'He’ll probably go into a Group 3 at some point' - Marshman shows his class to strike in Listed Kachy Stakes

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Clifford Lee believes Marshman has the ability to step back up into Group company following his eyecatching victory in the Listed Kachy Stakes.

The five-year-old, who landed the Group 3 Prix Sigy in 2023, failed to score last year but followed up his Newcastle success last month with victory over the fast-finishing Mitbaahy by a length and a quarter.

Lee, who has steered the Karl Burke-trained gelding to all of his five wins, is confident he can be progressive this year.

He said: "We’ve got a long season ahead – it’s not really started yet – so there’ll be plenty of races and he’ll probably go into a Group 3 at some point. He’s beaten some really good horses and I’ll be looking forward to him next time."

He added: "There were a few question marks as it was a sharper six furlongs, but a quicker gallop was going to suit him.

"He’s very fiery. Even though he’s won over six furlongs at Newcastle he’s performed today and it was great."

It was the first part of a double for owners Nick Bradley Racing, who struck in the 0-80 5f handicap with the James Horton-trained Dashing Harry. 

Legendary shock

Legendary Day caused a huge upset in the 2m handicap, although owner David Gibbons was surprised to see him sent off at 66-1.

The seven-year-old, who was the outsider of the eight-runner field, returned to the Flat after finishing a creditable third for Barry Brennan over hurdles at Doncaster in December.

Gibbons said: "He was a big price but I don’t know why. He came third at Doncaster, he’s a previous winner on the all-weather and he also ran in the Irish Cesarewitch, so why they made him 66-1 I’m not sure."

Off the mark

Lambourn trainer Owen Burrows is off and running for the year after Just Like Magic broke his maiden in the 5f handicap.

Having finished fifth and third in recent outings at Wolverhampton, the son of Aclaim hit the line a length clear of Monomyth.

"It’s always good to get one on the board early," said Burrows. "It was Helen’s [Tayton-Martin, owner] first winner and she bred him, and it’s perfect. 

"Each run he’s progressing slowly and he was still having a look round when he hit the front, which was pleasing."

Drought over

Mr Fustic finished on the right side of a photo-finish to record his first victory since June 2023.

Trained by Andi Brown, who secured his second winner of the year, the seven-year-old denied Kondratiev Wave by a nose to end a winless run of nine starts.

Winning jockey Dylan Hogan said: “He’s been very disappointing. His work had been good but it might have been something to do with the first-time tonguestrap. 

“I’m pleased for the owners because they’ve stuck with Andi even though things haven’t gone their way in the past, but it’s good to get the confidence back. Mr Fustic is better than this and hopefully it sparks him up again.”

Comeback win

The Richard Fahey-trained Prince Of Pillo made a successful return to action in the 6f handicap. A Listed winner in September 2022, he ran for the first time since finishing eighth at Newmarket in April.

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