Banknote completes Norton double
Trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Francis Norton teamed up to good effect at Haydock, notching a 31.5-1 double courtesy of Generosia and Banknote.
The former kicked off the brace when obliging at odds of 4-1 in the opening Haydock Park Badgeholders Club Fillies’ Handicap.
Norton went to the front with two furlongs to run and Generosia looked to have the race in safekeeping only for Patxaran to get a second wind.
Generosia dug deep to prevail by a head with Spring Dream in third.
Balding was represented by his assistant, former jump jockey Chris Bonner, who said: “It is pleasing that she has won a race now and we may try and look for some black type.
“Franny gave her a lovely ride, although he said he may have been better if he had waited another furlong before he went because she idled a bit in front.”
The decision to re-route Banknote from Sandown paid off when he claimed the one-mile Dalkia Handicap for a second successive year.
Balding had considered waiting for the weekend with the Queen’s colt but opted to head north again and it looked a good move when Banknote took it up over a furlong out.
He stayed on to beat Mutawaffer by one and a half lengths, although he edged left and hampered the runner-up inside the final furlong.
The stewards decided the interference was due to careless riding by Norton and suspended him for one day (July 17).
Norton said: “One day is not too bad – we can usually do with a day off now and again and it gives you chance to have a day with the family.
“I rode a horse of Richard Hannon’s for Her Majesty but that one was beaten and then I won on Banknote.
“I had had one more ride for her before today which didn’t win so it was good that my old pal Banknote did the trick for me.”
Bonner added: “Banknote did it well and I think we will probably look for some black type for him now too.”
Tony Culhane was also suspended for one day (July 17) for careless riding aboard third-placed Very Wise.
Martin Dwyer was another rider in double form, getting William Haggas’s Abwaab (9-4) home in front in the Bingley Maiden Stakes before striking on front-runner Nobelix (9-2) in the Goose Green Handicap.
Haggas’s wife Maureen said: “Abwaab had knee problems last season, that is why he didn’t run.
"He is nicely bred and the rain they had here helped him.”
Precocious Star looked a cut above average when winning at Pontefract last time and she confirmed that view in the EBF marketavenueracingclub.co.uk Novice Fillies’ Stakes.
Karl Burke’s youngster travelled well under Pat Cosgrave and taking up the running approaching the final furlong, the 6-1 shot went away to score by two lengths from Ela Aleka Mou.
Burke said: “She is a lovely filly and I think this was a better race than the one at Pontefract, though I did not think it would be at the time I entered her.
“She did it so easily. Pat said she floated along and then pricked her ears and we may have a look for something better now.
“She is in Group Two in Ireland but we may look for a Listed race somewhere first.”
The Milton Bradley-trained Blue Tomato completed a hat-trick in decisive fashion in the Easibed Handicap
There were plenty with chances entering the final quarter mile but switched left by Liam Treadwell, Blue Tomato quickened up to hit the front before the furlong marker.
The 9-2 co-favourite stayed on to beat Knot In Wood by two and a half lengths with No Grouse back in third.
The five-year-old is among the entries for the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, but Bradley said: “We will have a look at some little fish first and see how he is come Goodwood.
“We have had him about a year. We had him gelded and sweetened him up and he is doing all right again now.
“Liam gave him a good ride, he is a good lad who always tries to do as he is told.”
