REDCAR REPORT

SAMMY Jo Bell struck an appropriate blow for female jockeys on Ladies’ Day at Redcar today (Saturday).

The highly-rated three-pound claimer was in a wheelchair just over a year ago after a horse fell on her and broke her pelvis in the paddock at Carlisle.

But the rejuvenated rider was a popular Ladies’ Day winner on Adrakhan for veteran Consett trainer and owner Wilf Storey in The Betty Leigh Boutique Fashion Show Handicap Stakes.

Storey said after the race: “Sammy gave him a fantastic ride. He’s a smashing horse but he’s been in need of a strong gallop.”

Michael Dods, who trains at Denton, near Darlington, is in fine form and his only runner at the meeting, Foxy Boy, justified market support by swooping late to beat Mr Strutter in the final race on the card.

Foxy Boy is owned by North-East door and window suppliers, The Sekura Group, and company boss Charles Hill said the chestnut geldings win at 7-1 had been expected.

“We paid 40,000 guineas for him so we knew he was a nice horse. We thought he’d win this and he’s entered again at Beverley on Tuesday.”

Another window and door specialist featured amongst the sponsors with the H. Jarvis 139th Anniversary Handicap Stakes. Dave Glendinning, managing director of the Marske company, and his grand-daughter Melissa Pomfrey chose Qeyaadah for the best turned out horse prize, and Michael Appleby’s gelding went on to win the race under a strong ride by 7lb apprentice Raymond Dawson.

Another 7lb claimer, Patrick Vaughan was shown to good effect when winning the fifth race on Tony Coyle’s Nonno Giulio, who held off Miss Goldsmith by half a length.

By far the most impressive winner of the day was Robert Cowell’s Newmarket raider Peace Dreamer, who came right away from the field under Dougie Costello in the sixth race to win by seven lengths from Granny Roz.

The well-backed Batten The Hatches, a topical winner on a gusty day, also never looked like losing with a pillar to post victory under PJ McDonald in The Market Cross Jewellers Handicap Stakes for Thirsk handler David Barron.

The first race went to Malton, with John Quinn’s Shaheen proving too strong for Richard Fahey’s Gangland.