Spencer sparkles with festive treble

Christmas arrived early for the followers of Jamie Spencer at Lingfield today when the young jockey scored on three well-backed favourites.

The Irishman got off the mark in the Bet Direct Premiership Singles Novice Stakes when even-money shot Stratus led inside the final furlong to beat Camp Commander by a neck.

Stratus was giving trainer Gerard Butler his 50th success of the season.

Butler and Spencer quickly completed a double when 11-4 chance Goshin`s Lad ran out the comfortable winner of the Inside Track Racing Club Selling Stakes 35 minutes later.

After some spirited bidding, the winner was sold for 11,200gns at the subsequent auction.

Spencer`s near 20-1 treble was completed when he enjoyed a dream run on the inside on Siena Star, 7-4 for the second division of the Littlewoods Bet Direct Daily Special Offers Handicap, to land the spoils by a neck from Little Fox.

'I was lucky and got all the breaks,' Spencer modestly told Channel 4 Racing.

'I won on him as a two-year-old and led close home and did a similar thing today.

'He hangs a little bit to the right so I tried to keep one on my right-hand side and stop him drifting and I was lucky to have a horse on my outside all the way.'

On a good day for punters, Shaman got backers off to the right start when holding on resolutely in the opening race to land quite a gamble, having being supported in to 4-1 favourite from an early 11-2.

Ascari led off the home bend in the first division of the Littlewoods Bet Direct Daily Special Offers Handicap but 7lb claimer Amir Quinn produced Shaman down the centre of the track and the youngster drove the favourite into the lead approaching the final furlong.

The Gary Moore-trained Shaman was pressed in the closing stages by Sammy`s Shuffle but held that rival at bay to score by a neck with Ascari four lengths back in third.

Another touch was landed in the Call Bet Direct Free On 0800 329393 Handicap over five furlongs when Madrasee, backed from a morning price of 14-1 into 4-1 second favourite, held on from the 15-8 market leader Jawhari by three-quarters of a length.

Madrasee was dropping back in trip after a below-par effort over seven furlongs last time out.

The daughter of Beveled left that poor run behind as she ran on strongly for Alan Clark to the delight of her supporters.

'She ran over seven last time so we brought her back to five and it worked out,' winning trainer Les Montague Hall told the Racing Channel.

'She won over six at Brighton where she just got home so I thought five would be better and I thought she would win today.'