Duddy jumping for joy

Canavan, carrying the colours made famous on the Flat by such stars as Halmahera and Amadeus Wolf, gave owner John Duddy more cause for celebration with victory in the Camerons Brewery Maiden Chase at Sedgefield.

The Ferdy Murphy-trained grey was backed down to 11-8 favourite after a good second here seven weeks ago and apart from one slight mistake, his supporters had very little cause for concern.

Tom Dreaper hit the front three out on the market leader and seeing the three miles, three furlongs out well, the gelding came away to beat Matmata De Tendron by 16 lengths.

“A slog and a trip is what he wants. He’s a Hexham horse, three-three round here or four miles if we can find one,” Murphy said.

“This horse could do with a button for overdrive but he does stay – he’d go five miles.

“We’ll keep him to this class of race and this type of track and hopefully he’ll pay his way.”

Graham Lee moved on to 94 for the season with a near 6-1 double on Sabreflight and San Peire, and he is now just six short of his previous best achieved last term.

Both horses were trained by Howard Johnson, who has now provided the rider with 35 of his winners this season.

Sabreflight landed odds of 4-11 in the P & C Morris Express Catering Units Mares’ Only “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle – but she was made to pull out all the stops by Ornella Speed.

Lee sent the favourite on after the third from home and the six-year-old looked set to score in style.

But the eventual runner-up would not go away and they were only separated by a length and a quarter at the line.

Afterwards the trainer’s representative Ray Hawkey said: “She can really stay and she’s going the right way.

“The second horse is no mug and they were 13 lengths clear of the others so we are happy with that.

“I don’t know what Howard has in mind for her except he may put her back on a flat track.

“She’s won twice and has never been out of the three so she’ll make a lovely broodmare.”

The brace was completed on San Peire, who put a poor effort here last time behind him when he battled on well to get the better of Letitia’s Loss by six lengths in the Weatherbys Insurance Handicap Hurdle.

“I would never have a shilling on him because he can run a bad race but he’s a tough little horse. They asked me if I thought he would win today and I said ’I’m not backing him but he’ll win’,” Hawkey said.

Flaming Heck benefited from an enterprising from Neil Mulholland to land the John Smith’s Extra Smooth Handicap Chase.

Lucy Normile’s 10-1 chance was sent straight into the lead and jumping well he never appeared likely to be caught and was five lengths clear of Vulcan Lane at the line.

It was the Scottish trainer’s first winner for 227 days and her husband, Alan Normile was relieved to see Flaming Heck prevail.

“That was badly needed,” he said.

And of the winner he added: “Neil was up to school him last week and he said he was going to bounce him out and they’d never catch him and he was right.

“He’s given him a great ride.”

Sparron Hawk produced a sound display under Tony Dobbin to win the SIS Mares’ Only Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race by two and a half lengths from Riodan.

Her trainer Nicky Richards said: “She’s from the same family as Triumph Hurdle winner Snow Drop and her owner (Richard Haggas) gave a good few quid for her.

“We might try and get her qualified for the mares’ bumper final at Sandown but the main thing was to get a win into her.”

There was no bid for Moyne Pleasure after the 5-1 shot had taken the John Wade For Equine Fibre And Rubber Selling Handicap Hurdle.

Bob Johnson’s charge was brought with a late rattle by the trainer’s son, Kenny, to hit the front on the run to the final flight. Staying on stoutly Moyne Pleasure drew clear to win by five lengths from Roadworthy.

“I didn’t know whether he’d go thought that heavy ground or not but he’s a gutsy little thing and he ran all right at Catterick last time,” Johnson senior said.