With five runners at three courses on Saturday, it was a busy logistical day for the yard, but the efforts were worthwhile when Chellalla made all to win at Lingfield.
There has been a long held and well-founded theory that a ‘golden highway’ exists on the straight turf track at Lingfield, and as soon as Stevie Donohoe was able to cross over to the stands rail, Chellalla was going to be hard to beat.
And so it proved, with Chellalla gamely responding to pressure to hold on by half a length from El Mirage.
Chellalla has looked a well handicapped mare, based on her work at home, but there is often a big gulf from what is achieved on the gallops and what happens on the racecourse.
Chellalla is a fine, big mare, who should progress now that she has recorded her first UK win.
She is entered at Southwell on Wednesday, but we will have to see how she comes out of the race before committing to that option.
It could be hard for the handicapper to put Chellalla up by more than 5lbs for Lingfield, so there could be no immediate need to rush her out at Southwell.
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