Fahey Ace Trumps Sprint Rivals

Richard Fahey described Fonthill Road as a 'legend' after the seven-year-old got up to claim the valuable paddypower.com Sprint Trophy in the dying strides at York.

Last year's Ayr Gold Cup winner has found life tough this term and has appeared in the grip of the handicapper.

In fact, Fahey still believed that to be the case and even told his owners so beforehand.

But the durable sprinter, who was racing off a mark 1lb higher than in the Ayr Gold Cup last season, collared the front-running 20-1 chance Hoh Hoh Hoh to win by a neck with Commando Scott and River Falcon filling the minor places.

And even though jockey Paul Hanagan dropped his whip inside the final furlong, Fonthill Road won a shade cosily in the end.

'I thought the handicapper still had him,' said Fahey of the 13-2 scorer.

'I told the owners he had too much weight, which they won't thank me for, but he never ceases to amaze me.

'He loves going flat out all the way and this softer ground helped him.

'He ran a cracker in the Ayr Gold Cup again this year but I couldn't see him winning. He's a legend. He might go for a Listed race at Doncaster now.'

Fahey and Hanagan had further cause for celebration when 8-1 chance Flying Clarets fought off The Grey Berry by a neck to secure a 661/2-1 double in the Parsonage Country House Hotel Stakes.

Max One Two Three (12-1) gave Tom Dascombe and Richard Kingscote one of the biggest wins of their respective careers when showing a fine turn of foot to win the Stowe Family Law LLP Silver Jubilee Rockingham Stakes.

The Princely Heir filly was one of the most inexperienced in the Listed event but quickened past Chesham Stakes winner Maze inside the final furlong to win by two lengths in fine style.

'She's very laid-back,' said Dascombe.

'That's her third run and I think she knows what it's about now. I was devastated when she got beat at Newbury last time as I thought she was a certainty but it didn't go our way.

'She still hit the front a bit early today but luckily the others had already shot their bolt.

'We had our 20th winner this week from about 24 horses, so to get black type for her has just topped the season off.'

Missoula (8-1) ran away with the Shepherd Group Stakes for Yorkshireman Mark Tompkins and Jimmy Quinn.

The trainer may be based in Newmarket but he likes nothing better than cheering home a winner in his home county.

And he never had to worry here as the four-year-old filly sauntered home 13 lengths clear of Kayf Aramis, earning a 40-1 quote from Paddy Power for the totesport.com Cesarewitch.

'She's grown up a lot this year but she's still a relatively lightly-raced filly,' said Tompkins.

'She's still in the Cesarewitch but she would need a fair few to come out to get a run.

'Saying that, we'd have to be tempted with the way she won there. It would be nice if we get in and if she did, she must have a squeak.

'There could be more to come from her next year as she had a lot of problems last season with corns ? I couldn't get her right.'

Ian Semple's 33-1 shot Jewelled Dagger made every yard of the running for Lee Enstone in the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Stakes.

It was an inspired ride by Enstone, who was booting home his first winner on the Knavesmire, as he chose to stay on the far rail while the majority of his rivals went stands side.

Danny Murphy introduced a nice newcomer in the shape of Bright Falcon (11-1), who took the Collingwood Team Service EBF Maiden in eyecatching fashion and initiated a 32-1 double for Richard Hughes.

The rider also scored aboard Market Forces (7-4 favourite) in the closing Coldstream Guards Association Handicap.

'She's improving quickly,' said Hughes.

'I went to Leicester to ride her one day and Henry said all she would do is lengthen so to ride her from the front.

'She didn't like that though and she much preferred being covered up like today. She was entitled to win like that as she had 7lb in hand. She loved the cut in the ground too.'

(C) PA Sport