Out With The Old, In With The New

Cheltenham and the very best jumping can offer may have only just left us for another year, but attention over the weekend immediately turned to the Flat game.

All eyes on Sunday were trained on the Curragh for a seven-race card which heralded the start of the new season on the level in Ireland. And centre of attention was, of course, Kieren Fallon, who wasted no time in opening account on his first day in the job as number one rider to Aidan O´Brien.

The partnership were out of luck at the first time of asking with Jaguar On The Run in the six-furlong maiden, but made no mistake in the following EBF Park Express Stakes as Kitty O´Shea put herself firmly in the Classic picture.

The beautifully-bred filly, a full-sister to St Leger winner Brian Boru, kept her unbeaten record as she made all the running in the mile Listed contest.

Bookies were impressed enough to slash her odds for the Vodafone Oaks, where she is as short as 12-1 (from 25-1) with Coral. Cashmans offer 14-1, while Ladbrokes cut her to 16-1 from 33-1. The latter firm also shortened her UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas odds to 25-1 from 50s.

O´Brien said: 'She is a very nice filly. Those were good horses behind her, and she has been working well at home. She is entered in all the Classics, but we will see what Kieren says first.'

Fallon´s first ride of the day had come in the opening Tally Ho Stud European Breeders Fund, but he had to settle for ninth on the David Wachman-trained One Fell Swoop. O´Brien and Fallon later teamed up with Mullins Bay in the most valuable race of the day, the ladbroke.com Irish Lincolnshire, but the Machiavellian horse was unplaced behind the Adrian McGuinness-trained winner Victram.

Fallon was due to partner Bonanza for O´Brien in the closing One In Four EBF Maiden, but the Danehill colt was declared a non-runner. However, Fallon was kept busy after racing as he got aquatinted with some of O´Brien´s main Classic hopefuls after racing, including Footstepsinthesand, Grand Central and Gypsy King.

The highlight of Saturday´s action in Britain was on the all-weather at Lingfield and featured the Littlewoods Bet Direct Winter Derby. Much-improved performer Eccentric delivered the goods for London trainer

Andrew Reid as he put up a bold front-running performance to take the £100,000 contest.

With this race one of the five in the European all-weather racing series, Reid and owner Gary Tanaka are now eyeing the remaining two contests - Rome´s Premio Circo Massimo on April 17 and the Pramms Memorial at Malmo on May 12.

Reid said: 'This was the plan. We always wanted to win the trial and then come here and win the big one. 'But now that he has done it, I suppose we will have to look at the races in Italy and Sweden.'

He added: 'This is my first Listed race win and it´s a great day, although I can´t celebrate quite like I used to after I had heart surgery last year ? I have to try and take things easy now, but I´m celebrating on the inside!'

The day was to get better for Reid as he was later named champion trainer at Lingfield for the all-weather season at a glittering awards ceremony, with Eccentric picking up the Horse Of The Year crown.

Alan Munro, meanwhile, made a triumphant return to these shores with victory on his first comeback ride, Phantom Whisper, in the Bet Direct 'Red To Bet' On ITV Juvenile Conditions Stakes - the first two-year-old race of the year.

Munro, 38, who has been living in Hong Kong, arrived back in Britain on Thursday having taken a break from the saddle in April 2000 after winning the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Sha Tin on Industrialist.

Munro, who won the Derby on Generous in 1991, returned to the saddle recently riding two winners in New Zealand.

Best of the jumping fare was at Uttoxeter, where Philson Run shrugged off his lack of experience to grind out a famous victory in the John Smith´s Midlands Grand National.

Paul Carberry took the ride - his only mount of the day - on Nick Williams´ nine-year-old but only just, having weighed out with only a minute and a half to spare.

The jockey´s late arrival had been a cause of concern for Williams, who said: 'He made it by a minute and a half.

'Mattie Batchelor was on standby. Ruby Walsh said he´d spoken to Paul and he said he was on his way.

'I was not confident he´d get here - more hopeful. Dave Dennis would have ridden him but he couldn´t do the weight.'

It was quite an achievement by Williams to get Philson Run to the track, for what was only his fourth start under Rules, as the gelding has 'terrible legs'.

The trainer is hoping that if his charge stays sound he could develop into a Grand National contender next season.

Explaining his late arrival Carberry calmly said: 'There was no rush. I just had the one ride so I just came in time for it.'

And reflecting on the race he said: 'He gave me a great feel all the way. He´s just the type of horse for the Grand National.'

? PA Sport