Ex-Irish Cara in Catterick shocker Cara Court caused a 66/1 shock in the opener at Catterick today, beating another horse with strong connections to this side of the Irish Sea, Glasson Lad. A length separated the pair at the conclusion of the racinguk.com Lady Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle. Having just his second start for the Jo Foster yard, Cara Court was trained in Ireland by Philip Rothwell and he unseated at the first on his debut for his current yard, also at Catterick, on New Year's Day. However, here, with Lucy Egerton in the plate, Cara Court fended off Glasson Lad (Irish-bred and trained by Ferdy Murphy) from the back of the last to prevail in the two mile three furlong contest. A straight forecast on the pair paid £794.47 whilst if you managed to put the third-placed, Quite Sparky with Cara Court and Glasson Lad, in a tricast, the pay-out was £8831.84. For Egerton this was a first win under Rules. She works in the film industry and took up the running turning into the straight on the outsider. The 10-race maiden stuck to his task gamely to prevail. "Can you believe it?" said Egerton. "I'd ridden a point-to-point winner but this is my first ride under Rules. "I work as a film technician the rest of the time." Winning trainer Jo Foster said: "Philip Rothwell sent him to me as he can't handle heavy ground at all so there was no point him racing in Ireland." (EM)
