Winged Wonder Winner a Soft Touch

Soft-ground lover Winged D'Argent was in his element on rain-softened ground at Newcastle yesterday when victorious in the two-mile handicap. Winning trainer Bernard Llewellyn was keen to run his charge in tomorrow's feature Northumberland Plate after his runner ran a fine sixth in the race last year, but Winged D'Argent was too low in the weights for a repeat challenge necessitating a switch in plan. Llewellyn's son John said: "People say you can't sell coal to someone from Newcastle, but my dad does and he said we might as well come and win their race as well. We have been coal mining for 76 years and really wanted to run in the 'Pitmen's Derby' but had to come here instead, and I did think he would win this." Harry Dunlop ended a 65-day losing spell in the best possible fashion as Classic Remark glided home at a mouthwatering 40-1 in the Hoppings Stakes. "We have always held her in high regard but she hasn't had her ground," said Dunlop. "This is the first time since she ran behind Clowance at Newbury that she has had cut in the ground. The way she has won we will have to start thinking about Group races for her."