Challoner signs off on high

perth: Retiring jockey chalks up another win in final days in the saddle

Harry Challoner made his last ride at Perth a winning one as the Dianne Sayer-trained Gold Chain secured her fifth course win in the Salutation Hotel Mares’ Handicap Hurdle last night.

The jockey, who plans to retire after one final mount at Uttoxeter on Saturday, said: “It was great to ride out my claim and ride at all the big festival meetings.

“I also loved my time with Venetia Williams and it’s fantastic being based in the north as the craic and banter is brilliant.”

The Sayer stable chalked up a double when Colm McCormack steered home 16-1 shot Sergeant Pink in the Distinctive Publishing Handicap Chase.

Tom Lacey’s Jester Jet completed a hat-trick in the evening’s feature event, the £10,000 Heineken UK Handicap Hurdle, while Spoils of War scored for Milnathort trainer Lucinda Russell in the Edinburgh Gin Novices’ Handicap Hurdle under Blair Campbell.

Nicky Richards has his eye on today’s feature race at the Scone track with Caius Marcius.

An odds-on course-and-distance scorer in novice company last June, the Greystoke raider faces five rivals in the £12,000 Investec Wealth And Investment Handicap Hurdle.

Richards said: “We believe this is a horse that needs the better ground, that’s why we’ve kept him going.

“He was unlucky also not to have won at Musselburgh in January as he was travelling strongly when unseating his jockey three out.

Now he is settling better, he may be worth a try at two miles four furlongs as he was pricking his ears at Perth last summer.”

Call The Cops, carrying the JP McManus colours, and Donald McCain’s Raise A Spark are joint-top weights on 11st 12lb while Inverness pilot Alexander Thorne partners another course-anddistance winner, Deepsand, for his boss Lucinda Russell.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s red and white silks are carried by Sam Twiston-Davies aboard Paul Nicholls-trained Lou Vert in the Totepool Happy Perth Ladies Day Handicap Chase.

The Somerset visitor was going well when departing three out at Wincanton in April and his most interesting opponent is three-timer Perth winner Amilliontimes who returns from 10 months off for Britain’s most northerly trainer Jackie Stephen, who saddled Welcome Ben to victory last night.

William Haggas’s Tasleet staked his claim for top sprinting honours after streaking clear under Jim Crowley to win the Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes at York from last year’s winner Magical Memory.

Picture: Gareth Jennings. Eventual winner Just Before Dawn sets the pace in the opening race of Perth’s evening meeting.

Harry Challoner: rode Gold Chain to victory on his final visit to Perth.