Ratings Update: Late Headway wins Spring Cup

Just a week after staging the Winter Derby, Lingfield’s highlight on Saturday was the Spring Cup - not that quite such a sudden change of seasons was apparent during a week when snow and sub-zero temperatures played havoc with the jumping fixtures which were all wiped out again at the weekend.

The listed Spring Cup for three-year-olds had been won twice in recent years by the William Haggas-trained pair Ertijaal and Second Thought, and the same stable was responsible for Saturday’s winner Headway. He boasted the best form beforehand, having been placed in the Coventry and Gimcrack last season, and improved on that (up to 112+ from 107) to get the better of another with useful two-year-old form, Rufus King (104), by a length.

Headway catches Rufus King and wins the Spring Cup with a classy performance at @LingfieldPark! Watch LIVE on @ITV pic.twitter.com/TA4v3nqCah

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 3, 2018

The manner of Headway’s success was striking, though, as he came from last entering the straight to reel in the enterprisingly-ridden runner-up who was still some five lengths clear only a furlong out. The step up to seven furlongs clearly suited Headway, and it would be no surprise if he attempts to emulate his stable-companions named above who both followed up over course and distance at the All-Weather Championships Finals on Good Friday.

The best performance on the card came earlier in the five-furlong handicap when six-year-old Encore d’Or (up from 112 to 116) recorded a career-best back in handicap company after being touched off by a short head in a listed contest here the previous Saturday. However, he enjoyed a perfect trip unlike runner-up Atletico (also improved from 114 to 115p) who finished best after being forced widest of all into the straight. It had been a similar story for the luckless Atletico at Wolverhampton earlier in the week and, after finding one too good in each of his last four starts, it looks only a matter of time before he gets his head in front again.

Encore D'Or and Ryan Moore hold off Atletico to win the Betway Handicap - Watch LIVE on @ITV pic.twitter.com/xNiYM0ObJg

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 3, 2018

The other handicap of note was over a mile and fought out by some useful types, with Constantino (up from 100 to 103) getting the better of fellow Lincoln entry Humbert (remains on 102) by half a length. Having his first race since the autumn, Constantino was produced late to thwart the still lightly-raced Humbert’s bid for a four-timer on the all-weather this winter. Another who’s done well in recent months (dual course-and-distance winner) Chevallier (up from 103 to 105) wasn’t beaten far in third under top weight and would have gone closer still with a better run.