Penitent rewarded the decision of his connections to bypass the Lincoln by gaining a Listed victory at Doncaster 24 hours later.
His win in the William.com Doncaster Mile gave his new owners, Middleham Park Racing, an instant return on their 40,000 guineas investment.
The six-year-old won the Lincoln in 2010 for the Cheveley Park Stud and was bought out of trainer William Haggas’s stable at the Tattersalls October Sales.
He would have had to carry top weight in Saturday’s big handicap, but was withdrawn from Saturday’s race at the final declaration stage.
However, he still made a triumphant return to Town Moor on Sunday for his new trainer David O’Meara, who was absent as his wife Sarah gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday.
Danny Tudhope brought Penitent (5-1) to challenge towards the centre of the course and led inside the final furlong before going on to defeat St Moritz by a half a length with Questioning a head away in third.
However, the second and third places were reversed following a stewards’ inquiry and St Moritz’s rider, Adrian Nicholls, was banned for two days (16 and 17 April) for careless riding.
Tim Palin, Middleham Park’s racing manager, said: “We spent a lot of time this week deciding where to run this horse. We could have gone for the Lincoln or gone to France, but we thought we’d go for this and maybe finish in the first three.
“He’ll have a Listed penalty now so we’re going to have to step him up to Group Threes. We’ll probably have to go abroad to win with him at that level. He loves soft ground, so France will be on his agenda, maybe Ireland as well.”
Ascot Sunday
It would be irregular if Ferdy Murphy failed to pocket at least one major spring prize and he suggested Riguez Dancer could be a horse to restore the status quo after success in the A P Security Handicap Chase at Ascot.
Three Scottish Grand Nationals, one Irish, 10 Cheltenham Festival winners and two Bet365 Gold Cups, including last year’s, attest the capability of Murphy to produce staying handicappers at just the right time.
This has been a lean season for his North Yorkshire stable with just 21 minor wins on the board and no Cheltenham arrows, including Riguez Dancer himself, particularly close to hitting the target but there are many of Murphy’s favourite races still to be staged.
Riguez Dancer (4-1) made little impression in last month’s JLT Specialty Handicap Chase at Cheltenham but seemed to take a drop in distance and class well to stride three and a quarter lengths clear under Tony McCoy.
“He ran over three (miles) at Cheltenham more as a day out for the owners and this was a nice little pot,” said Murphy. “Tony said he was just feeling the ground a little but he did wonder whether he might be a Scottish National horse.
“He’s versatile and does remind me a bit of [2005 winner] Joes Edge.
“He’s won over two miles on the Flat and what you want in the Scottish National is a horse who can mix up trips and who jumps well. I’ll speak to the owners, as there’d be other options at Ayr too.”
The meeting, on 21 April, could also host Kim Bailey’s Darna provided his promising jumper has recovered from his exertions in the A P Security Novices’ Chase.
Darna (11-8) had been a progressive hurdler for Willie Amos before a transfer of stables and disciplines which has brought three wins from four starts over fences.
There was an excuse for the only defeat, when the gelding damaged a nerve at Ludlow and although Jason Maguire needed to bustle his mount along briefly in the back straight, he had mastered the 4-5 favourite Prince Of Pirates before the last fence had been jumped.
Maguire dismounted the gelding before the winner’s enclosure and Bailey said: “He wasn’t very happy going down the hill but hopefully he’ll be OK. He’s a nice horse and it depends on the next 48 hours. If he’s all right, then he’ll go to Ayr for the Future Champions Novices’ Chase.”
Maguire, who is clear third in the jockeys’ championship and not far off second-placed Richard Johnson, made it winner number 136 when not seeing another rival on the Donald McCain-trained Lexi’s Boy (3-1 favourite) in the A P Security Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.