Group One winner Planteur geared up for a possible Dubai World Cup challenge with a relatively hard-fought neck victory in Listed company at Lingfield.

Winner of the Prix Ganay back in 2011 when trained in France, Planteur is now with Marco Botti and was sent off the 1-2 favourite for the Blue Square Bet Winter Derby Trial Stakes.

Adam Kirby had the six-year-old, who finished third in last year's World Cup on his first start for Botti, smartly out of the stalls and made every yard of the running in the 10-furlong heat.

Planteur looked to be travelling easily enough through the race, but Kirby had to get to work in the final two furlongs, giving the horse a couple of cracks with the whip.

Miblish burst through to lay down his late challenge and while it was an admirable effort, Planteur was always holding him, prevailing by a neck at the line. Tepmokea kept on for third, a further two and a quarter lengths away.

William Twiston-Davies bagged his first Listed success as he steered Ladies Are Forever to glory in the bluesquare.com Cleves Stakes.

Twiston-Davies started his career riding over jumps as an amateur for his trainer father Nigel, and his brother Sam is among the top rank in the National Hunt sphere.

However, the youngest Twiston-Davies switched his attention to the level and teaming up with Geoff Oldroyd's charge, he landed the biggest win of his career to date.

Fratellino made a bold bid from the front, but Twiston-Davies pushed Ladies Are Forever ahead over a furlong out and she kept responding to pressure to win by a length.

Farmleigh House claimed second with Fratellino clinging on to third, a further three-quarters of a length adrift.

13 May 2013

Fabre confirms Ocovango for Epsom
Aspect on route to big things
Room at the top for Cityscape
Freedom steps into chasing ranks
Lucky thirteen in line for Lockinge
Galway beckons for Swinton hero
Sajjhaa set for late return
Cadeaux thriving in Singapore
Pink primed for Duke Of York
Liber takes aim at Musidora
Battle won for O'Brien
Pretending the real deal
Duntle back to winning ways
Classic glory for Flotilla
Style wins the day in Paris
Highclere double-handed for Dante
Cornerstone plans up in the air
Beckett planning Gesture workout

12 May 2013

No hurry for Jammy plans
Guest in hunt for more Ascot glory
Vow set for Goodwood return
Gold-en boy Anodin in Classic hunt
Buick aiming for French strike
Angel flies home to land Chartwell
Barizan bounces back in style
Queally lights up Ascot meeting
Ektihaam storms to Buckhounds win
Nevis takes depleted Trial contest
Hard-fought battle won at Haydock
Secret impresses in Oaks Trial
Ascot drama for Fanning

11 May 2013

Felix foot-perfect on fencing debut
Cavalryman leads Cup charge
Ramsa ready to stand Trial
Duntle out to dazzle in Amethyst
Swift return doesn't bother Moran
Garman gives Bolger hope
Henderson: Ground vital for Voice
McMahon sweet on Tart Ascot claims
Murphy to move to France
Athos flies to Ormonde glory
Dee day for impressive Magician
Kingdom confirmed for Queen Anne
Secret's out for Lingfield glory
Lambe expects good run from Hall
Marengo ready to do battle
Greatwood on trial at Lingfield
Barizan sneaks into Swinton
Jamesie gunning for Vic-tory

10 May 2013

Telescope focus is on Dante
Blinkers considered for Guarantee#
Bonfire camp bemoan Huxley flop
Moohaajim has six appeal
Ascot welcomes a couple of Guests