YOU COULDN’T move for champions at Sandown Park on Saturday.
Paul Nicholls and Dicky Johnson collected trainer and jockey gongs, while bionic Bryony Frost bounced back from her busted collarbone to grab the kids’ tittle.
Frosty certainly talks a blue streak and has been a proper breath of fresh air this winter.
She can ride a bit too and was always pulling the strings when landing a punt on Black Corton (3-1 to 15-8).
Nicky Henderson’s Altior was the real star turn and is now protecting a winning run that seems to have gone on longer than an Eastenders omnibus.
He’ll step up to 3m at Kempton next Christmas and its answers on a postcard if you’ve got one to beat him.
Ryan Moore would sooner pickle his bonce than make a quotable statement, but rumour had it he wouldn’t hear of defeat for Crystal Ocean at Sandown on Friday.
Apparently the mirthless one told the opposition his horse had improved a ton during the winter and would win this and the King George at Ascot in July.
He got the first leg of that double up without any fuss and could just be the horse to make Enable break sweat this summer.
There was a persistent whisper for William Haggas’ unraced Sea Of Faith (8-1 to 4-1) before the 1m2f fillies’ novice, and she most definitely looked a Hollywood starlet in the paddock.
Unfortunately her chance was gone with the wind after a ridiculously slow start, but the filly proceeded to weave through the pack like a tuk-tuk in rush hour to nab fourth.
Connections know this one is smarter than the average bear and she’ll ruffle a few feathers in decent company before the season’s end.
Archie Watson endured a rare blip when Exclusively (evens to 8-15) was trumped at Salisbury on Sunday, where Space Walk (5-2 to 5-4) and Songkran (7-2 to 6-4) were other wallet busters for the Billy Bunters.
Thank gawd Philip Hobbs’ Gumball (3-1 to 9-4) clawed a few shekels back for the good guys when making-all under an inspired Silvestre De Sousa.
This big grey gives the distinct impression he’s ready to implode at any moment, but the raw ability is there and connections are keen to get him rocking and rolling for the Ebor at York in August.
By the way, don’t miss American ace Wesley Ward’s flying machine Lady Pauline at Ascot on Wednesday.
SINJAARI (7.00 Windsor) was just touched off at Redcar and can go one better under Oisin Murphy.
They’re still repairing the track after her runaway win at Keeneland and, with superstar John Velazquez over for the ride, it’ll take something smart to hang onto her tail.
Peter Hedger’s C’EST NO MOUR (7.30) is reported to be back in good nick and has a sound each-way chance at Windsor, where DURRELL (8.00) has been found a soft opening on his first start for James Fanshawe.
That said, William Haggas’ SINJAARI (7.00) could be the night’s best bet.
He bumped heads with a smart one when runner-up at Redcar last time and will be hard to deny with Oisin Murphy doing the steering.
