Gibbons-Easterby hot streak continues

Graham Gibbons is riding at the top of his form and having partnered a winner for Tim Easterby at Catterick on Saturday completed a 134-1 double for the Malton trainer at Musselburgh 24 hours later.

His victories came on King’s Gait in the GNER Mallard Sprint Stakes and Game Lad in the GNER Mallard Stakes.

Afterwards he said: “I have had 43 winners this season so I don’t think I will beat my best of 56, but I will be happy to get to 50, things have been going well for me and I have ridden some very nice horses in the colours of John Fretwell.”

Royston Ffrench is another in-form jockey and he closed in on his target for the season when he brought Triskaidekaphobia home in front in the £18,000 (€26,295) Weatherbys Bank Nursery.

Karl Burke’s youngster quickened up to lead inside the final furlong, and then held off the fast-finishing Blazing Heights by half a length with Multiple another three-quarters away in third.

Ffrench said: “Karl said that if I got out in front then just go on, but two were a bit too sharp for me and I was happy to sit in behind. He picked up well when I pulled him out and he kept on well.

“I set myself a target of 50 for the season, and I just need another two after that so I am happy with the way things have been going.”

The jockey has a good record at the Scottish track and he added: “As many as 13 of my winners have been here and although there is one meeting to go I have a good chance of being leading jockey at the course for the year as I believe my nearest rival is four behind.”

Three Thieves became Mark Johnston’s 41st individual two-year-old winner of the campaign in the Sunday Mail European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes.

The chestnut, carrying the colours of Sheikh Mohammed, made all the running under Joe Fanning and stayed on in the gamest fashion to hold the challenge of Hard To Explain and the winner’s stable companion Boquilobo by a half a length and a neck.

Johnston was taking his overall score to 133 and his representative Justin Buckham said: “I thought he was beaten but he rallied well and he will stay further next season. Boquilobo also ran well and he should stay too.”

Trainer Mikael Magnusson took Eddie Ahern’s advice and it paid off when Tutu Much won the Rectangle Maiden Stakes.

“I rode the horse work at Newmarket, he was entered at both Leicester over a mile and a quarter and here over a mile and a half and I suggested we came to Musselburgh as it looked the weaker race,” explained the jockey.

Indian Wizard appreciated the drop in class to open his account at the 11th attempt in the Famous Grouse Selling Stakes.

Sam Hitchcott’s mount hit the front a furlong and a half from home and was driven out to score by a length from Cool Isle.

Winning trainer Mick Channon was represented by Brian O’Doherty, who said: “Tony (Culhane) got off Indian Wizard at York and said that if he was dropped in class he would win.”

Indian Wizard will be returning to Channon’s Berkshire base after being retained for 12,500gns at the subsequent auction.