Al Qareem collects Further Flight honours at Nottingham

Al Qareem put his match fitness to good use to get his season up and running with a gutsy performance to claim the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham.

Now a nine-time winner, Karl Burke’s consistent performer blew away the cobwebs at Saint-Cloud recently and showed plenty of heart in the hands of Clifford Lee to hold off Harry Eustace’s fast-finishing Divine Comedy.

“I think Clifford has given him a super ride and we’ve kind of learnt you have to kick on sooner than you normally would as he’s one who stays forever,” said Nick Bradley, managing director of the winning owners Nick Bradley Racing.

“He should have won the race on what he’s done before and he duly did.”

Al Qareem was sent off the 4-6 favourite for the feature Listed event and having returned a short-head verdict will now head to Chester for the Group Three Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes on May 8.

“We were looking and talking at the race about 11.50am last Thursday when entries closed at midday and we just thought this looked a right opportunity,” said Bradley.

“The alternative was to go to Newbury on Saturday for the John Porter and that looks like it would have been much harder. I think we’ve done our job picking the right one and hopefully there are some happy owners.

“He will go for the Ormonde next. We haven’t put him in the Yorkshire Cup and we’ll swerve that this year and head to Chester for his next start.”

Elsewhere on the card there was a taking winning debut from Roger Varian’s Munsif (evens favourite) – a son of Sea The Stars out of a half-sister to Oaks and King George winner Taghrooda – in the Ladies Day 10th May “Confined” Maiden Stakes.