UP and coming trainer Ed Bethell operates from the heart of Yorkshire and he believes that a horse bearing the county’s name could be going places.
The Middleham handler described Yorkshire – a 100,000 guineas colt by Harry Angel – as a horse with “a big future” after his authoritative victory at Redcar today (see main picture).
The two-year-old, owned by Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing and confidently ridden by PJ McDonald, built on his promising debut third at Haydock in August, by comfortably accounting for Karl Burke’s Colnago in the Yorkshire Jump Racing Is Back EB Novice Stakes.
Bethell said: “He ran a really nice race at Haydock and the form worked out well. We’ve always liked him and he’s an exciting horse for next year. That’s it for the season but he has a big future as a three-year-old.”
Yorkshire was the second leg of a quick-fire double for PJ McDonald after Welsh raider Evolicatt outbattled favourite Day Member, trained at Newmarket by William Haggas, in the opening Join Racing TV Now Claiming Stakes.
Evolicatt, trained at Abergavenny by David Evans, has had a busy two-year-old campaign and has now won twice in 11 starts.
It’s at this meeting each year that Redcar honours one of its most successful trainers, Sam Hall, who died in 1977 after a career that included winning five Zetland Gold Cups and three successive Andy Capp Handicaps at the seaside track.
The 14th running of the Sam Hall Memorial Handicap was won by Divine Comedy, trained at Newmarket by Chris Wall and well ridden by 7lbs claimer Kaiya Fraser.
The Le Havre filly had won at Newcastle in May and been placed at Nottingham and Brighton before her second career win at Redcar.
Oh So Charming, trained at Northallerton by Grant Tuer and ridden by Sam James, was an easy five-lengths winner of the Market Cross Jewellers British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (Division One).
Owner Jimmy Kay, who lives near Leeds and deals in wooden pallets, said: “I saw him as a yearling and always liked him because he loved his work. The trainer thought he’d run a big race today.
“It’s nice to get a winner at Redcar because I’ve never had much luck here in the past. I’ve had one that refused to enter the stalls, another that got loose in the parade ring, and another that got beaten in a photo.”
Supporters of Coventry City Football Club had cause for celebration after Playupskyblues forged clear under Kieran O’Neill to justify odds-on favouritism in Division Two.
Trained at Newmarket by Alice Haynes, the Kodiac gelding is owned by Gary Allsopp, chairman of Dubai real estate company, Allsopp & Allsopp, which sponsored the football club for five years. Playupskyblues is named after the club’s theme song.
Mr Allsopp said: “I’m very proud to be born and bred in Coventry and it’s great to see him come to Redcar and do the business. We weren’t sure how he’d cope with the soft ground, but he’s done it really well, and we’ll have a lot of fun with him over ten furlongs next year.
“There’ll be a lot of Coventry fans would have backed him today, so it’ll be a bad result for bookies in the city!”
Course and distance winner Asmund, trained at Malton by Declan Carroll, returned to the track to make all in the Best Flat Races Live On Racing TV Handicap under an enterprising ride by Harrison Shaw.
The gelding is owned by Sarah Bryan, from Sheffield, and her son, Sean, said: "He loves the straight seven furlongs here."
Equine dentist Chris Napthine, from Staxton, near Scarborough, has a nice filly on his hands in Zarabanda, who outgunned the Roger Varian-trained favourite, Prakasa, in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Novice Stakes.
The Teofio chestnut, trained at Upper Helmsley by David O’Meara, ploughed a loan furrow on the far rail and ran on strongly. Watson said: "She impressed when she was third on her debut at Newcastle, and she's come on for that run. She finished off well today, will be better over a mie and a quarter, and there's plenty more to come."
The owner added: “I’m over the moon. She had a few niggles, so I took her home for a break and that did her the world of good. David and the team at the yard have done a great job with her.”
Lois Teal made her first ever ride under rules a winning one as Quercus Robur powered home for Richard Fahey in the last race of the day, the Watch Racing Replays At Racingtv.Com Handicap for female amateur jockeys.
Lois, who has ridden in point-to-points, rides out every day for the Fahey yard at Malton. She described the victory as “pretty class but very tiring”.