Racing Report Card: A horse on the up, the ride of the day and one for your tracker
THERE may not have been any Cheltenham fare, but Saturday still served up its fair share of close finishes and impressive performances.
It came thick and fast across the cards and we've picked out the best bits from the afternoon's action.
Star performer ?
There were a few candidates but the accolade has to go to Kupatana.
She's been making plenty of jumping errors recently but the switch to Paul Nicholls has done her the world of good and she duly rattled clear for an impressive success in the Mares' Novice Chase at Kelso.
The performance was all the more impressive considering she built up a big lead, came back to the field and was headed, and then powered on again.
Sean Bowen, who features below, again showed his mastery in the saddle and his mount is definitely one to watch in the future.
Kupatana strikes on her second start for the powerful @pfnicholls yard with a bold front-running bid from jockey Sean Bowen rewarded in the mares' novices' chase at Kelso pic.twitter.com/PZHa0x0rim
Ride of the day ?
Look no further than the remarkable Sean Bowen.
He gave Winston C a fabulous waiting ride up at Kelso, powering through rivals in the final furlong to land the prize in the last strides.
There are few jocks around to rival his strength in the saddle and nous in a stick situation, and he certainly has a long and fruitful career ahead.
Winston C wins a thrilling Bernhard Lighting Rig Handicap Hurdle in a photo finish at @KelsoRacecourse!
Watch LIVE on @ITV4 pic.twitter.com/5EgPqc5P1O
Horse on the up ?
Lingfield 3.10 – Executive Force
Michael Wigham's five-year-old has now seen the winner's enclosure seven times this season from eight starts, with his only defeat coming behind the super-smart Matterhorn.
His performance to land today's Sun Racing handicap was a career best, not least because the favourite got first run on him.
The handicapper will now have to put him up to around a mark of 100 – a pretty amazing feat considering he started the campaign off 71.
No doubt he hasn't finished improving yet, and he'll take some stopping wherever he goes next.
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