STYLE IMPRESSES IN TOWCESTER

Ian Fortune

Graham Holland continued his preparations for a crack at the English Derby at Towcester on Sunday afternoon, sending out Swords Style to set the standard in the second of the four Derby Trial Stakes on the card.

It was obvious to most observers that Swords Style would improve greatly for his first look at Towcester and duly justified odds-on favouritism in the second of the trial stakes. Electric at boxes, posting a sizzling 4.72 sectional, Swords Style wase almost five lengths to the good by the time they began to turn.

It was all very comfortable thereafter, although Kranky Drake did close right up in the closing yards. Swords Style looked right at home, however, and eventually cross the line with a length and a quarter to spare in 28.71. 

SAM AND JOACHIM OUT OF LUCK

Donishall Sam was favourite to win the opening trial stake for Holland but found traffic after edging inwards from four in the early stages.

He found further crowding on the bend and eventually finished at the tail of the field behind 29.77 winner Venetian Will.

Gaytime Joachim was also out of luck for Holland in the third trial stake, finding bad traffic at the turn when prominent. He eventually finished six lengths adrift in fourth behind 29.03 winner The Other Chief.

DEZ FLIES IN SPRINT TRIAL

Graham Holland also trialled his Rural Kennels open Unraced winner Gaytime Clyde ahead of racing.

He posted an encouraging 28.92, while his National Puppy Stake winner Shotgun Dez motored around over the sprint trip, clocking a quick 15.48, which is less than two lengths off the track record.