Fivethousandtoone puts it all together in BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap

Fivethousandtoone (8/1) secured the biggest payday of his career with a swooping victory in the BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap. Owned by King Power Racing, the six-year-old looked set for a bright future for Andrew Balding following a four-length success at Newcastle as a juvenile – a performance that preceded good efforts in the G2 Mill Reef Stakes and G1 Dewhurst Stakes.

The application of a visor had coincided with improved performances on Fivethousandtoone’s two previous starts as he chased home Albasheer on Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day before scoring at Kempton Park in February.

11/4 favourite Cover Up saw his chances slip away early on as he refused to settle, with Oisin Murphy dropping Fivethousandtoone in last of 14 runners as Bergerac led the field down the centre of the course.

Fivethousandtoone made eye-catching headway towards the far rail and flashed home to head Misty Grey over half a furlong out.

Misty Grey (16/1) rallied but had no chance of getting back on terms, going down by a length and a quarter, while Chipstead (33/1) battled away in third.

Oisin Murphy said: “Fivethousandtoone relaxed really well. He was very good at two – finishing second in the Mill Reef – and then he had a few problems. Andrew’s done a great job getting him back, and King Power have been patient.

“Today it all came together, and hopefully it will be the beginning of a decent season for him. He was good last time, better today and, if he can take another step forward, he’ll be a horse to follow.

“I was kind of in the middle early but behind them. It was a little bit messy – I had David Egan and Clifford Lee in front of me, and I just wasn’t sure what runs were going to present themselves to me.

“Tom Eaves was stopping and I decided just to go round them and keep the momentum. I was able to ride him quietly and, when I asked him to go, he picked up well, so credit to the horse.” David O’Meara said of Misty Grey:

“We are delighted with his run. It was uncertain as to whether he would perform as well on a straight track as he does around Wolverhampton, as he loves it there.

“This was his third run for us. He is very straightforward to train, a really easy horse [to deal with]. He obviously has a lot of ability, and we’ve just got to try to keep him in good form now.”

Rossa Ryan said: “Misty Grey ran a super race. David seems to have him back to full life with his old spark. I would imagine when the grass comes, in those big handicaps, he will be competitive.”

On winning the All-Weather Champion Jockey title for the first time, he added: “It’s brilliant. Big credit to my agent Steve Croft, he has been super throughout the winter. It’s been great, we’ll keep going!”

Fivethousandtoone wins the BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap (credit: Grossick Racing Photography)

3.35pm BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap

1 Fivethousandtoone (King Power Racing) Andrew Balding 6-9-00 Oisin Murphy 8/1

2 Misty Grey (Barbara & Alick Richmond) David O’Meara 7-8-12 Rossa Ryan 16/1

3 Chipstead (Homecroft & Crampsie) Roger Teal 6-9-02 Jack Mitchell 33/1

14 ran

11/4F

Cover Up (11th) Andrew Balding – 8th Finals Day winner

Oisin Murphy – 6th Finals Day winner