Racing Report Card: A thrilling finish, a big gamble landed and a horse on the up

WITH the Flat season just around the corner, Wednesday was dominated by Lingfield and Southwell – and there have been some nice performances on show. We’ve kept you in the loop in case you missed out on some of today’s action. Most thrilling finish ???? An easy one here, with the last-gasp success of Nikki Steel at […]

WITH the Flat season just around the corner, Wednesday was dominated by Lingfield and Southwell – and there have been some nice performances on show.

We’ve kept you in the loop in case you missed out on some of today’s action.

PA:Press Association

Most thrilling finish

An easy one here, with the last-gasp success of Nikki Steel at Market Rasen providing the most hair-raising climax of the afternoon.

Paddy Brennan appeared to have stolen it aboard the strong-travelling Quantum Of Solace, only for his mount to get lonely half-way through the final furlong.

Dashing home were both Nikki Steel and Dallas Cowboy, with the former getting up in the dying strides to win by a neck and a nose.

Who said you need quality and class to get the juices flowing?

A Richard Hannon punt pays off

A proper old-fashioned gamble was landed in the opener at Lingfield, with Dragon Sun doing the business for Richard Hannon and Sean Levey.

Opening at 5-1, the three-year-old handicap debutant was smashed into 3-1 favouritism just minutes before the gates opened – and the result never looked in doubt.

Rounding the home turn, he cruised into contention and only had to be pushed out to see off the attentions of second-favourite Image Of The Moon.

Horse on the up

Keep an eye on Shanghai Grace (3.05 Lingfield), who bolted up in his second handicap on the trot under crack claimer Cieren Fallon.

He won’t be making waves in top company but will probably earn at least a 6lb rise for this, taking him up to a mark of 85.

There’s still plenty more to come from him and he’s worth following on the all-weather for trainer Charlie Hills.