Bar raises game for Oaks success

Barshiba ran out a convincing winner of the bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock to provide David Elsworth with his biggest winner for some time.Running in the colours of Jeff Smith, who enjoyed so many good days with the Elsworth-trained Persian Punch, the five-year-old was always prominent under Paul Hanagan, who won the race 12 months ago on Anna Pavlova.Hanagan kicked on early and soon put the race to bed, and while John Dunlop's Fallen In Love emerged from the pack to claim second, she was three and three-quarter lengths away at the line.Hanagan said: "She was fighting me a little bit, but she did it well. She's a nice mare. I think when something goes a nice clip it suits her as well."I've had a few rides for Mr Elsworth, but this is my first winner for him and the season is just getting better and better."It's nice to ride a big-race winner at my local track and I've no doubts the filly has the ability to go for a Group One.Elsworth added: "This is Jeff's third winner in as many days and he was keen to keep her in training for another season and have a cut at a mile and a half. She has been running at the highest level over shorter distances."She is in the Yorkshire Oaks so we'll think about that now and hopefully she will keep on improving."