Swibank tries again
North Yorkshire trainer Alan Swinbank’s Indian summer continued when he saddled 20-1 chance Hartshead to win the TSG Handicap at York.
The handler, who is based near Richmond, enjoyed by far and away his biggest success when Collier Hill took last month’s Irish Field St Leger.
In-form Ouninpohja supplemented that Group One win with victory in a valuable Newmarket handicap eight days later.
And Hartshead kept up the good work when recouping recent Redcar losses by finishing fast under Dean McKeown to take the day’s feature event.
The Carlisle Bell winner was a beaten favourite at the Cleveland track last Saturday when denied a clear run at a crucial stage.
But he made no mistake in this competitive handicap with his late run seeing him beat Benedict and Flipando by half a length and one length.
“That’s 26 winners at home on the Flat this year plus three abroad,” said Swinbank.
“Hartshead has never had a lot of luck since he won the Carlisle Bell.
“He ran well at Redcar last week. He was only beaten two lengths and never got the run of the race.
“We should be satisfied with what we’ve got but he could maybe have won another two this season.
“If we can get another win into him to get his rating up he’ll probably go to Dubai in January, there are a couple of nice races over a mile out there for him.
“He originally came from Michael Stoute’s yard for about six grand. He started his days in bumpers and he didn’t stay but look where he is now.”
Tony Culhane took a step closer to a career milestone when booting Obe Brave (12-1) home in the Racehorse Ownership From £279 On 01904 691344 EBF Maiden Stakes.
The jockey said: “I’m 11 off my 1,000th domestic winner after that. I’m in my 20th season and I rode my first winner 19 years ago.”
Realism rarely runs a bad race at York and so it proved once again when he came late to lead home a one-two for his trainer Richard Fahey in the Garbutt & Elliott Stakes.
The five-year-old finished third to Mullins Bay in the John Smith’s Cup on the Knavesmire in July and then scored over course and distance the following month.
The Machiavellian gelding had been well beaten in last Saturday’s Cambridgeshire at Newmarket but bounced back under a cool ride from Tony Hamilton in this extended 10-furlong contest.
He collared long-time leader and stable companion Instructor well inside the final furlong to win going away by one and a quarter lengths.
Hamilton said: “I dropped him in because sometimes he can be a bit keen but he travelled good and picked up well.
“I was always quite confident. My only worry was if something was going to come from behind me, but they didn’t, so we were alright.”
Manston showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the Acorn Web Offset Stakes over six furlongs.
Brian Meehan’s youngster, sent off the 6-1 favourite, was smartly away under Kevin Darley and after making all the running came clear to win by a length and three-quarters from Yankee George.
The victory was some compensation for the Lambourn trainer after he was fined £500 by the stewards for declaring Violet Park for the TSG Handicap and a race at Newbury, in which the filly ran instead of the York contest.
Up-and-coming apprentice Greg Fairley once again advertised his skills when giving Harrison’s Flyer a polished ride to take the Parsonage Country House Hotel Handicap by a neck from Johnny Parkes.
The 5lb claimer has now ridden 23 winners this season.
