Kempton review: Living Legend wins Magnolia Stakes & Aldous Huxley makes big impression for Charlie Appleby

Legend not to be denied

Owners Barbara and Alick Richmond described Living Legend as a “superstar” after he produced a career best to secure the couple with their first ever Listed winner in the Unibet Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.

Having scored on the card back in 2019 when taking the opening 1m 2f novice event on his only previous visit to the track, the Charlie and Mark Johnston-trained six-year-old made a triumphant return over course and distance in this afternoon's feature prize.

Racing front rank throughout the 12/1 chance appeared to have a real fight on his hands after edging back into a narrow lead turning for home with a host of challengers stacked up either side of him.

Despite being faced with a number of persistent challengers during the closing stages of the 10 furlong contest the Camelot gelding was not to be denied after sticking head out on the line to defeat Al Zaraqaan by a nose.

Barbara Richmond said: “It is our first Listed winner. We’ve had loads of black type but never full black type. We are absolutely delighted to get our first Listed winner especially with this boy in particular as we have owned him since a yearling.

“We are delighted for him as he is just a gentleman. We are really happy and he deserved it. Hopefully it is onwards and upwards but he has never gone down in the ratings.

“He won on the same card in the first race in 2019 against Sucellus which at the time was owned by Anthony Oppenheimer. He wasn’t favourite as Sucellus was odds-on favourite that day but he just kept going and he would not lose and he has done that again today.

“Fancy Man (the 6/4 favourite) is a very good horse and we were a bit nervous about him but with the others we thought it was an open race.

“We thought he was the danger and when Fancy Man tried to go with him at that point I started to feel a bit more confident as he will not stop. I didn’t know if Fancy Man could keep that pace up for the whole of the race but he couldn’t. He doesn’t like horses passing him. He is a real superstar.”

A trip back to Kempton could be on the cards for Living Legend with the Unibet Rosebery Handicap on Easter Monday (April 18) earmarked as a possible target.

Richmond said: “We don’t know what the next step is really. There is the Rosebery back here on Easter Monday but we will have to see. We will talk to Charlie and Mark as ever and decide from there. We are just thrilled.”

Huxley makes big impression first time out

Robert Havlin hit the target with his sole ride at the track after steering newcomer Aldous Huxley to an impressive success in the opening Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year EBF Novice Stakes.

After securing the 1m 2f prize aboard the John and Thady Gosden-trained Otyrar 12 months ago, the 48-year-old successfully teamed up with the Newmarket-based father and son team to claim the race again aboard Godolphin’s homebred son of Dubawi.

Havlin said following the 10/11 favourite’s six and a half-length victory: “The draw (in 11) ended up being a help to us. He is a big long striding galloping horse.

“This inside track can be tricky as they always go quick then put the anchor on down the back. The pace was getting slower down the back so I decided not to interfere and let him go.

“Turning into the straight, he was looking at everything, but he is a horse that wants to please you. He is a big baby and he is liking that at home. There is plenty of improvement to come in him. He will sharpen up a lot for that run. I’d imagine mile and a quarter targets will be for him but I wouldn’t rule out a mile and a half later on.”

Group One potential on display

Charlie Fellowes is convinced Ejtilaab has the potential to be a Group race sprinter after he booked his ticket to All-Weather Championship Finals day with an impressive front running success in the Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Handicap (6f) at Kempton Park this afternoon.

Since pulling up on his stable debut when sent of favourite for last season’s Unibet Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, the gelded son of Slade Power has run a number of respectable defeats for Fellowes, mostly recently in Meydan at the start of the year.

Making a quick exit from stall three the well supported 5/2 chance was not for catching under Callum Shepherd with the pair coming home two and a half lengths clear of Tommy De Vito to form the second leg of a 14/1 double for the winning rider.

Fellowes, speaking away from the track, said: “That was lovely. He thrived in Dubai and he really learned to be a sprinter out there. It really toughened him up running on the dirt.

“You have to be on the mettle in those races on the dirt in Dubai and you can’t run lazily out there and it has just sharpened him up.

“We saw that today as he was sharp out of the gate and he was determined to let nothing into the race. He is a sprinter going places.

“The immediate plan now will be to go to the sprint final on All-Weather Finals Day on Good Friday which I imagine he will nearly be favourite for.

“He stays the six furlongs very well but he will want a bit of cut in the ground when he returns to the turf. We are very excited by him and I think he is a Group class sprinter waiting to happen.”

Morag 'has a future' in sprinting division

Three year old Morag McCullagh could give trainer Michael Bell plenty to cheer about in what is the Newmarket handler’s 34th year with a training licence judging by her comeback success in the Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Novice Stakes.

While still having a way to go to match the exploits of her Group Two winning brother James Garfield, the 100/30 chance pulled smartly clear late on in the 6f contest to score by a length and a quarter and initiate Callum Shepherd’s 14/1 double.

Bell said: “She is a sister to James Garfield so it is nice to get a win with her. I think she has got a future. Callum (Shepherd, jockey) was impressed and she has done everything right at home. 

“She worked with a good lead horse of mine called Stone Circle and she did a nice bit of work with Spring Is Sprung who has won on the all-weather this year. 

“She was good in her skin and she has been ready for a while. There is a little bit to work on and hopefully she is a filly that will be effective in the sprinting division. 

“She didn’t get home up the hill at Newmarket (over 7f) but she did gallop out well there and Callum said it might be worth trying over further later.

“We will talk to her owner-breeder but she has the option of carrying a penalty or going for something better.”

Queen's Prize goes to Appleby

Charlie Appleby might have been out of luck with smart stayer Manobo in the Group Two Dubai Gold Cup in Meydan, but Bandinelli once again showed stamina is his forte when getting up close home to claim the Unibet Queen’s Prize Handicap. 

Appearing to need every yard of the 2m trip the giant framed four year old eventually wore down long-time leader Auriferous close home before prevailing by half a length.

Jack Mitchell, winning jockey, said of the winning 5/4 market leader: “He has grown since last year from when I rode him at Newmarket.

“In the paddock I looked at him and thought he has either got bigger or will come on for the run. He has strengthened up well and he sees out that trip well. He is a very tough horse.

“You probably saw there in the finish he only does enough but I always felt like he was going to win. I’m not in charge of where he goes but I’m sure he will pick up another nice prize.”

My Dubawi (100/30) completed a 55/1 double for jockey Joe Fanning and trainers Charlie and Mark Johnston when making it two wins from as many visits to the track when holding on by a neck in the Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap (7f).

The combination had earlier been successful with Living Legend (12/1) in the feature Unibet Magnolia Stakes.

More from Sporting Life

• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.