What a course specialist the gallant grey Hurstwood is turning out to be at Redcar.
The nine-year-old, trained at Malton by Peter Niven, was winning for the fifth time at the seaside track today (Wednesday) when he made the most of his draw up the stand rail to win under Mark Winn.
It was a 13th career win for the Dark Angel gelding, who clearly loves Redcar’s straight six furlongs.
It was a case of déjà vu because he’d come up the stand rails when winning at Redcar just 18 days ago.
“He was drawn 20 of 20 last time and 17 of 17 today,” said the winning trainer. "He's a great horse to train and a real character. He been a decent horse in his time."
Mark Winn, who lost his claim on Hurstwood as part of a Redcar treble in the past, added: "He's been a great little handicapper."
Hurstwood’s win in the Visit racingtv.com Handicap sealed a double for Winn, who had scored earlier with the David O’Meara-trained Talitha Rouge in the Constant Security Services Handicap (Division One).
The unexposed filly showed a fine turn of foot to finish clear of another course specialist, Woodleigh, in second.
Winn told members of the Hot To Trot Racing syndicate: "She's filling into herself, so there should be more to come."
Upper Helsmley trainer O'Meara added: "She made her own running in the last couple of races, and I don't think it suited her too well. There's every chance she'll improve for a fantastically enthusiastic syndicate."
In contrast to Redcar regulars like Hurstwood, southern-based jockey Hector Crouch is a rare visitor to the North East track but he arrived with a strike rate of seven winners from 17 rides in the last five years.
He soon maintained the strong record with a quick-fire double in the first two races on debutante Through The Gate and The Childe of Hale.
Through The Gate, trained at Newmarket by Harry Eustace, got the better of Mick Appleby’s Blue Pete in a tight finish to the opening Racing TV Free Trial Starts Tomorrow EBF Novice Stakes.
"He's done it really nicely," said the winning rider. "Harry said he was doing everything nicely at home, but that he'd improve for the run, and I agree with that. I was always pretty confident I'd win once the split came."
Crouch only had to wait half an hour to secure his double as the well-backed The Childe of Hale, trained at Easinwold by Ivan Furtado, and owned by The Good Racing Company, got the better of Luminous Warrior in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap.
The winning trainer said: "It's nice to see him put his head in front. He ran a good race at Doncaster last time and has come on for that run. The cheekpieces have definitely helped because he's a horse who needs to concentrate better.
"It's great for the yard, great for the owners, and a great ride by Hector. There should be more opportunities on the turf at the back end of the season as long as the ground isn't too quick."
Another long-travelling jockey, Harry Davies, got a nice tune out of Al Jolson to win the Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Maiden Stakes like a 1-6 shot should for the Newmarket yard of Simon and Ed Crisford.
Davies was making a marathon trip north for a single ride pay off on the chestnut son of Night of Thunder. "He's a nice horse,” he said. “It was pretty straightforward and he's learning on the job. I knew he would come good. He's still pretty raw and he'll improve again when he goes further."
There was a nice debut in second by Walk In Provence, a daughter of Frankel, trained at Middleham by Charlie Johnston. She should be winning soon.
Not many Redcar meetings pass by without a winner for the formidable Tim Easterby Racing and David Allan partnership.
And they struck again in The racingtv.com/freetrial with Per Contra for the Ryedale Partners syndicate.
Easterby said: "He loves the ground and the track. He's run in some big races, and he's just dropped in class. We'll get him home and assess what's next. He goes on the all-weather, so we'll see. He's a grand horse."
David O'Meara trained the second and third with Percy's Daydream and Lucky Hero, respectively.
A first-time visor made the difference as Lady Hornblower swooped late to collar the Easterby-trained favourite Sweet Kiss in the Constant Security Services Handicap (Division 2).
The winner is trained at Leyburn by Jedd O’Keeffe and was ridden by Jason Hart, the day after he’d racked up his 100th win of the season.
O'Keefe said: "We were excited about this season when she won a Beverley maiden last year. It was a good start, but things have taken a while to get going, and she's had a wind operation. The visor definitely helped and, hopefully, there's more to come now."
Another course and distance winner came back for more as Yafaarr won the concluding Watch Race Replays On Racing TV Handicap.
The gelding, trained by at Guiseley by Sam England and ridden by Shane Gray, was a Redcar winner in June.
