Owen spot on again with 4/1 Listed winner

There were shocks aplenty on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival with the first six winners returning at SPs of 22/1, 50/1, 8/1, 18/1, 22/1 and 16/1. Some of the biggest equine names in the sport, namely Kopek Des Bordes, Fact To File and Ballyburn all fluffed their lines but Willie Mullins still managed a treble, including two Grade 1 victories for Irancy and Champs Kiely. Stablemate El Fabiolo looked set to register his fifth Grade 1 win when crashing out at the second last in the Champion Chase. The ex-French gelding proved he retains all his ability with his jumping frailities once again proving his downfall. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the week pans out. 

Readers of Ahead On The Flat will be aware that James Owen's horse to follow Pellitory won at 25/1 on his reappearance in a conditions event at Newmarket's Craven meeting earlier this month. The same handler commented on page 103 re Ambiente Amigo: "Officially rated 95, she is suited by trips around ten and twelve furlongs and the Listed Nottinghamshire Oaks (29th April) could be an early season target." The four year old, ridden by Harry Davies, stayed on strongly to lead inside the final quarter of a mile before holding off the late challenge of Karmology to prevail by half a length at 4/1.

I was impressed by Pina Sonata at Wolverhampton winning the fillies' maiden stakes with something in hand. Trained by James Fanshawe, whose string are in good fettle with seven winners in April, she had shaped with plenty of promise on her debut at Newmarket last Autumn. Reappearing following an absence of 200 days, the daughter of Pinatubo travelled smoothly before hitting the front inside the final furlong. A length and a quarter winner, she needs to have one more run before qualifying for something like the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot (20th June). She has plenty more to offer.

All orders received for Ahead On The Flat have been posted out and those which arrived after 3pm on Tuesday will be sent out on Wednesday morning. We now have less than 50 copies in stock, so please order via the Publications section, if you haven't already done so.