Granston tops Mile field

Granston heads a field of 24 in the William Hill Spring Mile, the consolation race for horses that missed the cut for Saturday’s William Hill Lincoln Heritage Handicap at Redcar.

The contest over the same straight mile as the big one is the first race on the card and is likely to provide last-minute clues for punters trying to solve the first leg of the “spring double“.

Granston failed by just one to get in the Lincoln and will carry top weight of 9st 10lb. The five-year-old, drawn 20, is trained by James Bethell, who is represented by Mine in the main feature.

Kevin Ryan, four-handed in that race, saddles two in the Spring Mile, Always Esteemed and High Dyke. Both are drawn low in stalls seven and four respectively.

Always Esteemed was ninth in the Lincoln 12 months ago while High Dyke needs to be on his best behaviour as he has refused to race in his last two starts.

Other trainers who are double-handed are Ian McInnes, who runs Wing Commander and Commando Scott, Jim Goldie with Dhaular Dhar and Middlemarch, and Tony Carroll who sends Nautical and Ermine Grey.