THICK fog nearly scuppered yesterday's meeting at a very murky Sedgefield, the meeting only getting the green light a half-an-hour before the scheduled 12.30pm start time.

And the gloom didn't stop there because favourite backers were set for a nasty shock in the opening Mares' Maiden Hurdle when 11-8 favourite, Camden Bella, was floored by 14-1 outsider, Air Of Affection.

Air Of Affection had previously run creditably in a bumper at Newcastle and the result didn't come as a surprise to her trainer, Jim Turner. He said: "That's my first winner of the season, she really needs fences but not until next year," explained the successful Norton-le-Clay handler.

Neither did things didn't get any better for punters in the following Betfred Handicap Chase by virtue of the market leaders, Tee-Jay and Cirrus, both being pulled up a long way from the finish.

With two of the principals sunk without trace, the door was left ajar for the 33-1 rag, Bang And Blame, to rout the remainder under a determined front-running ride from the up-and-coming amateur, Michael McAllister.

At least the bookies didn't get things all their own way since the well-backed 7-2 shot, Charlotte Vale, made no mistake in the next under Tony Dobbin.

"Charlotte Vale has been a delight to have around. She's already done us proud on the Flat and I always thought she'd win on her hurdles debut," revealed a smiling Micky Hammond, responsible for the versatile dual-purpose four-year-old daughter of top sire, Pivotal.

Having earlier partnered Air Of Affection to victory, Graham Lee completed a 104-1 double with a last-gasp win on Theatre Knight in the beige and brown Graham Wylie' colours.

Howard Johnson's seven-year-old looked well and truly cooked at third fence from the home, however Lee somehow conjured up a spirited surge to collar Sue Smith's Rare Society right on the line.

"He showed plenty of speed and there should be more to come, plus Theatre Knight could get further," reported Wylie, who expressed relief that the Johnson yard were now well and truly back in the pink.

Northallerton-based trainer Edwin Tuer did himself and joint owner Albert Nixon a good turn by purchasing Villago at Doncaster's May Sales.

"When they win, they win easy," said Tuer about Villago, who pulled eight lengths clear of a big field to land the betdirect.co.uk Novices Handicap Hurdle in facile fashion.

Favourite backers finally came to the fore when the 3-1 chance, Jethro Tull, justified sustained support to take the stamina-sapping three-and-a-half-mile Handicap Hurdle.

"A bit like me, Jethro Tull is getting slower as he gets older so needs long distances, remarked the gelding's soon-to-move trainer, Geoff Harker.

Harker, currently occupying Bolton Hall stables near Wensley, is hoping that before Christmas he can take charge of the 54-box Louella Stud, not far from Thirsk.

Rather surprisingly the jockeys were allowed to weigh out for the 3.30, however as the mist reached pea soup proportions course officials sensibly abandoned the last race for safety reasons.

* Bryan Smart has vowed to appeal against the £2,300 fine for the running and riding of Ben Casey at Southwell.

The Thirsk-based trainer was penalised and jockey Paul Eddery suspended for 16 days after the three-year-old finished a three-quarter length second behind Mulberry Lad in the betdirect.co.uk Maiden Claiming Stakes.

The stewards found Smart and Eddery in breach of the 'non-triers' rule and as well as punishing the trainer and jockey, they also banned the horse from running for 40 days.

Smart was not at the track but he did see the race on television and he was fuming at the decision of the stewards.

He said: ''I have never stopped a horse in all my training career.

''This horse was off, he was there to win. I found him two races I thought he could win, one was a five-furlong race and this one.

''Paul Eddery has rode a misjudged race, that's what he's done. That horse was not stopped. To fine me that amount of money is a ridiculous thing, all because of a misjudged race. I am so angry I can hardly speak.

''I told him to drop him in a little bit but he has dropped him in too far.

"I was saying 'go on, go on', I was shouting my head off, he's quickened up and gone for it but the horse only just gets six furlongs - that is in Paul's defence.

''He has rode a bad, misjudged race and for the stewards to take it out on me is ridiculous. This horse is moderate, he's never won a race in his life. I don't play about with horses and my yard doesn't.

''When we have winners we're over the moon. Every horse from this yard is trying. I am definitely going to appeal. My yard runs straight. I'm not very happy and it's going to go further than this.''

Stipendiary steward Ashley Bealby said: The stewards have found Paul Eddery in breach of Rule 157 and Bryan Smart was found in breach of Rule 155 and Ben Casey suspended from running for 40 days.

''The stewards were unhappy with the way the horse was ridden in the final furlong and a half.

''Coming round the final bend, Paul had a double handful and he really didn't let it down until it was too late to win the race, in the stewards' opinion. Had more effort been made a furlong out, the stewards felt the horse probably would have won the race on balance.

''Mr Smart was represented in the inquiry and his representative said he was very satisfied with the ride Paul Eddery had given the horse.''

Eddery is out of action on December 3-7, 9, 10 and 12-20, while the horse is banned from Friday until January 3.

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