side with over a furlong to run.
He was in front 50 yards from the finish and fended off the late thrust of Eagleway (80/1) and Escobar (18/1) to win by half-a-length and a head.
Zip (28/1) was towards the fore throughout and ran a big race for Richard Fahey in fourth.
Winning trainer Clive Cox said: “It looks like he’s a seven-furlong specialist and he loves it here at Ascot. It was a very competitive renewal and I’m over the moon as he was 11lb higher than when he won here last season, so I’m very happy.
“I think he’ll be handicapped out of races like the Balmoral now, but to get that win means a lot. Quite possibly it will be a Listed race next. He doesn’t like the ground too firm, but he’s the sort of horse who has a change of gear, so is the type to handle a step up in class.
“He could be one to take to France, those races could suit. We’ll just play the cards accordingly.”
Stunning return from Albaflora
Albaflora (4/1 favourite) is a filly on the up and ran away with the tote+ Pays More At tote.co.uk Buckhounds Stakes on her seasonal reappearance.
Ralph Beckett's charge was progressive in handicaps last season and took her form to a new level with this seven lengths victory over for Tribal Craft.
It was a further seven-and-a-half lengths back to Without A Fight in third.
Beckett said: “I thought she’d win, but I wasn’t expecting that. We had a frustrating year last year and I left Ascot frustrated after the Noel Murless as I thought she should have won that day.
“She’s in the Hardwicke, which indicates what we felt about her. She could go to the Pinnacle (at Haydock) at the end of this month, but I’ll work it out.
“She’s done very well over the winter and Alyssa (half-sister) did better with age. Given how she’d done over the winter, it was no surprise she won. How good she’ll be, we’ll find out.”
