Sport

Ladalko is impressive

RACING: Trainer Paul Nicholls looks to have unearthed another exciting prospect, the ex-French Ladalko, who sparkled on his …

Sat Jan 03 2004 - 00:00

RACING: Trainer Paul Nicholls looks to have unearthed another exciting prospect, the ex-French Ladalko, who sparkled on his British debut at Folkestone yesterday.

The 4 to 6 favourite landed the maiden chase by 13 lengths under Ruby Walsh from Sossus Vlei.

Ladalko, who finished second to the highly rated The Servant at Auteuil in April when trained in France, could not have made a better impression over the bigger obstacles, leading over three fences from home with Walsh looking over his shoulder.

The jockey reported: "He is a lovely horse, still only a big baby, and he is sure to improve on this."

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Nicholls is said to have mapped out an onwards and upwards programme for the five-year-old, who was getting a useful weight allowance from the older runners.

Laura Sheen had a dream start to her training career when Time To Shine, one of only five horses she trains at Epsom, came home by six lengths in the mares' novices' hurdle to make it one runner, one winner. Sheen (23) got her permit two weeks ago.

Time To Shine (16 to 1) hit the front under Leighton Aspell two from home and scored readily from Andromache, with Stocks 'N Shares, the favourite, six lengths farther back in third. Sheen started out with Epsom handler Brooke Sanders.

Alan King's bandwaggon continues to roll and the eight-year-old, 3 to 1 favourite Lords Best, ridden by Robert Thornton, came home the three-and-a-half-length winner of the beginners' chase from Stavordale Lad.

King said of Lords Best's defeat at Towcester when favourite on his chasing debut: "The ground was awful there. Now we will freshen him up and go again with him. This was very encouraging as it was my first winner at Folkestone and the track has never been lucky for me before."

Sungates, shock 33 to 1 winner of the novices' hurdle, had been backed at twice that price before the race and one lucky punter laid out £75 to collect £5,000.

The gelding, trained by Colin Tinkler, came back from training in Spain seven weeks ago and won by a length and a half from Bohemian Boy under a fine ride from Tom Doyle.