Fremon fires for Nicholls

Fremen struck for Thirsk trainer David Nicholls as Northern stables filled the first three places in the opening race on John Smith’s Cup day at York.

The six-year-old confirmed he had fully recovered from a leg injury that had kept him off the course for 20 months by following up his win in a Musselburgh claimer two weeks ago in the John Smith’s Cask Handicap.

After Sake and Atlantic Story had made the running, the 11-4 favourite Grey Boy took the lead well over a furlong out but he was soon challenged by Fremen.

The 5-1 chance responded well to Joe Fanning’s driving to win by a length and a quarter from Grey Boy, trained by Richard Fahey, with Tim Easterby’s Tough Love a head away third.

“We bought him out of Sir Michael Stoute’s yard but he got injured which is why he never ran. He had a leg problem which is why he had a year off and I think winning that claimer gave him a bit of confidence,” said Nicholls’ wife Alex Greaves.

“Joe said the ground was firm enough for him so we wouldn’t want to run him too many times on that ground. The way he has won, there is still a bit of improvement and hopefully there’ll be a nice race in him before the season’s finished.

“The main plan was to get him from A to B in one piece. Hopefully he’ll come back sound after today and then we can make plans for him.”