Jockey Joe Fanning admitted that it was a nice surprise to ride a 492-1 double at Carlisle, after guiding home two comfortable winners at hefty prices.
The sequence started in division two of the Casumo Horse Racing And Sports Betting Handicap (6f) with the Keith Dalgliesh-trained Cool Dandy, who recorded a one and a quarter length success at 28-1, before Thai Terrier struck 35 minutes later in the Casumo Proud To Support British Racing Handicap (2m 1f) at 16-1 for Mark Johnston.
And Fanning was particularly impressed with Thai Terrier, who bounded clear to a five and a half-length success. He said: “He travelled nicely all the way round and wasn’t doing a stroke really in front. At three out I felt I was never really in danger, I felt like I had plenty of horse underneath me and he’s picked up and galloped away. It’s a very nice surprise to have a double!”
Elsewhere on the card, it proved to be another productive afternoon at Carlisle for jockey Faye McManoman, who enhanced her fine record at the track with victory on board Sharrabang (11-1) to a game success in the Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap over five furlongs.
McManamon has now ridden eight winners from 24 rides at the track over the last five seasons and each of her last three visits to the track have brought about a winner – a run which stretches all the way back to September 2019.
And McManoman revealed after the race that she holds something of a soft spot for the course. She said: “I took a nice easy lead and switched him left to get some fresher ground and to give him some space and he just doesn’t give up.
“He’s quite genuine so when he saw Afandem he always wanted to pass him – he has his bad days and good days but thankfully today was a good one!
“I love this track! I seem to ride it very confidently for some reason and I think that’s very important. It’s a lovely track and hopefully there’s many more to come.”
The opening race on the card was the Casumo Bet 10 Get 10 EBF Novice Stakes over five furlongs for two year olds, which was won in determined fashion by the Karl Burke-trained 4-7 favourite Korker, who toughed things out to seal a half-length on his second racecourse outing under Clifford Lee.
And Lee, who was having his only ride of the day, revealed after the race that he feels there could be more to come yet from Korker. He said: “He’s run a blinder. He’s still very green in himself, but he’s jumped and travelled a lot better this time as at York he missed the break by seven or eight lengths.
“I think he got very tired and a bit lonely in front on a stiffer track here today but he’ll come on a lot for that. He’s still a baby and that’s only his second run so I just kept it very simple on him. Karl hasn’t said anything yet but he’s probably got a few plans for him, he’s a nice horse.”
Meanwhile, it proved to be a worthwhile trip north for the Worcestershire-based trainer James Evans, who had his first winner at the track with Dream Composer – (3-1) who was a one and a quarter length winner of the Download The Casumo App Today Handicap over five furlongs.
The three year old was due to go up 3lbs in the handicap for a good effort at Goodwood at seven days ago and Evans was thankful that everything had come together for the son of Dream Ahead.
He said: “We took him to Goodwood last week and he ran a blinder and obviously with him being re-handicapped we thought we’d give him a crack here on the stiff five furlongs. Thankfully he’s delivered and we’re delighted with him.
“I’d imagine after three quick-ish runs we won’t be in any hurry to turn him back out, we’ll bask in the glory of this for a week or two and then look for something for him I’d think.”
It also proved to be a first winner at Carlisle for jockey Ella McKenzie and she said: “I am absolutely delighted with him.
“He improved last week from a good run at Goodwood and they went very hard early on which helped my lad, as the further they went the better he went and I think there’s still improvement there. It was a worthwhile trip for me, I don’t mind coming up here for a winner!”
Another horse picking up their first success was the David Barron-trained Time Has Wings, who grabbed a deserved victory in division one of the Casumo Horse Racing And Sports Betting Handicap over six furlongs.
The three year old, returned the 4-1 favourite, took a marked step forward for the application of blinkers when second at Wolverhampton last month and the headgear certainly did the trick here, as she stayed on well to the line to record a three and a half-length success.
And winning jockey Connor Beasley feels that there could be more to come from her yet now that she has got her head in front.
He said: “We had a good gallop going on and she travelled up to it really well. She was a bit unlucky at Wolverhampton last time out but when she’s got her act together she’s done it nicely.
“She wasn’t doing an awful lot today when she got in front so hopefully there’s a bit more improvement left in the locker and she can go on from this.”
