RICHARD FAHEY edged closer to David O'Meara in the battle to be York Racecourse's top trainer - but the Malton handler was pessimistic about his chances going into t he final day of the 2014 season.

The master of Musley Bank trails his Nawton rival by two winners after Arctic Feeling (16-1) returned to form, under apprentice Samantha Bell, to win the Bell Trailers Stakes.

The six-year-old, unplaced in his previous two runs, was bought to the front in the shadow of the post in the five furlong sprint and had a length and a quarter to spare over Free Zone, who emerged from the pack to claim the runners-up spot following a photo-finish.

Fahey said: "He's a grand horse and I am sure the soft ground helps. I have had visors on and off but the ground always seems to be the big key to him."

On reclaiming the trainer's title that he held for seven straight seasons before losing it 12 months ago to O'Meara, Fahey, who now has seven winners to his rival's nine, added: "I am struggling. I always have plenty of runners here but it is hard to get winners. It is pretty competitive."

Bell said of her victory: "He loves his ground and has won on heavy before. The more rain the better and I was doing a rain dance.

"He's probably better over six furlongs on better ground but, because it was soft, he was able to get away with five today."

O'Meara had four runners in the closing Future Cleaning Services Apprentice Stakes but the contest was won by 25-1 shot Zacynthus, trained by Worksop's Shaun Harris.

It left the Arthington Barn Stables handler without a victory on the penultimate day of the season.

John Quinn's Miami Carousel caused a 25-1 stir when winning the opening TSG Stakes under five pound claimer Joe Doyle.

The juvenile, who had disappointed in his last outing at Thirsk, led from the start of the six furlong contest and saw off George Bowen by a length and a quarter.

"Take out his last run and he was beaten two heads at Catterick when giving weight," said Highfield-based Quinn. "Last time, the ground was too firm for him. We've just been waiting.

"I just said 'go forward' and it was nice he was able to do that. It was a great ride and he will be a grand horse for next year."

A double moved Ryan Moore into pole position in the race to be York's top jockey.

Homage (7-1), trained by William Haggas, claimed the £25,000 This Isn't The 'Stan James Champion Hurdle' Stakes for the former champion jockey and Old Town Boy (11-2) hit the line in front in the Parsonage Hotel and Cloisters Spa Stakes.

That pair of wins pushed him up to nine Knavesmire winners for the season, one ahead of Andrea Atzeni.

Elsewhere, Handsome Dude (8-1), trained by David Barron at Maunby, had to hold off a concerted effort from Brando to land the Brittains Vodka EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes and there was nothing to touch 11-4 favourite Storm Rock in the Jigsaw Sports Branding Maiden Auction Stakes.

The juvenile, ridden by William Buick, romped home by three-and-a-half lengths.