Eustace and Tate land newbury feature

James Eustace and Jason Tate teamed up to record a milestone success as Rapscallion ploughed through the mud to land the Vodafone Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury today.

It was a first Group-race winner for both Eustace and his stable jockey, who were both celebrating this victory in the pouring rain.

With proven form in heavy conditions, plenty of punters latched on to the well-backed 7-2 winner, but he was all out in the final yards to hold the late thrust of Samhari by a neck.

Eustace beamed: 'It`s taken 12 years but this is it, this is what`s it`s all about.

'I owe this horse a lot, he has literally come out of every race he`s had better than the last and I keep getting tempted to run him again.

'I suppose we`ll have to enter him in the Guineas now and probably the Derby as well.'

Tate, 29, who had to interrupt a family holiday in Spain to take the leg-up was also celebrating his first win at this level and Eustace paid tribute to him.

'Jason has always done his very best for me and I enjoy working with him,' the trainer said.

'There has never been any doubt over him riding any of mine and I always know where I stand with him - I don`t think there`s a better jockey than him either.'

However, there was a sting in the tail for Tate, who received a two-day suspension for using the whip with excessive force (November 5 and 6).

The winner, owned by Eustace`s leading patron, Jeff Smith, is a home-bred son of Robellino.

'I am delighted for James, I have has horses with him since he started,' said Smith.

'It has taken a while but everything has come together for him.'

Pat Eddery was unseated in the stalls when his mount, Twilight Blues, reared up at the start.

But he made quick amends in the following Schroders Rated Stakes when 11-2 favourite Seven No Trumps beat Now Look Here by three-quarters of a length.

Another milestone was being celebrated as the win brought up a seasonal century for trainer Barry Hills.

'This fellow has been running consistently well for a long time,' he said. 'He doesn`t mind the ground and I`m sure he`ll go on and take some more next year.

'The horses have been going fairly well all year but I don`t set targets for myself, just try and win as many as possible and keep the horses happy.'

Ranville galloped his rivals into the ground to land the Vodafone Group Handicap.

The heavy ground was becoming ever more testing as rain continued to splash down at the track and a flip-start was used for the two-mile contest.

The three-year-old son of Deploy was sent off the 2-1 favourite and kicked into a clear lead four furlongs out, none of his 12 rivals were ever able to get on terms and Ranville stayed on to score by five lengths from Follow Lammtarra.

Too low in the weights to run in this year`s Tote Cesarewitch, next season`s running of the event may be his long-term target, according to winning trainer Michael Jarvis.

'Ever since we`ve stepped him up in trip he has kept winning,' he said. 'He really loves this ground and he just keeps on galloping.

'I would`ve loved to have run him in the Cesarewitch but he was out of the weights by miles - maybe next year.'

Reigning Irish champion jockey Pat Smullen made a rare journey to Britain pay dividends when riding a 104-1 double on his two mounts.

Smullen, who is locked in a battle with Johnny Murtagh and Michael Kinane for this year`s title, was invited over by Brian Meehan, the trainer of both, who had been introduced to the rider at the recent Goffs Sales.

Oases, a 20-1 shot responded well to his jockey`s urgings in the testing conditions to take the TFMCyntergy Maiden Stakes by a length and a half from Loveleaves.

'We have always thought that he was a nice two-year-old and he has handled the ground when some of the others haven`t,' said Meehan.

'There might just be enough time to run him again this season.'

And the double was completed when Angelus Sunset took the Scottish Equitable Jockeys Association Conditions Stakes.

'He`s a proper horse who we fancied a bit,' said Meehan, for whom the double secured his best seasonal total of 64.

'We`ve got a cracking bunch of horses and some great two-year-olds so loads to look forward to next year as well.'

Chichester trainer Peter Hedger saddled his first-ever two-year-old winner when 16-1 shot Cherrycombe-Row took the Vodafone Nursery.