Racing: Ffrench earns beverley praise

Royston Ffrench earned the plaudits after demonstrating his fine judge of pace when making all the running on the Richard Fahey-trained Altay in the Cherry Burton Stakes at Beverley.

Altay was gaining his fourth success and Ffrench said with a smile: ‘‘I am the only jockey to have won on him so I suppose I must be doing something right!’’

Ffrench has kept busy during the winter riding out in the main for Alec Stewart, Jeremy Noseda and Mark Johnston, and he is keen to put in the hours if it means more winners for him.

He side: ‘‘You have to put something in if you want to get something out and I am staying up in the north and will ride out for Mr Johnston in Middleham before going to ride at Ripon.’’

Winning trainer Fahey was full of praise for Ffrench, and he was equally pleased with the ride stable apprentice Paul Hanagan gave Akeesha as the filly completed a double for him in the Jockeys Loft Stakes in which the heavily backed Tough Love had desperate luck in running.

Fahey also owns and bred the winner, but he said with a wry smile: ‘‘I gave her mother (Butterwick Belle) away a week before Akeesha won her first race!’’

Kevin Ryan gave the family fortunes a boost when he sent out Shamwari Song to give his wife Jill her first winner as an owner in the hands of Fergal Lynch in the Start of the Season Selling Stakes.

Lynch produced Shamwari Song, returned at 8-1 after 25-1 had been available this morning, with a well-timed run to lead just inside the final furlong and go on to beat Be Health Boy by one and three quarter lengths and Ryan said with a smile:

‘‘Jill said she was fed up of sending training fees to Weatherbys so perhaps I will keep being paid now!’’

He had a bonus when retaining the gelding without a bid, and added: ‘‘Shamwari Song will give our apprentice and amateur riders some fun during the summer - Jill also has Special Hero who runs at Thirsk on Saturday.’’