Vicente gives Nicholls shot at title

VICENTE became only the fourth back-to-back winner of the Coral Scottish National since the 1950s with a dramatic neck victory over Cogry.

The Sam Twiston-Daviesridden 9-1 joint-favourite just about kept the National Hunt trainers’ championship alive for Paul Nicholls, less than £160,000 behind Nicky Henderson.

The latter is due to run Altior at the season finale at Sandown next weekend but Nicholls said: ‘Of course we can still win it but everything will need to go right.’

At Newbury the two Classic Trials threw up legitimate contenders in Barney Roy and Dabyah but only the former is likely to contest their Classic in this country.

Barney Roy is 6-1 for the 2,000 Guineas after his stamina came into play in the seven-furlong Greenham Stakes. Trainer Richard Hannon feels the extra furlong at Newmarket in two weeks will suit the son of Excelebration who beat Dream Castle, by two lengths.

John Gosden’s impressive Fred Darling Stakes winner Dabyah (Frankie Dettori) looks likely to run in the French 1,000 Guineas in three weeks time.

The Queen has a well-bred and talented colt in Call To Mind, who made a winning debut for trainer William Haggas and jockey Ryan Moore.