Winston has high York hopes
Robert Winston is harbouring hopes of taking the top rider title at York’s three-day Ebor meeting.
The jockey warmed up for the Yorkshire feature by notching a 125-1 treble courtesy of Massive, Wednesdays Boy and Go Solo.
Winston was left reflecting on the one that got away though, as he had to give up the ride on the Kidz Play Handicap winner Oeuf A La Neige as he could not do the weight.
He said: “That is how things go, but it has been a good day and I am looking forward to York where I have some good rides.
“They include Stage Gift in the Voltigeur, Short Skirt in the Yorkshire Oaks, Young Mick in the Ebor and I have come in for a good ride for Brian Meehan in the Sales race.”
Massive was Mick Channon’s only runner at the meeting and he made the trip from Berkshire pay off with a decisive success in the European Breeders Fund Kirkoswald Maiden Stakes.
Winston produced the 7-1 shot to head Gazbooluo a furlong from home and he stayed on right to the line to score by two lengths.
Channon was at the Deauville Sales in France and his representative Brian O’Doherty said: “I have just spoken to the boss on the phone and he is over the moon.
“Massive did it well and Robert said he has scope for improvement.”
Winston was on the mark again when Peter Niven’s Wednesdays Boy landed a gamble in the Campbeltown Bar Stewart Scott Memorial Handicap.
Backed down to 7-2 joint-favourite, Wednesdays Boy looked set to let his supporters down when River Logic took it up inside the final furlong.
However, Winston produced his mount to deliver a well-timed challenge and Wednesdays Boy responded well to get up by a neck at the line.
Alan Swinbank’s Go Solo (5-2 favourite) gamely defied top weight in the Dawn Construction Handicap to hold Torrens by three-quarters of a length.
Owner Brian Valentine said: “He won over a mile and a half at Pontefract last time but he coped with the shorter trip all right here today. I think he is still progressing though he tends to idle in front.”
Mandy Rowland was rewarded for her long trip from Nottinghamshire when Anduril provided her with her first success on the Flat in the To Watch Racing UK Call 08700 506 949 Handicap.
Patrick Mathers produced the 25-1 chance with a good run to get his head in front a furlong out, and he kept him going in good style to hold off Dark Charm and Middlemarch by half a length and three-quarters of a length.
Rowland, who has saddled 12 winners over jumps, said: “When we were driving up I was praying that it would keep raining for him and this is the first time this season he has had ground he likes.
“We have 13 horses in at the moment and we are getting more to run on the Flat so it is nice to get off the mark.
“Hopefully we will get a few more, but all winners are hard to come by. Anduril may run at Chepstow next Monday now.”
Anduril was trained by Ian McInnes last term and the Catwick trainer was also in the winner’s enclosure after Motu landed the Ladies Day On Friday 15 September Handicap.
The 6-1 chance was produced by Royston Ffrench two furlongs out to beat Paris Heights by three-quarters of a length.
McInnes said: “I have never sent horses up here and gone back without a winner – perhaps we ought to move up here!
“Motu is still a bit of a monkey but he has got his head together a bit this year and I may run him under a penalty at Musselburgh on Thursday – we will have to see how he comes out of this race.”
Sylvestre de Sousa deputised for Winston on Oeuf A La Neige (8-1) and he made a good fist of it, bringing the Linda Perratt-trained gelding home in front by half a length.
The handler said: “We needed that. We have been waiting for some soft ground with this horse and he ran well last time at Musselburgh. He was previously with Greg Chung and we have only had him for five weeks.”
Kim Tinkler was suspended for two days (September 1 and 3) for using her whip with excessive frequency on Diamond Katie.
Pat Cosgrave was also suspended for one day (September 1) for not riding to his draw on second-placed High Voltage.
David Allan was seen to good effect as he won the Racing UK Is Now £15 Per Month Handicap on the Tim Easterby-trained Trumpita (16-1).
