DUBAI dreams came true for West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon when Opal Tiara landed the valuable Group 2 Balanchine Stakes at Meydan.

The four-year-old filly took the £97,560 first prize in the Citizen K-sponsored mile-and-a-furlong contest by a neck from Via Firenze under Oisin Murphy.

Now Channon is eyeing a crack at the Group 1 Dubai Turf over the same course and distance on Saturday, March 25.

Channon said of the 15-2 winner: “That was great and she’s such a smashing filly to train.

“We’ve won our Group 2 now, so I see no reason why we shouldn’t try her at the top level.”

Over the jumps, Flintham, from Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables, near Wantage, came within a whisker of emulating his brother, Carruthers, when beaten a short head in the Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot.

The eight-year-old put up a gallant front-running display before being collared by Bigbadjohn in the final stride of the Grade 2 three-mile contest, which was won by Carruthers eight years ago.

Bradstock said: “He is amazing. He is not very big, but he jumps for fun. Nico (De Boinville) gave him a fabulous ride.”

Now Flintham could go for either the JT McNamara National Hunt Chase or the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Meanwhile, Bradstock’s wife, Sara, revealed that Flintham’s half-brother, Coneygree, the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, was ahead of schedule for his planned return to action at the Punchestown Festival in two months’ time.

Andy Martin, who trains a small string at Hook Norton, notched his first winner of the season when Midnight Mustang finally broke his own duck at Market Rasen.

Running under rules for the 29th time, the ten-year-old passed the post a length and a half ahead of Glendermot, from Paul Cowley’s Culworth yard, near Banbury, in a three-mile handicap chase under Mikey Hamill.

Barton Rose recorded her first victory for Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon with a ten-lengths success in a two-mile handicap chase at Leicester, with Tom Bellamy on board.