Kieren Fallon drew a blank at Churchill Downs in the United States last night as he attempted to follow up the double he recorded on Saturday. The six-times British champion rode Shadowland in the 150,000 Commonwealth Stakes on the turf track, but was making little progress when he was squeezed for room on the inside in the straight. The Dale Romans-trained three-year-old, a winner for Andrew Balding at Thirsk in the summer of 2003, was shuffled back and trailed in unplaced. French chasing star Cyrlight lost his long unbeaten record when he could only finish a distant second to Maia Eria in the Prix Renaud du Vivier at Auteuil yesterday. The Arnaud Chaille-Chaille-trained four-year-old - quoted in some lists for the King George VI Chase - reverted to hurdles for the first time since his debut in a bid to make it 12 wins from as many starts. But the hot favourite simply had no answer as the Christophe Pieux-ridden mare powered away in spectacular style in the straight. ACCORDION Etoile was promoted to 6-1 market leader for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle by Ladbrokes after oozing class in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday. |