Home glory for freelance jockey

IT'S been a while since Lincolnshire jockey Lee Vickers has ridden a winner at the county's only course.

The Gainsborough jockey, who previously rode for James Given and Market Rasen trainer Michael Chapman, is now freelance and picked up a ride on Omix d'Or trained by HJ Evans at Broadwas on Teme.

The eight-year-old had finished 18 lengths behind Dan Buoy when fifth of 14 at Southwell last time out, but he jumped impressively here to record his first chase win.

The horse is owned by former jockey Richard Hobson, who was not totally surprised the grey finally got the win he had waited some time for.

"He won bumpers in his younger days, but was still a maiden over jumps," Hobson said.

"It's onwards and upwards from here.

"He's had his niggles in the past but its nice to get him back."

A first outing in blinkers clearly did the trick.

There were two local horses in the race. Michael Chapman saddled Feeling Peckish and Cabourne permit holder Penny Buckely sent out Hermano Cordobes with top jockey Richard Johnson on board.

But punters who eyed a long odds winner or placed money were disappointed as both horses finished down the field.

The second Market Rasen meeting of 2010 opened with a typical ride by champion jockey Tony McCoy.

AP was 10 lengths in arrears and had at least five horses in front of his mount Open Day (7-2) at the last flight in the Racinguk.com Juvenile Novices Hurdle.

With his horse clearly staying on well McCoy found a turn of pace so effective that he won by two-and-a-half lengths from Veronica's Boy.

Strongly-fancied favourite Blue Nymph, John Quinn's Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle hope, under Dougie Costello, was always struggling to keep up with the pace after the final bend and finished only fourth.

Bygones of Brid set a decent pace in the second race the European Breeders Fund National Hunt Novices Hurdle Qualifier.

After making much of the pace, the top weight stumbled at the last flight.

It proved a costly error as Ranjobaie was already alongside apprentice David Bass (7lb) and the winner stayed on well to qualify for the £75,000 final in the series at Sandown later this month.

Bass had just seven previous wins and the partnership with Ranjobaie had come to grief at Leicester last time out.

Trainer Nicky Henderson backed the apprentice and gave him the ride on the favourite, above Champion Jockey McCoy, and the bold move paid off. McCoy came fourth on Henderson's second string Proud Presence. Seldom can McCoy have been 'jocked off' by a conditional rider before.

The first chase – the Breeders Association Mares Novice Chase – proved a gallop round for the classy Over Sixty and jockey Wayne Hutchinson.

Sent to post at 1-4 favourite, the mare won by a distance for the Alan King yard.

Over Sixty was one of the best mares in 2009 over hurdles, but won a decent chase at Fontwell last time out and had a relatively simple task to follow up here.

James Halliday, who claims 5lb was the 2008/09 holder of the Tom Halliday Scholarship at the Market Rasen course.

His ride on Stick Together was impressive: he saw off the favourite Vivarini in the fifth race.

The final two races were won by multiple point-to-point winner Pristine Condition (3-1F), ridden by amateur Oliver Greenall, and the bumper by 5-1 shot Safran de Cotte, who was ridden by Jake Greenall – who was making his debut on a racetrack.