Al Mancilia toughs it out

RACING/WEXFORD:Pat Flynn and Danny Grant brought up a Wexford double with Al Mancilia in the Belmont Handicap last night. The pair were earlier on the mark with Final Flashback.

The Belmont Handicap was a pretty dramatic affair. Favourite, The Reek appeared to become unbalanced under three furlongs out and she caused Danick Of Time, Calle Aneto, Intyre Trail, Vitruvian Wave and The Fourth Of May to be brought down in a terrible looking incident. Thankfully all horses and jockeys were okay in the aftermath.

In the closing stages the first time tongue-tied Al Mancilia, a €700 buy at Goresbridge last July, toughed it out in really tenacious fashion to score narrowly from Bangalore Prince, Apache Gold and Lift The Gloom.

Flynn said: “That was a grand little win and she’s a nice little filly. She disappointed on soft ground last time but she had a goodish run on good ground so we thought she might run well today. She might go to Galway now.”

DOWN ROYAL:Windsor Pride just held the late run of Maal in the Magners Light Handicap at Down Royal last night. Trainer Willie McCreery said of his three-year-old, gelded son of Windsor Knot: "I've been wrong with this horse. I ran him over seven furlongs last time but the key to him is that he needs to learn to settle. You won't see the best of him until he goes over hurdles. He's already schooled and he's a right jumper."

ASCOT:Lady Rothschild's most memorable season as an owner continued to provide enjoyment as Thistle Bird stormed away with the Listed Woodcote Stud EBF Valiant Stakes at Ascot yesterday.

One of Europe’s most distinguished families have long been famed for success in the financial sector but their return as a force in racing has been sudden, with Waddesdon Stud in Buckinghamshire producing this year’s Eclipse and Irish Oaks winners in Nathaniel and Great Heavens respectively. Thistle Bird’s trainer Roger Charlton acknowledged major Group One honours would be unlikely for his daughter of Selkirk, but did not rule out a run in next weekend’s Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Already a Listed winner at Windsor this term, Thistle Bird (4 to 1) was always well placed under James Doyle, who gathered her up with a couple of furlongs remaining and drove her two and three-quarter lengths clear of Villeneuve.