Yorkidding shows serious guts to grab Musselburgh feature
Third win in big race for Fanning and Johnston combination
Yorkidding ground out a gusty victory in the Archerfield Cup to give trainer Mark Johnston and jockey Joe Fanning their third win in Musselburgh’s feature race yesterday, the Archerfield Cup.
The only mare in the race, who was sent off at 11-4, stayed on stoutly to beat Great Fighter by a length and a half to land the £20,000 prize.
Fanning said the winner “is a grand mare” and Johnston’s travelling head representative, Edinburgh-born Jock Bennett, said: “She’s had a great season and the return to quick ground was the key today.
“She’s tough and has a bit of class, too – you can see why Joe has ridden as many winners round here as he was brilliant .”
Scottish trainers Keith Dalgleish and Iain Jardine both saddled doubles. The former completed a 27-1 double with Kikini Bamalaam and Whatsthemessage, while Jardine took the last two races with Thorntoun Care and Golden Jeffrey, both partnered by Langholm’s Jamie Gormley.
Meanwhile, Ladies Night at Ayr tonight promises some exciting racing.
It is female jockeys only in the opening contest, The QTS Women In Engineering Lady Riders’ Handicap Stakes at 5.50m for both amateurs and professionals. Last year’s winning rider Amy Waugh has an interesting mount in Danny Mc D from the in-form Iain Jardine stable, while top weight Haymarket, who has three-time lady amateur champion Carol Bartley in the saddle could also go close.
The feature race is the QTS Ladies’ Night Grand Spectacular Handicap over the minimum trip of five furlongs and Fast Act, trained by Kevin Ryan and the mount of Kevin Stott should take all the beating.
The final race of the night at 8.50pm is the neselectriacl. com handicap.