Winner

On just his second start for us since moving to the yard from Brian Ellison, BIG TIME DANCER more than justified his price by winning the maiden hurdle at Hexham today, going off at a skinny 6/4F.

This was just his third start over hurdles, but he certainly had the form to win this. Sean Quinlan did everything right in the saddle, tracking the leaders until taking it up between the last two hurdles, going clear before the last and staying on well to win by two lengths. Well done to owners Andy Bell, Anna Noble, and Arnie Flower! Let's hope he can follow up and build on that good performance.

TANARPINO had won a point to point in Ireland on his debut, and had also achieved three wins over hurdles since joining the yard, but coming into this race today he had yet to break his duck over fences, and was very unlucky last time at Uttoxeter when just nailed on the line to come second by a neck. On this occasion he managed to build on some good performances on his previous starts, which also included being placed in a handicap at Cheltenham.

At Hexham today he was contesting the Great North Swim Novices' Chase and he jumped well, made all, and strode clear from the last to win comfortably by seven lengths. He was fully entitled to win this and did it extremely well. Thanks to Sean Quinlan for an excellent ride and many congratulations to owners P and Mrs G A Clarke.

AQUA LIBRE, having her first run since October in the Molson Group Handicap at Bath, had raced on quick ground earlier in her career. Despite that, she seemed to have confined her best runs to the all-weather, where she won as a two year old. Since moving to the yard last year, we had only had the chance to try her on softer ground, so it was something of an experiment to try her on ground so fast today. It seemed that enough of the racegoers at Bath seemed to think she wouldn't be inconvenienced by the conditions, as her price shortened from 10/1 into 7/1, and Eddy Greatrex gave her a great ride. He grabbed the rail and made virtually all the running. The mare stayed on well inside the final furlong to open her account on turf in game fashion, so we are very pleased to be able to wish owner Mrs Donna Hopkins our hearty congratulations!

In the two and a half mile Handicap Chase at Bangor, a bold ride from the front sealed the result for ZOLFO, a 6 year old gelding by Cloudings. He was placed in a PTP in Ireland before coming over to England, and had also been placed a couple of times for us prior to this. He should have a good future, but despite his racecourse experience he is still a bit of a baby who we expect will develop physically and improve as time goes on.

He was able to see this field off very comfortably in the end despite being off for nearly ten months, and showed plenty of enthusiasm over his fences throughout. Always prominent, he was a couple of lengths in front approaching the last, and really asserted his superiority on the run-in to win easily by 6 lengths. A great day in the sunshine at Bangor for jockey Sean Quinlan and owners Mr and Mrs Clarke, who nearly enjoyed a double only a few hours later when Tanarpino was frustratingly just beaten by a neck at Uttoxeter!

SUNSHINEANDBUBBLES won the FCL Global Forwarding Fillies' Handicap at Wolverhampton last night with talented young apprentice Rossa Ryan in the plate. The 5yo mare has been in tremendous form recently and she defied yet another career-high mark thanks to an injection of pace around the home turn that put all of her rivals in immediate trouble.

The five-year old only joined us late last year and that is now her fifth win since starting an exceptional run of form just before Christmas. She is tough and genuine and, like her stable companion Star Ascending, her wins mean she has gone up significantly in the handicap, rising from a mark of 51 to her current 69, with a further increase now inevitable.

Hopefully there is more in the tank and that she will continue her good form through the summer, Congratulations to rider Rossa Ryan, who has formed a good association with her, and winning owners The Amazing Racing Syndicate, who still have shares available in this horse!