Balding hoping luck holds up

Ian Balding was left hoping he has not used up all his luck at the start of a very important week after Border Arrow repeated last year`s win in the Magnolia Stakes at Kempton today.

His seven-year-old got out of jail to land the Listed race, having been all dressed up with nowhere to go quarter of a mile from home.

Kieren Fallon looked in trouble when he cruised up behind leaders Chianti and Soviet Flash on the 2-1 favourite only to find his way blocked on the inside rail.

Just as it seemed he would not get a run, a gap appeared after Chianti drifted slightly left under Pat Eddery and the champion jockey pounced, getting up well inside the final furlong for a neck win.

Trainer Ian Balding paid tribute to the winning seven-year-old, who was placed in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby in 1998.

'He is a great favourite and he`s had a lot of problems, the old boy, over the years and he seems to come back from all of them,' he said.

'I`d have been somewhat miffed if he hadn`t have got a gap but Kieren wasn`t bothered - he said if Pat stayed there he`d have come this side. But he showed some turn of foot, it was a good performance and he will probably go for the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown.'

Now Balding and Border Arrow`s part-owner Bob Michaelson are sweating on whether Moor Lane will get a run in Saturday`s Martell Grand National.

Their Great Yorkshire Chase winner is 46th in the list for the Aintree showpiece, which has a safety limit of 40.

'It looks dodgy, apparently we need six to come out,' Balding said.

'Logician is in and Mr Michaelson has got Celibate in but they wouldn`t want to come out unless four others come out.

'Martin Pipe has got a lot of entries but I have already asked him and he is going to run them all. I don`t know about being a reserve. He is in the Topham the day before and I don`t know what the form is yet.'

Last year`s 2000 Guineas third Frenchmans Bay returned from an 11-month lay-off to get off the markat the fourth time of asking with an easy five-length success in the Bernard Juson Maiden Stakes.

Apprentice Dean Corby landed the biggest win of his short career on 33-1 shot Imperial Dancer in the Stg£40,000 Coral Eurobet Rosebery Stakes.

Pat Eddery, 32 years Corby`s senior, followed him into the winner`s enclosure after Reel Buddy had short-headed Continent in a desperate finish to the Quail Conditions Stakes.