TEENAGER Jack Nicholls had a day he’ll never forget at Redcar Races today after riding in his first ever race – and winning by five lengths.

The 16-year-old, who only took his GCSEs last year, powered clear on the filly Hurt You Never to win the final race of the day, The Watch Race Replays On Racing TV Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap.

And to make victory even sweeter, the youngster was riding for his dad, Adrian, who trains at Sessay, in North Yorkshire.

Jack, who was claiming 7lbs, said: “It’s the best feeling ever – just brilliant. What a filly – what a legend.

The Northern Echo:

“The horse went through the pack, and I kept on pushing but my legs were so tired by the end. I’ll strengthen up and get better, so hopefully I can keep picking up rides.”

Jack’s hoping to register as an apprentice, depending on how his weight develops.

Asked what he thought of his son’s performance, his dad quipped: “He won too far!”

County Durham trainer Michael Dods must be wishing May would never end because he was landing his 15th winner in the month when Roaring Ralph stormed home under Connor Beasley in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap.

The Roaring Lion gelding runs in the red and yellow colours of Cumbria building company owner Frank Lowe and is named after his son, Ralph.

Dods said: “The blinkers have made a big difference. I felt he was swinging the lead a bit. Plus, he’s been struggling on the soft ground, and he has a fast ground pedigree. Hopefully, he can go forward from this.”

Mr Lowe is a loyal supporter of the Dods team, and his horses include 13-time winner Gale Force Maya. He confirmed that this will be the gallant mare’s final season before she goes to stud.

Harrogate-born Bruce Jamieson achieved a lifetime's ambition to have a winner in Yorkshire when his gelding Makalu, trained near York by Ruth Carr, held on gamely under Jimmy Sullivan, to win the Join Racing TV Now Handicap Stakes.

The trainer said: “He just hasn’t had the rub of the green in his last few runs, but Jimmy made a good move to chase the front two early and that’s probably won him the race.”

Mr Jamieson, who is retired from the banking world, added: “I’m a Yorkshireman and it’s always been my ambition to see my colours win on a Yorkshire track with Ruth as trainer.

“We’ve had winners at Southwell, Musselburgh and Newcastle twice, and, as far as I’m concerned, Redcar is in Yorkshire – I don’t care what anyone says!”

Jockey Neil Callan hasn't ridden at Redcar for 10 years but he landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies' Stakes, on impressive newcomer Onigiri for Newmarket trainer Marco Botti.

Callan, who is back in the UK after riding 282 winners in Hong Kong, is flying high with the best winning percentage this year among jockeys with more than 100 rides.

He predicted the Expert Eye filly is likely to progress after she comfortably overcame Amy Murphy’s Geologist in the final furlong.

“She’s always been a nice filly. She’s very professional with natural speed. I always felt from the furlong pole that I’d pick up the leader,” said Callan.

Pledgeofallegiance stayed on well under Luke Morris to land the Reccarracing.co.uk Maiden Handicap for the evergreen Sir Mark Prescott.

The jockey said: "He’s a lovely big horse and he’s the kind of stout stayer that grinds them into the ground. He loves big galloping tracks and will be a better horse again over two miles. Off a mark of 68, you’d think there’s still room for manoeuvre.”

Burglar, ridden by Robert Havlin, stole the show in the Watch Irish Racing On Racingtv Novice Stakes. Like his sire, Cracksman, he won in the colours of Anthony Oppenheimer, and is trained at Newmarket by John and Thady Gosden.

Havlin said: “He was babyish on his first couple of runs but his demeanour was different today. We always thought he’d improve.”

The jockey-trainer-owner combination had a quick-fire double when Spring Fever, a daughter of Dubawi, won the Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Fillies Handicap.

The jockey said: "She's a filly that’s strengthened up as we’ve gone along and is bred to get a bit further. She’s always felt like a filly that will improve and, hopefully, there’s more to come from her too.”