Hibou proves miles better for Jardine

● 16-1 winner may now be aimed at John Smith’s Cup

Hibou was a 16-1 winner of the inaugural £30,000 Almada Mile at Hamilton Park yesterday for Dumfriesshire trainer Iain Jardine.

Ridden by David Nolan, the four-year-old nailed pacesetting Masham Star in the closing stages to win by a length and a quarter.

Jardine said: “He’s an ex-godolphin horse and won on the bridle for us at Redcar last year.

“We’ve always thought a lot of him and a mile or a mile and a quarter are equally fine. The John Smith’s Cup ,or maybe even the Cambridgeshire, could be races to target, so there is plenty to look forward to.”

There was drama at the start when 4-1 joint-favourite Weekend Offender caught his leg in the stalls and was very slowly away and soon pulled up.

Leading course owners Thistle Bloodstock struck in the racinguk.com when Sharp Defence was ridden to victory by Tadhg O’shea.

The jockey said: “They went really hard and he got a bit unbalanced in the dip but he’s come home strong. He’s handled the soft well but I’d say he will be even better on quicker ground.”

Meanwhile, Wentworth Falls is unlikely to be too far away when he is sent into battle at Thirsk, writes Glendale.

Trained in nearby Thirkleby by the capable Geoff Harker, the five-year-old grey must shoulder top weight in a moderate-looking six-furlong handicap. But he is not at the summit of the weights on a whim and has the form in the bank to suggest a big run is on its way.

The gelded son of Dansili enjoyed a grand start to the season when he won back-toback races at Doncaster and Redcar. He was then elevated in class at York in May.

Wentworth Falls struggled on the Knavesmire, but is clearly still on the upgrade and appears to have been found a perfectly winnable opportunity for the prizemoney on offer.