Weekend Review - Magic Circle (8/1) wins the Chester Cup

Thank you to those clients who emailed following Magic Circle's win in th Chester Cup on Friday, it is much appreciated. Having his first start for Ian Williams, the six year old beat fifteen rivals by upwards of six lengths under Fran Berry. Although he wasn't the quickest into strides and found himself further back than ideal during the first circuit, the 70,000gns purchase picked up impressively inside the final couple of furlongs to win going away. He was providing his new owner Dr Marwan Koukash with his fourth win in the Roodeye's showpiece. The Melbourne Cup in November could be his long-term aim, according to Koukash.

David Simcock trained his first Classic winner at Longchamp yesterday with Teppal maintaining her unbeaten record in the French 1000 Guineas. The daughter of Camacho won both her starts as a juvenile at Lingfield and Kempton and was making her reappearance here. Drawn low and ridden by Olivier Peslier, she stayed on well to prevail by a short neck and booked her place in next month's Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. It was a tremendous result for the Newmarket based handler.

The 'Classic Contenders' section of the Appendix in Ahead On The Flat had a good weekend. Olmedo won the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp, while Knight To Behold (7/1) won the Lingfield Derby Trial by three and a quarter lengths. Harry Dunlop's charge raced keenly during the early stages before Richard Kingscote elected to let his mount stride on. Sent for home someway out, he maintained a strong gallop and never looked like being reeled in. Epsom is next and it will be interesting to see how he fares. One would imagine he is going to have to settle better early on if he is to trouble the likes of Saxon Warrior but he shouldn't be underestimated.

ValueRacingClub.co.uk were at it again at Ludlow yesterday. The former John Ferguson and Ben Pauling trained Leoncavallo was having his first start for them having been bought in February for £21,000. Now under the guidance of Dr Richard Newland, the six year old was racing off a mark of 133 in a two miles handicap hurdle at the Shropshire venue. Sam Twiston-Davies steered the gelded son of Cape Cross to a ready five lengths win and set up a possible tilt at the Galway Hurdle. He looks another shrewd acquisitn.