Grandera takes Newbury Arc trial

Grandera belatedly got off the mark for the season when landing a battling success in course-record time in the Dubai Arc Trial at Newbury today.

And the James Fanshawe-trained three-year-old may have booked his place in next month`s Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe-Lucien Barriere with this success.

Mubtaker was sent into the lead with four furlongs to run and it briefly seemed that he might not be caught.

But Michael Hills had his hands full all the way down the straight and although Grandera found less than had looked likely, carrying his head slightly to the right, he went past to win by a length and a half, the pair nicely clear.

'He is a bit of a character and he did look a bit lazy but he`s had some hard races this year and he will have enjoyed getting his head in front,' said Fanshawe.

'It costs 40,000 francs to supplement him into the Arc and he has won three-quarters of it here _ it`s not an enormous amount when you consider the prize-money on offer.

'There are other options for him and he would need real good ground but the supplementary stage is only three or four days before the race which gives us plenty of time to be sure what we want to do.'

Grandera remains 20-1 with William Hill for the Longchamp race but is available at 25-1 with Coral Eurobet.

Hills was afterwards keen to let Grandera take his chance.

'The better the race, the better he is,' the rider said. 'He was just messing about today, he is like that at home in his work.

'But he has done everything nicely and I haven`t had to pick up my stick, which will help his confidence.

'He has some good form and if he went for the Arc, I`m sure he`d be on the premises.'

Albuhera landed an off-course gamble in impressive style in the Courage Best Handicap.

The top-weight is improving rapidly and having been well-backed in the betting offices at 12-1 early in the morning, was returned a 7-1 chance. The success also marked a milestone for apprentice Keith Dalgleish, who was riding out his claim.

Dalgleish paid tribute to his guv`nor and Albuhera`s trainer, Mark Johnston.

'I wouldn`t be where I am without Mark putting me up on good horses and giving me every chance,' he said. 'He is a great boss.

'I rode Albuhera to win at Ayr in May and since then he hasn`t stopped improving.

'He`s a straightforward horse who just sits on the pace and travels well.' Albuhera is a 10-1 chance with the sponsors for the Tote Cambridgeshire (from 20-1), for which he collects a 7lb penalty for this success.

The Trader broke his own course record when coming from last to first to land the Dubai Airport World Trophy.

Michael Blanshard`s charge, a 9-1 chance, was slowly away but came with a rare rattle between horses to lift the listed prize by three-quarters of a length from eastern purple with misty eyed back in third.

Favourite Bishops Court was always struggling in rear with the veterinary officer subsequently reporting the gelding to have returned 'wrong behind'.

Blanshard recently retired stable stalwart Rambling Bear, who had competed for the stable in all the big sprint contests over the past few years, but he seems to have found an ideal replacement in this three-year-old.

'Since we gelded him in the spring and put a pair of blinkers on him, he hasn`t looked back,' said the winning trainer.

'He is very fast and we have put him in the Prix de l`Abbaye but he must have the ground on the fast side or he won`t run.

'There is also a race in Hong Kong which we might get an invitation for.'

Barry Hills appears to have a smart prospect on his hands in Al Mohallab, the winner of the Markham & District Miners Welfare Society Maiden Stakes.

The hot favourite scooted clear from his 17 rivals to score by a length and a half.

'When he came to me from Dubai I thought he was the most backward of the lot,' Hills said.

'But he has come to himself well and I might give him another run this season.

'He had the best of the draw here but he has an excellent physique and excellent temperament _ I like him.'

Gerard Butler`s Playapart very much caught the eye, making late ground to take third place.

Foodbroker Fancy gained her reward for some consistent efforts at the top level when winning the Dubai Duty Free John Musker Fillies` Stakes.

The 9-2 shot was given a smart ride by Dane O`Neill, who kicked for home off a funereal early pace and held Candice`s challenge by a length.