LANDMARK FOR THORNTON Andrew Thornton rode the 400th winner of his career at Uttoxeter before the meeting was cut short because of a security alert. As the seven runners were taking part in the 3.10 race, the stanleybet.co.uk Handicap Chase, racegoers were asked to evacuate the stands after a coded bomb warning. And soon afterwards the meeting was officially abandoned. The track`s general manager Rod Street said: 'We have had a bomb warning which we must take seriously due to the persistent number of calls.' An hour earlier Thornton had steered Needwood Lion to an all-the-way success in the Weatherbys Marketing Services Novices` Chase to reach his landmark. 'It`s nice to get there,' remarked the 28-year-old jockey, whose biggest success came on Cool Dawn in the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup. 'I`ve had a few ups and downs along the way. 'It took a long time for me to work my way up to the top. Once you get there and get one or two injuries you get knocked back down again - it`s swings and roundabouts. So with a bit of luck if you keep in one piece you`re always going to ride a few winners. 'Getting knocks is part of the job - you`ve got to take them on the chin when they come along.' Needwood Lion, who came home three and a half lengths ahead of Frenchman`s Creek with Monarch`s Pursuit a further 19 lengths back in third, has a mind of his own according to winning trainer Henry Daly. 'He`s a brave man`s ride,' said Daly. 'He`s always been a bit keen.' And Thornton picked up on Daly`s remarks about the 9-1 winner. He said: 'The horse goes flat out from the word go and you have to go with him, it`s just a case of presenting him to his fences correctly.' There was a thrilling finish to the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle when Garruth, with Russ Garritty in the plate, repelled the strong challenge of the Tony McCoy-ridden Wain Mountain by half a length. Blinkered for the first time the 7-4 favourite took up the running with a circuit to go and at one point looked as though he would come away from the field. But a combination of the heavy ground and McCoy`s never-say-die attitude meant it was a close run thing between the pair at the end of the extended three miles. Questioned about the use of blinkers, trainer Tim Easterby`s representative Grainger Morgan-Evans said: 'They are there basically because he is lazy. 'He`s not in any way ungenuine but just a little laid back. Actually he`s so laid back he`s almost horizontal.' The Mark Pitman trained Flying Trix easily landed odds of 2-5 in the Bass Brewers (Midlands) `National Hunt` Novices` Hurdle in the colours of Patrick and Esther Bancroft, who owned Esha Ness 'winner' of the void Grand National in 1993. 'This horse has just turned five and could be anything,' said Pitman. 'We are pleased with the way his jumping has got better. 'We`ve nothing in mind and we`ll see how we go with him.' Bullens Bay, an 11-4 chance, put his stamina to good use when winning the opening Peter J Douglas Engineering Selling Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles for Bridgend permit holder David Lloyd. The good recent run of Venetia Williams continued when the trainer saddled Bramblehill Duke to win what turned out to be the last race of the afternoon, the stanleybet.co.uk Handicap, at 8-1. The winner is owned by South Wales Shower Supplies T/A Faucets, who sponsor Miss Williams` Ross-On-Wye yard.
