MIDDLEHAM trainer Ed Bethell is aiming the progressive See That Storm at Redcar’s historic Zetland Gold Cup after the gelding’s fourth successive victory today.

The four-year-old completed a hat-trick for jockey Callum Rodriguez at the seaside track after wins on Bethell’s classy filly Fluorescent and Peter Niven’s Sugar Baby.

See That Storm, a recruit last year from the powerful Andrew Balding stable, finished last season with a hat-trick of wins, including two at Redcar, and has kept the momentum going at the start of this campaign.

Bethell was clearly impressed after his charge had ground out victory from David O’Meara’s slow-starting Creatif in the Racing TV Free Trial Handicap.

“I was a bit worried that he could have stripped fitter, so that was a good performance,” said the trainer. “He’s going to be a fun horse for the rest of the season and the Zetland Gold Cup is the target back here on May 26.”

Bethell also has the Chesterfield Cup at Glorious Goodwood in mind for the horse, owned by Richard Christison.

Earlier, Bethell’s Fluorescence made it two wins out of two with a smooth victory under Rodriguez in the Start Racing TV Free Trial Now Fillies Novice Stakes, with 100-1 shot Vibrant Pearl trailing in her wake.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if black type was well within her range,” said Bethell, who had chosen the easier Redcar race in preference to a listed race at Chelmsford.

There was more sweet success for Rodriguez when Sugar Baby, trained in North Yorkshire by Peter Niven, prevailed in an exciting finish to the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap (Division One).

After Sugar Baby got up in the final strides to beat Joanna Mason on Tina Jackson’s Without Flaw, Niven said: “I thought he’d win today – he’s a grand little horse.”

The gelding missed the whole of last season with a muscular issue but has now scored twice this year for the Hard Held Partnership and Angus Racing.

Tim Easterby’s string is in fine form and he made it three winners from his last five runners when Double Parked stayed on well to land the Join Racing TV Restricted Novice Stakes under the ever-reliable David Allan.

Allan said: “The horses are flying! The biggest issue is getting him to relax but he should keep improving.”

The seven-race card got underway in glorious sunshine with an impressive performance from Newmarket raider Zappata in the Racing TV Club Day Here Today Handicap.

The son of Oasis Dream, trained by George Scott and confidently ridden by 5lbs claimer Liam Wright, was defying a 6lbs penalty for a win at Wetherby at the weekend and now heads to Bath on Monday.

Wright said: “It was very straightforward, and he put the race to bed quickly. He’s a nice horse going forward.”

Faye McManoman was shown to good effect when a policy of “keeping it simple” paid off on Nigel Tinkler’s Sergeant Mayer in Division Two of the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap.

Challenging inside the final furlong, the consistent gelding beat favourite Golden Rainbow by half a length to deny Callum Rodriguez a four-timer.

“Everything fell right today. He was very tough and really stuck his neck out for me,” said McManoman.

The final race, the Watch Race Replays At Racingtv.com Handicap, was won in good style by David O’Meara’s Raulin under an enterprising ride by David Nolan.

It was compensation for owners, Akela Thoroughbreds, who had been second behind See That Storm with Creatif.

• Main picture: See That Storm seals a hat-trick for Callum Rodriguez. Picture: Anna Gowthorpe