All Weather round-up: Sir Mark Prescott horse to follow and Stuart Williams under the microscope

By Richard Mann

Horse Racing

Sat February 13, 2021 · 4y ago

Richard Mann's latest All Weather Weekly highlights a horse from Sir Mark Prescott's stable with a bright future, while trainer Stuart Williams earns special praise.

Prescott plots path with exciting Longsider

When you think of staying handicaps on the Flat, it isn’t long before your mind wanders to master Newmarket trainer Sir Mark Prescott.

The veteran handler has made a fine career out of bringing his horses along slowly, race-by-race, before watching them fulfil their potential once reaching their physical peak, and more often than not, once handed a suitably stiff test of stamina.

It’s not that Prescott can only train stayers – Marsha’s exploits as a top-class sprinter only a few seasons ago confirms this is a man for all seasons and all types – but a project like last Saturday’s Lingfield winner, Longsider, is one he is sure to get the very best out of.

Already a four-year-old, Longsider doesn’t have many miles on the clock having had only two starts for former trainer David Lanigan, the last of which saw him break his duck in fine style at Wolverhampton in January 2020.

Since then, Lanigan has moved onto pastures new, but Longsider has stayed in Newmarket and following an absence of over a year, reappeared on Saturday when recording an impressive success at Lingfield.

His performance was even more meritorious given he reared badly at the gates, losing several lengths at the start, before quickly easing his way back into a prominent position and then stretching right away from his rivals in the closing stages.

This is a really nice horse. Looked it when David Lanigan had him, and I’m sure Sir Mark will get the best out of him. https://t.co/1yWzwU8KAa
— Richard Mann (@Richard_Mann11) February 6, 2021

While he might not have beaten a lot, the manner in which this gelded son of Ruler Of The World put his rivals to the sword was most taking, and he looks the type to improve with that run under his belt and when going up in trip further down the line.

I’m not sure we’ll see Longsider on the All Weather again this winter, but this big, fine, stamp of a horse rates a nice prospect for next summer and don’t be at all surprised if he progresses through the ranks and puts himself in the picture for races like the Sky Bet Ebor at York.

I dare say that Prescott already knows exactly what route he will be taking with this exciting addition to his string and Longsider is a name to remember.

Williams continues to work wonders

Pound for pound, you could make a very good case that Stuart Williams is one of the best Flat trainers in the country.

Sure, he might not have boxes full of Galileos and Dubawis at Diomed Stables, but he has plenty of nice horses that invariably give their owners value for money, and crucially, usually achieve what their latent ability allows them to.

There is rarely any waste with Williams; he’ll get the best out of his horses and of those picked up from other yards, there is usually a swift return on investment.

Take Revolutionise as a case in point. The son of Lope De Vega had always been held in high regard when in the care of Roger Varian, but when he was picked up by new connections and moved to Williams at the end of 2019, he looked badly-handicapped with an official rating of 80.

Just over a year later, the five-year-old is set for another considerable hike in the handicap having landed the feature race at Wolverhampton on Wednesday evening when beating the classy Tranchee with plenty to spare.

Fine ride @linusghiani99 – Revolutionise finishes powerfully to win the @WolvesRaces feature for @WilliamsStuart and @twmorley… @awchamps pic.twitter.com/Ln4ynobOcy
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 10, 2021

That was his fourth success since joining Williams’ operation – it might well have been his fifth had he had a stronger pace to chase on his penultimate outing at Lingfield - and considering jockey Marco Ghiani put up 2lb overweight on Wednesday, it’s fair assume that Revolutionise will be rated a good deal higher than 88 when the handicapper has his say.

The improvement Revolutionise has made since Williams took him into his care is clear to see, and I think there is plenty more to come from a horse who is evidently thriving at present and could yet be capable of landing a big pot if things fall right.

Williams will be hoping for more success when Tone The Barone lines up in the Betway Handicap at Wolverhampton on Saturday night.

Tone The Barone has been another fine servant to Diomed Stables, registering a hat-trick at Chelmsford early last year and then adding another success at that same track only last month.

Another who continues to rise through the ranks, on the All Weather and turf, Tone The Barone faces his toughest test yet when bidding to defy at career-high mark on Saturday, though Williams is not shirking the challenge.

He said: “I am very happy with Tone The Barone. He has done well since his last race and it is nice to reunite him with Marco Ghiani, who has obviously been in great form.

“This horse has been a late-developer really. He is a big horse and his strength just wasn’t matching his frame when he was a two and three-year-old. Now he has caught up, he has progressed really well.”

For good measure, Williams will also saddle 10-year-old Royal Birth in the same race. A standing dish in big winter sprints over the years, he has thrived on his racing even as he has entered veteran status and few would begrudge him another career victory.

Both horses have been a credit to connections, and it would be folly to discount either picking up another decent prize for this superb training operation.