Twilight earns Guineas run

Twilight Blues swooped late to land the Victor Chandler European Free Handicap at Newmarket today.

His clear-cut victory in one of the recognised Classic trials earned him a quote of just 20-1 for the Sagitta 2000 Guineas (from 80-1) from Coral.

But other layers were less impressed, with Ladbrokes and Victor Chandler offering the three-year-old - who had seemed exposed as below top-class last year - at 40-1 for the May 4th one-mile contest.

Trainer Brian Meehan has no doubts that Twilight Blues deserves his place in the line-up as he reckons the three-year-old has improved over the winter.

His 6-1 shot certainly looked good as he came from behind to lead around 100 yards out and win going away by two and a half lengths from Approval to give Pat Eddery his eighth career victory in the Free Handicap.

Ashdown Express pipped Funfair Wane for third in the seven-furlong contest, with the remainder well beaten off.

'I am very pleased with that, he won very nicely,' Meehan said. 'He was a nice horse all last year but things didn`t quite go his way and he didn`t get this firmish ground very often either.

'They went a proper pace today and everything worked out for him. We`ll go home and think about it but he will almost certainly come back here for the Guineas - it`s a Guineas trial and he won it very well.

'He will have no problem with the distance in the Guineas from what I saw and according to Pat.

'He came on every time he raced last year and has grown up a lot.'

Eddery, unseated at the start by the colt at Newbury last October, concurred, saying: 'He`s improved a lot since two.'

Indian Creek left David Elsworth dreaming of what may come later this year after making a successful reappearance in the Weatherbys Earl Of Sefton Stakes.

The four-year-old, third in the Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter last autumn, coped admirably with the furlong shorter trip to take the Group Three prize.

Indian Creek, at 11-1, was produced racing into the Dip and was kept going to hold the challenge of Island House by a head.

Elsworth, greeting his first turf winner of the year, said: 'I haven`t run much and this is probably the least demonstrative horse you could train. He doesn`t do a lot, but he was in good form and his past form will tell you he`s not a bad horse.

'I suppose he`d go another two furlongs. He only raced for a furlong or so today, he has that acceleration, and once he got there he was idling in front.

'How good would he be? He`s not bad, is he? And I can dream a bit.'

Elsworth isconsidering the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown on Saturday week as a possible swift return for Indian Creek.

He explained: 'I also have Pawn Broker and Premier Prize for that, but they would want a bit more cut, so if it was going to remain firm this horse may turn up again.'