Trio of Handicap hopefuls (From Gazette & Herald)

Trio of Handicap hopefuls

Stand by for the stalls bursting open on the new Flat turf season, which springs to life this weekend - with the very real prospect of a Ryedale winner in the first major race of the campaign.

The £110,000 William Hill Lincoln Handicap at Redcar on Saturday, is being targeted by a whole host of local trainers, not least by John Quinn, who hopes to saddle three of the 30 runners.

Richard Fahey, who has purposely brought one horse back early from his winter stint in Dubai for a tilt at this famous one-mile handicap, and Mick Easterby, who has a talented ex-invalid firmly on course for the renowned cavalry charge, are among the locals aiming to start the season with a bang.

Quinn is planning to saddle Blythe Knight, King's Quay and Zomerlust, but the latter is not entirely certain of getting a run as he needs three horses above him in the handicap to drop out in order to get within the safety limit.

"I'm happy with all three of mine," says Quinn. "There is a question mark over Zomerlust staying a mile, and also a slight doubt whether the ground at Redcar might be a bit too soft for King's Quay, but Blythe Knight seems to go on any ground and is also familiar with these big handicaps. He finished sixth in last year's Lincoln, when trained by Ed Dunlop, and he also ran well in races like the Royal Hunt Cup and the Cambridgeshire."

Quinn, who spread his net last autumn when leasing Norton's Highfield yard to complement his original base at Settrington, will be resuming a successful trend if one of his runners hits the Lincoln jackpot.

The historic Highfield has been home to five Lincoln winners of yesteryear, with Bill Elsey scoring with K-Battery (1986) and Double Cream (1971). His father, the legendary Capt Charles Elsey, gained back-to-win victories with Babur in 1957-58, and also with Double Harness in 1945.

"It would be great to add to that list," said Quinn.

Realism, twice a winner at York last season, has recently returned from Dubai, where he has run with credit this winter, to represent Richard Fahey in Saturday's race.

While he clearly will lack nothing in fitness, ground conditions are likely to be softer than he prefers.

"He could do with it drying-out a bit," said Fahey. "But he's fit and well and looks marvellous - after spending the winter in the sunshine of Dubai, he should do!"

There are few of the major handicaps in the calendar that Mick Easterby has failed to win in his long and successful career as a trainer, but the Lincoln remains one of them, which is why there is plenty resting on the shoulders of Gentleman's Deal on Saturday.

Like Blythe Knight, he was formerly trained in Newmarket by Ed Dunlop. Since coming north to Sheriff Hutton, he has won both his starts for Easterby, who is aiming to stand this beautifully-bred colt at stud when his racing days are over.

A fragile horse, with delicate limbs, Gentleman's Deal is not an easy horse to keep sound.

"We keep him on the hill gallop and he does five canters a day," said Easterby. "He seems very well, but it's hard to know with him because he's so laid-back. He shows you next to nothing at home."

Easterby will also be represented by Blue Spinnaker, an admirable money-spinner for the yard in recent years, who will be making his seasonal reappearance.

At Hambleton, Kevin Ryan is preparing a team of up to six horses, which could all face the Lincoln starter. His squad is spearheaded by Kamanda Laugh and My Paris.

Honours last year fell to Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute and York-based jockey Robert Winston with Stream Of Gold. Their hopes this time rest on King's Majesty, but the current ante-post favourite, needs six horses above him to defect in order to get a place in the starting line-up.

It could be an anxious time for connections, and that's even before the 30-strong field come thundering down Redcar's straight mile to launch a season on the Cleveland course which will carry a record £1.25 million in prize money.

A cracking race is guaranteed, with Ryedale trainers holding plenty of Lincoln aces. Stand-by for a spectacular lift-off.

Andrew Tinkler enjoyed the finest moment of his riding career last week when adding his name to the exclusive roll of honour at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Malton-born jockey gained an unforgettable 20-1 victory on Greenhope in Friday's Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, and was cheered on by his father, Colin, himself a Festival-winning rider back in the 1970s, and his mother, Carol, who described the whole occasion as "a real fairytale."

Carol, who lives at Rillington, said: "It was wonderful, and so emotional. I was lucky to be still at Cheltenham. I had been there all week, but I was intending to have a runner at the Hurworth Point-to-Point on Saturday, so I was planning to go home on Thursday night. And then I heard that the meeting had been abandoned, so I decided to stay on. I am just so glad I did."

Greenhope is trained by Nicky Henderson, Tinkler's boss, who was in tears after the race which is run in memory of his late father.

"To win this race means everything to me, and Andrew gave the horse a great ride," said the Lambourn trainer, who had saddled three runners in a bid to take the honours.

For Tinkler, victory on Greenhope came hot on the heels of a traumatic brace of crushing falls earlier in the meeting aboard Dempsey and Saintsaire, which had left him bruised and sore.

The dramatic change of fortune was not lost on the 20-year-old jockey, who said: "After the week I'd been having, it was incredible the way it turned round.

"The feeling of riding a winner at the Cheltenham Festival was the best-ever. I've never experienced anything like it."

Tinkler's prowess as one of the country's most promising up-and-coming stars was vividly highlighted in his victory, which earned him the 'ride of the meeting' accolade in the Racing Post, racing's trade paper.

Not only did he overcome the painful and bruising tumbles of the previous two days, but he rode an outstanding race on Greenhope, bagging the inside rail going out on the final circuit and then dictating the pace from the front before setting his mount alight on the entrance to the home straight before stylishly driving him home to a two-lengths victory.

Tinkler, whose elder brother Nicky is an accomplished amateur rider, comes from a great racing family in these parts. Apart from his mother and father, who is now a trainer in Berkshire, his uncle Nigel, also a former jump-jockey, trains just outside Norton, and his grandparents, Colin snr and Marie Tinkler were actively and successfully involved in the sport several years ago with their own string of horses.

However, many winners Andrew Tinkler manages to record at the Cheltenham Festival, Greenhope's triumph - his first - will always be something special. "I wouldn't swap it for anything," he said.

Malcolm Jefferson, over the moon with the fourth-placed effort of Roman Ark at the Cheltenham Festival, was further pleased at Wetherby on Saturday when Polar Gunner extended his winning sequence to four - and continued his love affair with the 'A1' course.

Partnered by Tom Dreaper, the Norton gelding justified favouritism in cosy style to complete his fourth time, with three of those wins being gained at Wetherby.

"I had the option of running him at Newcastle on the same day, but he loves Wetherby so much, it made sense to take him back there," said Jefferson of his mud-loving performer. "He's in great form at the moment, and, so long as the handicapper doesn't overdo him, we'll look around for suitable races - hurdles and fences come alike to him - to see if he can win five in a row."

Plans for Roman Ark, who figured among the prize money at Cheltenham, remain fluid. But Jefferson said: "There's an option for him at Aintree and another at the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr. I was delighted with his performance at Cheltenham, where he stayed galloping all the way to the line."

And finally, anyone who has yet to secure their tickets for the Malton Racing Association Grand National Ball - arguably racing's most popular annual social gathering in these parts - would be well advised to do so, sooner rather than later.

The black-tie 'do', staged this year in aid of the Injured Jockeys' Fund and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, will be held on the night of the great race (Saturday, April 8) at York racecourse.

Attended by jockeys, trainers, owners, stable staff and countless others, it is always a cracking good night and always in a good cause.

Noel Scaling, the MRA secretary, is in the process of beginning to add the finishing touches to preparations for the evening.

If you require a ticket, priced at £45 per head, it would be advisable to make contact with him as soon as possible on 07855 228757.

Updated: 11:56 Wednesday, March 22, 2006