Tuddenham Green’s first Flat win merely on ice!

September 19

You have to admire the consistency of dual hurdles winner Tuddenham Green, who rattled the crossbar yet again at Chester last week-end, the ninth time he has been placed in his last 10 outings as he strives to bag that first win on the Flat.

Turning into the short straight on the Roodee, it looked all Lombard Street to a China Orange that Tuddenham Green would nail that elusive success on the level, so well was he travelling. But ultimately he was run out of it and beaten a neck by the in-form Baez, who was landing her fourth victory off the spin.

Having won two juvenile hurdles last season, Tuddenham Green will doubtless go back over jumps this winter, but surely his name is on a trophy for a Class 4 handicap before the curtain comes down on the current Flat season.

Another one who has been knocking on the door is Outgun, who attempts to clock his first win at Sandown on Wednesday. Having shown promise on the polytrack at Kempton last back-end, Outgun has been running well on the turf, finishing in the frame in all his three races so far.

Unlucky in running when fourth at Newbury in July – he would have been second with a clear run – Outgun found Dame Fortune on the other side of the net again at Newmarket’s July meeting last month. Stepping up in trip, he was an excellent second to Barrolo, who did him no favours when running around and causing James Doyle to snatch up inside the final furlong.

Granted, Outgun is jumping up a grade, but the stiff finish on the Esher track should suit him well, and Rossa Ryan, who was impressed when he rode him into an encouraging third place on his turf debut at Newbury in June, is back on board.

Also in action at Sandown is Brioni. who makes his racecourse debut. This son of Cloth of Stars cost 130,00gns at the Tattersalls Craven meeting Breeze-Up Sale.

Alan never winds up his two-year-olds too soon on the gallops, so whatever Brioni achieves in what potentially looks a hot race will be a bonus, because he will learn plenty from this first experience.