Beau best in Portland Smokin Beau made punters pay for ignoring him again in the big betting race of the day at Doncaster today. The four-year-old is one of just 13 horses trained by John Cullinan in Aylesbury and his unfashionable background tends to reduce his popularity with backers. But it has not stopped him progressing into a very useful performer and those who backed him at 14-1 for the Tote Trifecta Portland Handicap were well rewarded for their faith. He has risen 23lb in the handicap since his first win of the year at Wolverhampton in March, having added valuable wins at Ascot and Goodwood - at 20-1 both times - but he showed he was still on the upgrade by seeing off 21 rivals in one of the season`s most prestigious sprints. The gelding made most of the running under Matthew Henry and held on in a tight finish by a neck from Seven No Trumps. Smokin Beau is now 16-1 (from 25-1) with the sponsors to land an even bigger prize in Saturday week`s Tote Ayr Gold Cup.
