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Sally's Dilemma, (left) carrying the Mick Easterby colours, wins the Brocklesby, the first race of the Flat season on turf Picture: Alec Russell

SO close, yet so far! Blythe Knight, at odds of 22-1, failed by just a length-and-a-quarter to pull off a famous second success in last Saturday's Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, a victory which would have earned him a place in the record books - and a special niche in the history of Ryedale racing.

Had the John Quinn-trained gelding, who was only overhauled in the final 50 yards of a race he won in 2006, managed to hold on, he would have become the first dual-winner of the Lincoln for exactly 50 years. And, remarkably, he would have emulated Babur, trained by Capt Charles Elsey, who was, like, Blythe Knight, stabled at Norton's Highfield yard.

Recalling Babur, who scored in 1957-58, when the race was run at the now defunct Lincoln racecourse, Quinn said: "For Blythe Knight, half-a-century after Babur, to have done the Lincoln double as well, would have been a fairytale. And for a moment or two, I thought it was going to happen.

When he struck the front on the far side and quickened clear, I said to myself, 'He's done it again'."

As it turned out, 10-1 shot Smokey Oakey, jointly-owned by Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench, and trained at Newmarket by Mark Tompkins, came storming through on the near side of the course to sneak the lion's share of the spoils, which amounted to a first prize of £77,900.

The successful jockey was Jimmy Quinn, who started his career in Norton as an apprentice with Pat Rohan, and who was winning his second Lincoln, having first secured it in 1992 aboard High Low. "I beat Lester Piggott into second on High Low, and I have a picture of it at home. I remember it well, as I made all the running, whereas my tactics on Smokey Oakey were totally different, " explained Quinn. "I needed to get a lead on him and produce him late. I always felt comfortable that I had those on my side of the course covered, but you have to be careful when the field divides into two groups, and I was very much aware that I had Blythe Knight to catch on the other side of the track."

John Quinn was proud of Blythe Knight, who earned more than £23,000 for finishing second. "I wouldn't be human if I wasn't disappointed that he got beaten, " he admitted. "But I was delighted with him. It was less than two weeks since he'd run (unplaced) in the Champion Hurdle and he comes out and runs a blinder in a Lincoln."

Quinn, having elected to give the mount on top-weighted Blythe Knight to 7lb claiming apprentice, Barry McHugh, who is attached to Richard Fahey's Malton yard, was full of praise for the rider.

"He rode him exactly as I told him and there isn't an apprentice in the country, who claims 7lb, who could have ridden him any better than Barry did, " added Quinn.

Blythe Knight's hurdling career is now likely to be put on hold for a while. "He'll go back to Doncaster for a Listed race in a couple of week's time, " said Quinn.

The story of the Lincoln would hardly be complete without honourable mention of Rio Riva, trained by Julie Camacho.

Having finished runner-up in the race 12 months earlier, he duly turned the tables on last year's conqueror Very Wise, but still had to settle for fourth place.

It was a very creditable performance from Rio Riva, a 17-2 shot, who picked up prize money of £5,837.

Mick Easterby may have failed to train a winner at Doncaster on the opening day of the Flat turf season, but the Sheriff Hutton handler still found himself in the winners' circle.

His familiar green and striped sleeved colours were carried to victory by Sally's Dream, a horse he part-owns with Eric Brook, but who is trained in Somerset by Bill Turner.

A deal, done at the sales when Sally's Dream was a yearling, resulted in Turner taking her home to train and Easterby retaining an interest in her as an owner.

"Bill said she'd be going well at home, " said a delighted Easterby.

"She could be a filly for the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, " predicted Easterby, who, never one to miss a trick, added: "And she's for sale!"

It was a sweet and sour afternoon for Tim Easterby and his number-one jockey David O'Meara at Haydock's jumps meeting last Saturday.

The Great Habton trainer was on the mark with Edmo Yewkay, who got up in the dying strides under O'Meara to win the two miles handicap chase by a neck. But the pair were desperately unlucky not to have completed a double with Lease Lend, who was three lengths up and travelling like a winner, when he hit the deck at the second-last flight in the fixed-brush novices' hurdle final.

"Lease Lend was the one that got away, " said O'Meara, "so it was nice that Edmo Yewkay won."

Brian Ellison has wasted little time in opening his account for the new Flat turf season.

The Norton trainer was on the mark at Redcar on Monday when Hue, one of two winners on the card for last year's classicwinning jockey Jimmy Fortune, prevailed by a neck in the staying handicap.

"Jimmy gave him a lovely ride, as he needs to be covered-up and brought late, " said a delighted Ellison. "He's a horse who has been called a few names in the past, but Jimmy said he was as game as a pebble, and, to be fair to him, his attitude is a lot better now. Although he's improved about two stones over hurdles, we'll keep him on the Flat in the near future and see if we can win another race or two with him."

Richard Fahey also broke his 2008 turf duck at Redcar with Albaqaa, a horse bought for 16,000gns out of Ed Dunlop's Newmarket yard last autumn, who was having his first run for the Malton trainer.

Albaqaa, who defeated the 6-4 favourite Tajweed by four lengths, initiated a 160-1 double for Malton jockey Tony Hamilton, also on the mark aboard 22-1 chance The Osteopath, trained near Darlington by Michael Dods.

Seventy-two seconds of sheer magic. That was Paul Hanagan's nail-bitingly exciting winning performance on his favourite horse, Fonthill Road, at York last October.

In coming from last-to-first aboard the Richard Fahey-trained gelding in the 20runner Paddypower Sprint Trophy over six furlongs, and nail a neck victory in the dying strides, Malton-based Hanagan has won a 'Lester' - racing's equivalent of an Oscar - for a display of jockeyship which has been voted Flat Ride of the Year in 2007.

Hanagan picked up his award in Birmingham last week when the Professional Jockeys' 'Lesters' annual awards night took place at the Hilton Metropole Hotel.

Despite strong opposition from joint-champion jockey, Jamie Spencer, nominated for his winning ride on Zidane in the Stewards' Cup; Jimmy Fortune, who was short-listed for his thrilling performance on Winker Watson in the July Cup; and Ryan Moore, the 2006 champion, who shone on Medley at Doncaster in September, Hanagan came out on top in a competition which hinged on votes from readers of the Racing Post.

"I was very nervous beforehand, but it was a great thrill to win a Lester, and for it to be associated with Fonthill Road, who is an absolute legend, and who has been so good to me, made it even more special, " said Hanagan.

It proved quite a night for the North Yorkshire fraternity. Russ Garritty, who retired from the saddle last May, has been on the receiving end of so many presentations that he must now be wondering whether to have his house in Great Habton extended to accommodate his trophies. He picked up yet another when he was awarded a 'Lester' in the Jump Jockeys' Special Recognition category.

Kevin Darley earned the equivalent award for Flat jockeys. The former champion, who retired last November, after a sparkling 36year career, is, like Garritty, highly respected by his peers. And, as it's the jockeys themselves who vote for the majority of the winners on this special night, receiving an award is rightly considered a great honour by the recipients.

Darley, incidentally, has been snapped-up by the Professional Jockeys' Association as their industry liason director.

He will be the main point of contact between the PJA's members and racing's major stakeholders, which include representatives from the BHA. Darley will use his experience to provide advice to the organisation's members during jockeys' appeals, and addressing racecourse safety for riders.

"Throughout my riding career I was actively involved in what was then known as the Jockeys' Association, and my new role is a great opportunity to continue my involvement within a sport that I love, " said Darley, who will also tutor students at the British Racing School and the Northern Racing College.

"I am particularly looking forward to that side of the job, " he added. "I have always been interested in coaching youngsters. I have already been down to the British Racing School at Newmarket where they've got an impressive set up."

Darley will also be appearing on television during the summer. He will be part of the BBC team of presenters during the Flat season, which will include coverage of Royal Ascot in June.

12:22pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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