Geordie boost for Berry
Alan Berry received a welcome boost when Geordie Dancer halted a long losing streak for the Cockerham trainer at Carlisle on Monday.
He had saddled 98 runners in the last seven weeks without success but that all ended when Jamie Spencer gave Geordie Dancer a brilliant ride to take the Farewell To 2005 Flat Season Handicap.
The gelding was smartly away and set a good pace but he looked held when the gambled-on Carnivore – 5-1 from 20-1 – went into the lead approaching the final furlong.
However, Spencer is riding at the top of his game in his bid for his first championship and he conjured a powerful late rally out of his mount as the 8-1 shot got back up in the dying strides for a dramatic short-head verdict.
“He did well really because the other horse went a length up but it’s a long way to the line here and in fairness I had the rail. He did well though and that’s two from two for Alan this season – 100 per cent strike rate,” Spencer said.
It was honours even in the title race after his rival Seb Sanders had been on the mark earlier with Tempsford in the Carlisle Conference Group & Waverley TBS Handicap.
Sanders had started the day 12 adrift of Spencer but that was temporarily reduced after Sir Mark Prescott’s gelding had shrugged off a 317-day absence to beat Ski Jump by a length and a quarter.
As a result of his win Tempsford picked up a 5lb penalty for the totesport Cesarewitch, for which he was cut to 14-1 from 25-1 by both Ladbrokes and VC Bet.
Steve Drowne is a rare visitor to the Cumbrian venue these days but he made his trip pay off when he got Untimely home in a good finish to the Billy Brunton Memorial Handicap.
“She was just idling and she’s still a bit green and I would hope she’d win again somewhere,” Drowne said.
He added: “I thought it was going to be a blank day when Cabourg got beaten earlier on but I’ve got one for the trip now.”
Newport-based trainer Paul Blockley sprang a 33-1 shock with Gramada in the Atlas Communications Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
He has only recently taken over the training of the filly and he said: “David Flood had her before. I’ve only run her once before and that was at Bath when she needed it and I was pleased with her.
“She’s by Cape Cross and has got a good pedigree.”
Vanilla Delight proved Howard Johnson right with a game victory in the the Book Your Christmas Party Here EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
The County Durham trainer had high hopes for the filly in the seven-furlong contest after she had recently shown plenty of dash on the gallops.
The 12-1 shot did not let her connections down with a half-length call over Maroussies Wings in the hands of Royston Ffrench after leading just inside the two-pole.
Johnson was represented by Ray Hawkey, who said: “Howard said she was a lovely filly. He said she’s been working very well and he thought she’d go well here.”
Jaad became Mark Johnston’s 30th individual juvenile winner of the season team when the newcomer took the Crossling & Mira EBF Maiden Stakes.
