APPRENTICE Adam McNamara was the star of Redcar’s Caribbean Carnival meeting, plundering a quick-fire double and narrowly missing out on his first treble.

The 3lb claimer, who is attached to the powerful Richard Fahey stable at Malton, was seen to good effect on Zodiakos for North Yorkshire trainer Roger Fell in The Racing UK Straight-Mile Series Handicap Stakes.

He then doubled up in the next race when he scraped home on Malton handler Lawrence Mulllaney’s Diamond Runner, a short head victor from Grant Tuer’s Yensir.

McNamara, 20, who hails from Limerick, has now ridden around 70 winners.

He said: “It’s going really well. That’s my fourth double – I thought the first one might win but wasn’t so confident about the second.”

McNamara was denied a treble in the last race when short-priced favourite Vindicator, trained near Darlington by Michael Dods, was out-battled close home by Stanarley Pic, ridden by Neil Farley and trained at Richmond by Sally Haynes.

Ruth Carr, who trains at Stillington, near York, is enjoying a fine spell and her Magical Effect won The All New racinguk.com Handicap Stakes comfortably despite being slowly away. The New Appproach gedling kept on well to beat Tricky Dicky by two lengths under James Sullivan.

“The horses are running really well. That’s 42 for the season so we’re not far off our record,” she said.

A good crowd, enjoying the fun-packed carnival atmosphere, saw the seven-race card begin with a win for Society’s Dream in the seller. Trained at Leyburn by Karl Burke and ridden by Royston French, the chestnut filly was too strong for 40-1 shot Little Monkey but there was no bid at the auction.

The second race was The Celebrate The Life of Joe Newton Median Auction Maiden Stakes, in honour of a popular Redcar man, who died suddenly at the age of 28 in 2015.

Joe’s father Paul explained that, as a youngster, Joe had earned pocket money by helping to replace the divots after racing at Redcar.

The memorial race, which the family want to be an annual celebration of Joe’s life, was won by odds-on Newmarket raider Bassmah. The chestnut filly, trained by Ismail Mohammed, finally got her head in front under Ben Curtis after three straight seconds this season.

“She has a bit of a mind of her own and it wasn’t quite as straightforward as we thought but she’ll go for a nice handicap now,” said travelling head lad Dan de Haan.

There was a 1-2 for David O’Meara in The Market Cross Jewellers Handicap Stakes, with course and distance winner Hajjam coming through gamely to beat stablemate Fieldsman.

The next date at Redcar is the Ladies and Gents evening meeting on Saturday, August 26.