15 Mzo. GB. Betdirect.com Winter Derby. G3. Lingfiend. 10f. Equitrack. 100.000 £
1.- HATTAN (S.Sanders)
2.- SILVER PIVOTAL (J.Spencer)
3.- GREAT HAWK (J.Fortune)


Hattan made the perfect start to his 2008 campaign when springing a minor surprise under Seb Sanders in the betdirect.com Winter Derby at Lingfield.

Sent off at 14-1, Clive Brittain's charge sat just behind the early pacesetters before bursting through to take over at around the one-furlong marker. Hattan stole a crucial break on his pursuers at that point and went on to secure a two-length win over 7-2 favourite Silver Pivotal.

The runner-up, who broke widest of all from stall 14, was forced to tuck in behind the field and looked to have a mountain to climb as the principals swung for home. Once in the clear, Gerard Butler's filly absolutely flew home to grab second, with 22-1 chance Great Hawk claiming a close-up third.

A delighted Brittain told Channel 4 Racing: "He's a big horse this year and he actually weighs 20 kilos more this year than he did the last. All of his family have got better as they've got older. He's related to Warrsan and Luso, and they were top horses who became very good at five and older.

"Usually horses gain about two or three kilos between years, but he's put on 20 and the result is that he's now a man."