It could be a big Saturday for William Haggas and the Newmarket-based trainer kicked off the weekend in perfect style as Tiber Flow rallied to Group 3 Chipchase victory in the northeast.
The classy four-year-old was no match for the late Creative Force in a Haydock conditions event in May but seemingly relished the switch to back an all-weather surface and made it four from five when tackling the artificial this afternoon.
Mount Athos took the field along at something of a moderate tempo, but James Tate's runner soon came under siege as Spycatcher (9/2) swept on by with two furlongs to run. The Karl Burke-trained five-year-old set sail for home at the furlong pole with Tiber Flow emerging from the pack as the likely danger. The pair set down to battle it out deep inside the final furlong, but William Haggas' Tiber Flow was always coming home the stronger of the pair and the 5/2 market leader finished a neck to the good at the line.
Witch Hunter (11/2) stayed on nicely against the nearside rail to finish clear in third with Brad The Brief (4/1) a further two lengths behind in fourth.
It was back-to-back victories in the Group 3 for team Haggas as Sense Of Duty landed the spoils in the northeast twelve months ago.
He's a cracking little horse with loads of ability, he just needs things to go his way," said Marquand when speaking to ITV.
"We didn't go overly quick there, but there's a headwind and the surface is bit slower than it looked like it was yesterday. He is a horse that has won over seven furlongs before, so if they go a nice tempo and you've got one to aim at you're confident you're going to be the strongest finisher.
"I think he's still progressing. He's a strong little horse and has probably become more effective at sprinting this year. He was fast before, but he almost didn't realise how quick he was."
Maureen Haggas said: "It's hard work [the surface] today and he just ground it out really.
"He's a sweet horse with a great temperament. He won a Listed race at Newbury last year so to win a Group 3 is really nice.
"We'll see how he is and see what the ground is like. William will work out where to go."
