Nigel Twiston-Davies beats 'the posh people' to land biggest ever Flat win

Friday: Newcastle

Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is eyeing a crack at the Royal Ascot version after crashing the Flat party and beating "the posh people" with Earlofthecotswolds.

He won more in one race than he has ever earned in an entire Flat season when the 100-30 joint favourite made all under Liam Keniry in the £150,000 Betway All-Weather Marathon, holding off Frankie Dettori on Marshall Plan by a neck.

The trainer, whose Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander took a novice hurdle here in 2007, was having his first Flat runner on this course and was quick to credit his younger son Willie – who was in tears – for this triumph.

"It's down to Willie," he said. "I train Earlofthecotswolds but when the ground turned a bit soft and he disappointed at Kempton, Willie said try him on the Flat and look what he's done.

"It's unbelievable. He's rated in the mid-130s over hurdles and to come and beat all the posh people is nice. He was a very cheap horse and you don't expect to come up here and do this sort of thing.

"We'll look at Royal Ascot now, probably the Gold Cup. Why not? We've got to look at it. We'll look at the Queen Alexandra as well."

There was plenty of celebration after Earlofthecotswolds' winCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Classic contender

Having started the day a 100-1 shot in places, Checkandchallenge was slashed into as short as 16-1 for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas after a last-to-first win in the Listed Coral Burradon Stakes under Danny Tudhope.

He had won his only previous start, a maiden at Wolverhampton last November, and trainer William Knight said: "I was absolutely delighted and excited with the manner in which he's done it in what looked a competitive field.

Qipco 2,000 Guineas card and betting

"He had to go and win today to warrant a run in the Guineas and that's still on the agenda. It looked like there was a bit left there, which there needs to be to be competitive in the Guineas."

Knight will wait to confirm a definite crack at the Newmarket Classic a fortnight tomorrow but added: "We've always liked him and we put a Guineas entry in earlier in the year so we obviously hold him in high regard.

"This was to see where we are and we've got to be at least thinking that way. There's improvement still to come from him, it wasn't all about today.

"The big challenge is he's got to convert his all-weather form across to turf but there's no reason why he can't. He did a nice bit of work on the grass gallops last week which pleased us and made us feel he was definitely above average – he had to prove it on the track which he's done today."

Checkandchallenge may bid for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas after his stylish winCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Legend of a horse

Gift horse Living Legend gave Barbara and Alick Richmond a huge payday when fighting back to beat odds-on favourite Tyrrhenian Sea by half a length in the £200,000 Betway Easter Classic.

The owners gave the gelding to Mark Johnston after he was sidelined by a bowed tendon and the trainer returned the favour when the six-year-old recovered and returned to winning ways at Pontefract last season.

"It was in his right fore and they say they're never the same again but obviously time is the crucial thing and we gave him plenty of it," Johnston said. "He was off for more than 800 days."

Living Legend had won nearly £30,000 in landing a Listed race at Kempton last month and the trainer joked: "We offered him back and Barbara said 'we only want him back if I think he can earn his training fees!'"

Living Legend (pink) gets the better of Tyrrhenian SeaCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

El of a cheer

They could probably hear him in Sunderland as Tony Smith led the cheering after Grange Park Racing hit the jackpot with El Caballo.

No wonder. The syndicate member, who runs a greener energy firm in Halifax, had just seen the colt complete a five-timer with a short-head win in the £150,000 Coral Three Year Old All-Weather Championships.

"This is my first ever horse and it's unbelievable," he said. "It's amazing, a great feeling. I was scared two out because he normally does it so easily but it proves he's a battler."

Smith could be cheering on an even bigger stage in June as trainer Karl Burke said: "I'd be tempted to try him in something like the Sandy Lane and see if we can turn him into a Commonwealth Cup horse. The stiff six furlongs at Ascot would be good for him."

El Caballo (right): Could be aimed at the Commonwealth Cup at Royal AscotCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Mixed day

French jockey Gregory Benoist had a mixed day as he was suspended for five days for improper riding on fourth-placed Fort Payne in the Mile, won by My Oberon.

However, he won the Sprint on Bouttemont but was banned for another four days for using his whip above the permitted level.

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