Johnston must wait for record
● Scot still one win away from becoming leading UK trainer
Mark Johnston will have to wait a little longer to overtake Richard Hannon snr and be the winning-most trainer in the UK after Lynwood Gold, the Scot’s only runner in Britain yesterday, lost all chance at the start of the mile-and-a-half handicap at Pontefract.
Lynwood Gold came out of the stalls at least ten lengths behind his three rivals and could not make up the deficit as Armandihan (6-1) led all the way to win by six lengths from Appointed. Lynwood Gold was another four lengths away in third.
Middleham-based Johnston, who drew level with Hannon snr’s tally of 4,193 winners with a double on Saturday – Quintada at Doncaster and Dr Richard Kimble at Ripon – will have three chances to reach the milestone at Leicester today.
Meanwhile, Cowboy Soldier can take the rich spoils on offer in the Sky Bet Windsor Sprint Series Finale Handicap at the Berkshire venue today.
Trainer robert co well thinks a lot of the three-year-old colt and it is fair to say the best is yet to come from the lightly-raced sprinter. He is stepping up to six furlongs for the first time and the impression is that it would clearly suit him judged on his latest efforts.
He only got up in the final strides to take a qualifier in this series over five furlongs in May and got going too late when turned over at odds of 4-9 by Gold Filigree at Chelmsford.
It was a similar story over the fast five at Glorious Goodwood when he was third to the progressive Lord Riddiford. This longer distance could be the making of Cowboy Soldier when he goes for a first prize of £46,000.
Tylery Wonder ended a losing streak going back to last September when scoring in cosy fashion over Windsor’s five furlongs last week.
A 6lb penalty might not stop Paul Midgley’s eight-year-old from doubling up in the Sky Bet Proud To Support Candlelighters Handicap.
Storm Ahead can breeze to victory for trainer Tim Easterby in the World Of James Herriot Handicap at Thirsk.
The five-year-old put a poor run on the all-weather at Newcastle firmly behind him with a solid performance to finish fourth at Carlisle last time out. He has been steadily coming down the handicap and after being lowered a further 2lb after his latest effort can take advantage of the assessor’s leniency in first-time blinkers.
At Bangor, Donald Mccain’s Beach Break can build on his victory at Cartmel last month by claiming the brooke rank in & Co Accountants Handicap Hurdle.