3 minute read

Rise in class and quick turnaround no problem for Alice Haynes-trained five-year-old.

Strong Power  broke the course record as he stormed to a second success at Lingfield in four days despite being a stone out of the handicap.

Successful at the Surrey track struck in much lesser company on Monday, the Alice Haynes-trained five-year-old took the step up in grade, from Class 6 to Class 2 in his stride, to comfortably win the Betway Handicap in a blistering 56.65 seconds for the five furlongs.

Haynes thought the gamble of giving the Kodiac gelding this much stiffer task was worth taking as the prize-money was nearly four times more than he collected for his victory earlier in the week.

The writing for an upset was on the wall when Ornate and Tone The Barone set a furious gallop from the start with Kieran O'Neill able to keep on their coat tails.

Strong Power (11-4) sailed past them in the final half-furlong to go on and score by a length an a quarter from Marnie James, with Tone The Barone, the 4-6 favourite, only third.

"He was rated high (81) a year and a half when George Scott had him and Alice has only had him the last couple of runs," O'Neill told Sky Sports Racing.

"She gave him a little break when she got him at the sales. He's put on 35 or 40 kilos since she's had him, gave him a break and freshened him up. I was a little unlucky on him at Southwell last week, probably should have won. He came here the next day and won.

"He's come here today and I thought he'd win again. It was a much better race, but the speed they went in front I was able to hang on to the back of them and able to pick them up in the straight.

"In the race there were three that go forward and make it so I thought I'd have a chance in the last furlong and I did and picked them off nicely."

He added: "He was rated 65 before he won. Why go for another 0-65 and race round for two and a half grand when you can come here for 10 grand and get lucky? If you finish second you get five grand, for third you're getting two and a half grand. It's a no brainer."