MICHAEL Dods has his horses in a rich vein of form and he kept the momentum going today when Cuban Storm put up a progressive performance at Redcar.

The Havana Grey gelding relished the switch from the all-weather to turf, and the drop back to five furlongs, to comfortably land the Join Racing TV Now Handicap in the hands of Connor Beasley.

It followed Dods’ four-timer at Thirsk on Saturday and the County Durham stable is now on 18 winners for the season.

Beasley said: "We've always held him in high regard, and he's still not the finished article.”

Dods added: “He ran too freely over six furlongs at Newcastle last time and we’ll keep him over five now. He’ll improve and he’s a nice horse to look forward to.”

Sedgefield owner-trainer Ray Craggs described the victory of Ron O in the Watch Racing TV In Stuning HD Handicap as being “like David beating Goliath” after Jason Hart produced a strong finish on the course and distance winner to sweep past Godolphin’s Arctic Mountain.

Eighty-year-old Craggs trains just four horses as a hobby at his County Durham farm and was “chuffed to bits” to put one over 'The Boys In Blue'.

 

"Ron O’s a lovely, genuine horse who likes Redcar. He goes on any ground but he's better when it's firm like today,” said Craggs. "I think we'll go pot-hunting now because he's capable of winning a nice race at somewhere like York."


The eight-race card began with Dolce Vitta, trained at Newmarket by George Boughey, running out a five-length winner of the racingtv.com EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (Division One) over six furlongs.

 

The Cotai Glory filly, who had Charlie Johnston’s well-backed debutante Rex Carver in her wake, had been a promising third in a maiden at Ascot on her debut 10 days ago.

Jockey Pat Cosgrave said: “George’s horses always improve for the first run and that was quite a nice race at Ascot. The competition wasn’t as strong today, but she was very professional, and she’ll be even better when she goes over seven furlongs.”

Sea of Diamonds, trained at Lambourn by Archie Watson and ridden by claimer Laura Coughlan, was a commanding winner of Division Two on her debut.

The jockey said: “She’s done that really nicely – I had an easy job. She’s a nice filly and will come on for the run.”

There was also a big cheer in the winner’s enclosure for We’ve Got This – trained by Craig Lidster and ridden by Tom Eaves – who was a highly promising second on her first run in the colours of The Graham Lee Racing Club.

Graham was paralysed from the neck down in a fall at Newcastle last November, and membership of the club costs £17, with proceeds going towards the popular jockey and his family.

Paul Hanagan, Director of Racing for The Good Racing Company, which manages the club, said: “We’re delighted and think she’s got a big future. I love to see a horse finish like that, and it was a case of the further she went the better. The main thing is it’s supporting Graham and his family, and anyone can join.”

The feature race of the day, The Woodsmith Construction Straight Mile Fillies’ Handicap, was won by Summit, trained at Upper Helmsley by David O’Meara, and ridden by David Nolan.

After the filly outstayed James Fanshawe’s favourite, Milliterries, Nolan said: “She travelled beautifully throughout the race and picked up nicely.”

O’Meara completed a double when The Crafty Mole dug in well under claimer Mark Winn to land the Watch Racing TV On Sky 424 Handicap, seeing off the challenge of market rival Believitanducan.

The gelding was defying a five-pound penalty for winning at Wetherby last time, and one mile six clearly suits, with Winn reporting: “He was doing his best work at the finish.”

There was also a quick-fire double for Malton trainer Tim Easterby, who struck with Evelyn’s Phoenix, in the racingtv.com Handicap (Division One), and followed up in Division Two with Georgie Wooster, both ridden by David Allan.

Evelyn Phoenix, making his handicap debut, flew close home to deny Michael Dods another winner with Mambha.

The winner is co-owned by Harrogate-based John Saville, and the trophy was received by his four-year-old great-granddaughter, Sophie. The horse is named after Sophie’s sister, who missed the race because she was at school!

Georgie Wooster stayed on strongly for Mules Racing, a syndicate based at The Mews Hotel, in Ossett. The group was put together by Lee Bond, whose white colours have been in the winner's enclosure at Redcar numerous times thanks to the course specialist Give It Some Teddy.

Lee said: "We've had to be patient with him while he matured, and now we're hoping he'll do well over this distance and further."