Crisford camp keen to repeat Winter Oaks success

PA Sport Reporters
January 19, 2024 12:57 pm

Oh So Grand and Twirling are both fancied to go well in Lingfield feature.

Simon and Ed Crisford hold a strong hand as they go in search of back-to-back victories in Lingfield’s BetMGM Winter Oaks Fillies’ Handicap on Saturday.

The father and son operation claimed the GBP 100,000 contest with Al Agaila 12 months ago and likely big-race favourite Oh So Grand has plotted a similar course to the Winter Million Festival event by landing the Winter Oaks Trial over track and trip last month.

Jack Mitchell was in the saddle for both that triumph and a previous success at Newcastle and resumes the partnership, as his mount now seeks to build on her impressive all-weather record.

Meanwhile, the Gainsborough Thoroughbreds team have a more than handy second string to their bow with Twirling, who has won two of four starts at a mile and now steps up in trip with Ryan Moore in the plate.

Romped home! Oh So Grand flies down the centre of the track to win the Winter Oaks Trial at @LingfieldPark for @Mitchelljack77 and @gainsboroughHQ… pic.twitter.com/26DKNyUqC8
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 6, 2023

Simon Crisford said: “Both Oh So Grand and Twirling are in good form and we have been very happy with their preparations for this race.

“Both of them will need to run career-best figures to feature, but we are hopeful that they are capable of doing that.”

Oh So Grand is the highest rated in the field, but only 2lb behind her is recent Wolverhampton scorer Miss Bluebelle, who bids to quickly double up for handler Marcus Tregoning.

The five-year-old received a 7lb rise for a facile three-length victory at Dunstall Park and, although having a career-high mark to overcome, her handler is optimistic of a bold showing.

Does it well! Miss Bluebelle takes the @WolvesRaces feature in good style for @DougieCostello and @tregoningracing… pic.twitter.com/JWlb4l056r
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 13, 2024

“She’s come out of her race (at Wolverhampton) well and is in good form,” said Tregoning.

“That was only a week ago but she has come out of it very well and we won’t worry about that. She has a good draw and we will hope for the best.

“It’s a fairly open race and hopefully she will run really well.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Queen Regent has just over a length to find with Oh So Grand on their meeting in the Winter Oaks Trial and is now tried in first-time cheekpieces representing big-name connections, while no one arguably arrives in better form than Storymaker, who has been unbeatable of late.

It was not until the 15th race of her career that Storymaker got on the scoresheet but that opened the floodgates for George Boughey’s four-year-old, who will be bidding for a fifth-straight success.

“She’s been an amazing filly for us and it’s incredible really, she raced 14 times last year and the penny didn’t drop, but she’s just gone bang, bang, bang, bang now – and she’s a filly in form,” said Sam Hoskins, racing manager for owners Hot To Trot Racing.

“She should get the trip and has won round the track. It’s a much better race and worth GBP 100,000 and we’ve got to support races worth that amount of money.

“She’s in top form and enjoying it and I know George feels she is not showing any signs of exertion – she’s looking great. She has got a chance and the rider Tommie Jakes is good value for his claim. Hopefully, she will run a really good race.”