MARK Johnston’s former stable jockey Keith Dalgleish upset the script for his old boss as Redcar honoured the Middleham maestro’s legendary stayer Double Trigger.

Double Trigger started his illustrious career by winning at Redcar by ten lengths on his debut in 1993 and the race is now named the European Breeders’ Fund EBF Double Trigger Novice Stakes.

Johnston trained odds-on favourite, Sea Youmzain, but Dalgleish - now an established trainer - took today's race with the highly impressive I’m Improving.

Living up to his name, I’m Improving won by six lengths, despite running green in the 1m 1f contest, which was the third race of the day.

Sea Youmzain stayed on to be second without striking a blow and Johnston’s other runner Lucky Deal was third.

Dalgleigh’s father John said after I’m Improving’s victory: “It’ll be special for Keith to win a race named after Double Trigger because of his time associated with the Mark Johnston stable.

“It was a really impressive performance because I’m Improving ran so green. He’s living up to his name, isn’t he?”

Asked if the imposing colt (pictured) could end up over jumps, he added: “It’s too early to say but there’s clearly more to come.”

The eight-race card had got off to a good start for Malton, with Richard Fahey’s Aljady taking the opener at 8-1 under Adam McNamara. That was followed by Tim Easterby’s consistent Excellent Times comfortably landing the second with David Allan in the saddle.

Malton was at it again in race four, with Brian Ellison’s Traveltalk overhauling hot favourite Miningrocks’ seemingly unassailable lead in the seller. Delighted owner John James had made the trip from Bournemouth and declared: "It's lovely up here!"

Feature race of the day was the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap Stakes, which went to Redicean, with Phillip Makin bringing the David O’Meara-trained gelding from last to first with a perfectly-timed run.

The Redcar punters may have seen a promising two-year-old make her debut in the form of Andrew Balding’s Straight Away. The Dubawi filly knuckled down well under Oisin Murphy to beat Tim Easterby’s Vive La Difference in the Jeff Smith colours made famous by the likes of Lochsong and Persian Punch. Straight Away is bound to be better for the experience.

Three-pound claimer Jamie Gormley rode a patient race to win the penultimate race on Yes You, outgunning Point of Woods – trained at Loftus by Tina Jackson – close home. Yes You, trained in southern Scotland by Iain Jardine, was winning for the fourth time in nine starts.

Katherine Glenister also rode a fine race to take the final race of the day on David Evans’ Welsh raider Awesome Allan. The gelding drifted alarmingly in the market, ending up a very generous 100-30, but was too strong for Ruth Carr’s Danish Duke in a close finish.

Katherine, riding her 15th winner, said: “Awesome Allan didn’t settle too well to start with but got the trip well. Thirteen of my wins have been for David Evans so he’s been very good to me.”