Liberty Lane, at 8-1, gave weight and a convincing beating to 30 opponents in the Cambridgeshire Handicap, adding an additional £90,000 to what was already a record haul of prize money for Karl Burke, his trainer, and pushing his Middleham yard ever closer to a top-three finish in the title race for the first time.
The big field split into two groups soon after the start and Liberty Lane was always prominent in the smaller group towards the far side of the Rowley Mile. Clifford Lee eased the four-year-old to the front a quarter of a mile out and soon opened a decisive lead before eventually crossing the line comfortably clear of James McHenry (20-1) and Toimy Son (28-1).
Earlier on the card, Charlie Appleby put at least a temporary halt to Aidan O’Brien’s relentless progress towards the trainers’ championship as Shadow Of Light sprinted four lengths clear of the O’Brien-trained Whistlejacket, the 4-5 favourite, in the Middle Park Stakes.
O’Brien had already notched up his 11th Group One win of the British season earlier on the card, however, taking the Cheveley Park Stakes with Lake Victoria, who remains unbeaten after four starts.
Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Sunday racing tips
Show
Epsom 1.45 Enchanted Eye 2.20 Anniversay 2.55 Forest Gate 3.30 Thursday (nap) 4.05 Roarin Success 4.40 Arkhahlia Flynn 5.15 Come On You Spurs.
Southwell 1.55 Harbour Vision 2.30 Bownder 3.05 Airshow 3.40 Mashadi 4.15 Wannabe Brave (nb) 4.50 Red Treasure 5.25 Crypto Quest.
She is also the new 7-4 favourite for the 1,000 Guineas back at Newmarket next spring and a 5-4 chance for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in California next month.
