'This race had her name on it' - Simcock and Dwyer delight after landing big pot

The Flat provided the meat in the jumps sandwich on day two of the inaugural three-day Winter Million fixture, where Lower Street ran out a convincing winner of the all-new £100,000 Coral Winter Oaks Fillies' Handicap.

Newmarket trainer David Simcock was on easy street after his fast improving daughter of Kingman came from last to first to deny fellow slow starter Enfranchise and register her fourth win of the winter period under Martin Dwyer.

Lower Street and Martin Dwyer pull clear in the featureCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Simcock said of the concept of the meeting: "When we saw this race we decided to run her at Southwell last Sunday and get her up the handicap in order to get in it. It's a great idea and there is a great atmosphere here today with a very friendly crowd in."

Of his 10-1 winner he added: "She really needs a mile and a half so I knew she'd finish off well as they went off so hard in front. She comes from a Ballymacoll Stud family and they do nothing but improve but she'll probably have a break now and come back in the summer."

Winning rider Dwyer said: "I've now won four races on Lower Street and she's made remarkable improvement over winter. This race had her name on it and thankfully it's come off."

Hollie Doyle has a spin on the equicizerCredit: Mark Cranham

Art plays his part

Hollie Doyle warmed up before racing with a spin on the Equicizer in front of the public and showed the benefit when landing the 1m4f handicap on Celtic Art for jumps trainer Jeremy Scott.

Scott, who was sending out a first winner on the Flat since 2019, admitted he was "like a fish out of water" but was not complaining when the 100-30 favourite held on.

He said: "Celtic Art is our only Flat horse and we were thinking about going back jumping with him but after that I think we'll stay on the Flat."

Bahrain or bust

Darragh Keenan came through the end of a testing week which involved quarantining in a Bahrain hotel room to strike on Shoot To Kill in the mile handicap.

The rider only arrived back from the Middle East a few hours before racing but showed no signs of travel fatigue to steer the 14-1 chance home for trainer Robyn Brisland.

Keenan said: "I got Covid-19 soon after landing in Bahrain and had to isolate in a hotel for seven days which expired the day before racing over there so I had three rides yesterday. Hopefully I keep my contacts going here like Mr Brisland, John Ryan and David Evans this year like I did last."

Picture almost perfect

Amanda Ellis : on course at Lingfield

It was not surprising that Marion's Boy made the frame in the opening 1m2f handicap as his portrait had recently been painted by artist Amanda Ellis who was displaying her works on course.

The painter, who has a studio in nearby Edenbridge, was not too disappointed with the performance of the five-year-old who was beaten just a head by the Richard Hannon-trained Dingle.

Ellis said: "The owner is in the US at the moment and her friends have commissioned the painting as a surprise. He would have won again if the race had been a bit longer."

Sean Levey had done the steering aboard Dingle and combined with Hannon again with Kodias Sangarius, who came late in the 6f contest to complete a 55-1 double for the pair.

Hannon was cementing his position as leading trainer at the track when the 12-1 chance denied Rebel Racing pair Little Prayer and Lucky Man.

Levey said: "She was recently dropped in the handicap which has helped her to get in this lesser race. She deserves to win as she's been through a lot and pulled up on her first two starts."

Catch our new in-depth review of the weekend's racing every Monday in the Racing Post. With big-race analysis from Grand National-winning jockey Leighton Aspell, Chris Cook's take on the weekend action, eyecatchers from the Raceform team, weekly awards and more, it is not to be missed.