/ Timeform / 18 April 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Henry Cecil and Khalid Abdulla: Look to have a stranglehold on the colts' classics
"Frankel wasn’t the only exciting Henry Cecil-trained classic hopeful at Newbury on Saturday as World Domination justified his big reputation at the first time of asking in a maiden later on the card."
Timeform look back over Saturday's best racing...
The horse everyone wanted to see on Saturday was last season's outstanding two-year-old colt Frankel, who made no mistake in the seven-furlong Greenham Stakes at Newbury, beating Excelebration and Shropshire by four lengths and six lengths respectively. The handicapping of this year's Greenham Stakes is expanded on elsewhere, so here it is sufficient to say that Frankel remains a short-priced favourite (currently trading at [1.69]) for the 2,000 Guineas and will surely take all the beating at Newmarket.
Frankel wasn't the only exciting Henry Cecil-trained classic hopeful at Newbury on Saturday as World Domination justified his big reputation at the first time of asking in a maiden later on the card. He is now the [8.6] second favourite for the Derby behind Frankel who is a [6.8] shot.
The fillies' Guineas trial, the Fred Darling, doesn't appeal as being particularly likely to have a significant impact on the Guineas itself, though connections of the winner, Rimth, are reportedly considering supplementing her for the race, the alternative option being a trip to Longchamp for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
The other Group 3 on the card at Newbury was the mile-and-a-half John Porter Stakes, and while there was certainly no Harbinger in this year's field, the race produced a likeable winner in Indian Days, who looks at least as good as ever an should be on course for another year of globetrotting. It's also worth mentioning the opening ten-furlong handicap won by Modun. It appeals as very strong handicap form, the winner in particular looking one to follow along with the fourth home Bourne.
Saturday's major jumps action took place at Ayr where the highlight was the Scottish National. The first two home in last month's NH Chase, Chicago Grey and Beshabar, dominated the market and on this occasion it was the latter who came out on top, looking just the sort that could have a say in the 2011 Grand National. Chicago Grey never got involved in a race where it proved difficult to make much headway from off the pace.
The other big race at Ayr was the Scottish Champion Hurdle, in which Paul Nicholls' Sanctuaire bounced back to form to register a very smooth success, good ground, a true pace, and a breathing operation all likely catalysts for his return to form.
The Flat action steps up another notch this weekend, while we also have one of the final big meeting of the present jumps season to look forward to....
Timeform look back on Saturday's action at Aintree, the highlight of which was Ballabriggs' win in the Grand National......
Timeform look ahead to the action on Grand National weekend......
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