Great weekend so far for Barbury, with Finest View still to come at Fontwell

Brioni highlighted what is proving a great weekend for Barbury when his convincing success at Ascot was sandwiched between successes for the stable from Outgun at Kempton on Friday and Nap Hand at Haydock. And we’ve still got the consistent Finest View to come at Fontwell on Sunday

Being a founder member of the Brioni fan club, I was delighted to see him produce a career-best performance in the mile and a quarter handicap, and, clearly being gelded in June after two out-of-character disappointments, has made a huge difference.

Alan was pleased how well Brioni coped with the fast ground when he was runner-up on his comeback in a hot handicap at Glorious Goodwood,

But, despite that success, Alan has always felt that Brioni preferred to get his toe in, so when the heavens opened on the Royal Heath on Friday his confidence grew.

Despite an outside draw, Brioni broke well, and James Doyle, riding him for the first time, always oozed confidence on the 100-30 favourite, who struck the front a furlong and a half from home and stayed on in determined fashion to win by four lengths.

Doyle said:”The race could not have gone better, and happily the draw was no inconvenience whatsoever. I was able to get a handy position early on and when we closed down on the leaders early in the straight Brioni found plenty. Alan told me that he would enjoy the rain-softened ground, and he absolutely relished it.”

Alan had opted for the easier option at Ascot, deciding against running in the Heritage Handicap over the mile and a half. However, apart from the two aforementioned below-par efforts, Brioni has finished in the first three in all his other six races and he could not have finished off any stronger at Ascot, suggesting he could step up to the longer trip if required.

Either side of our Brioni celebrations, we were punching the air with Outgun making it lucky 13 under Hollie Doyle when winning his first race at Kempton 24 hours earlier, and again when Rossa Ryan excelled on Nap Hand, beaten in eight handicaps since winning on his two-year-old debut at Salisbury,  but who came good again for our sponsors, Goodwin Racing Ltd, up at Haydock.