Callan celebrates century

Neil Callan is riding as well as ever this season and he reached 100 winners for the year on Reebal in the Eat Sleep Drink At The Nags Head Pickhill Conditions Stakes at Ripon.

Brian Meehan’s juvenile was soon bowling along in the lead and although he was briefly pressed by Sparkling Eyes at the furlong pole, the 6-1 shot shook off that rival to win going away by two lengths.

It was the third season in a row that Callan had reached the milestone and he said: “I’m glad to get there but it’s just nice to be riding winners.

“My best was last year, which was 151. Obviously I am going to try and better it and I’ll be going all out until the end of the year.

“Maybe if things fall right, some year down the line I might give trying to be champion jockey a go.

“When you go into a season it’s not something you are going to chase but if things start falling right and you get on a run it’s something I’ll be taking with both hands.”

Reflecting on his season, which has seen him finish second in the Stewards’ Cup, Molecomb and Nunthorpe Stakes for his boss Kevin Ryan, he said: “My first Royal Ascot winner on Uhoomagoo in the Buckingham Palace Stakes has been the highlight and although he hasn’t won yet Amadeus Wolf has been very consistent.”

And of Reebal, he added: “I’ve started riding for Brian Meehan this year and he’s got some good horses.

“This fellow has probably not been lasting out six furlongs. He put the blinds on him and told me to be positive on him, which we were, and he really stretched out well over the five.”

Callan moved on to 101 when he completed a 62-1 brace on Morinqua, fittingly enough trained by Ryan, in the Happy Birthday Val Barker Fillies’ Maiden Auction Stakes.

The daughter of Cadeaux Genereux won in good style by three and a half lengths from Temtation.

Macorville appreciated the easy surface to register a resounding victory in the featured City Of Ripon Stakes.

The progressive gelding had won on heavy here in May but had been off the course for almost three months while the firm ground prevailed.

However, with the going described as “good to soft, soft in places” he had conditions to his liking.

After hitting the front three furlongs out, George Moore’s 7-2 chance responded to Tom Eaves’ driving to see off all challengers and win by one and three-quarter lengths from Moon On A Spoon.

“We’ve always thought he was a nice horse and he’s never disappointed us,” said Moore.

“The only times he’s not run 100 per cent have been when the ground has been fast.

“We took him home for six weeks and gave him a real good holiday because we couldn’t run him.

“As long as the ground is soft, he’s good. He’s only a three-year-old and could pick up a nice prize next year.”

Eaves made it a 35-1 double when Algol showed he is equally effective on soft ground by romping home in the Steve Nesbitt Challenge Trophy Nursery.

Howard Johnson’s youngster had won on the firm at Catterick last time but he was not inconvenienced by the change in going as he showed by scooting four lengths clear of Lafontaine Bleu.

Graham Wylie, for owners Transcend Bloodstock, said: “Tom said he’s got a great attitude and he said there’s more in the tank.

“The only concern before the race was whether he’d handle this ground but Tom said he loved it.

“This is our first winner in August. It’s been quite frustrating but finally we’ve got one.”

Inside Story came from an unpromising position to land the opening Claro Selling Stakes.

Mick Easterby’s 7-2 joint-favourite was held up in the rear by Robert Winston and when he began his move he found his path blocked.

It was not until well inside the final furlong that the gap appeared and Inside Story burst through to lead close home and score, in the end a shade cosily, by three-quarters of a length from Carrietau.

Inside Story was winning for the fourth time and attracted some interest at the subsequent auction before being bought in for 5,200 guineas.

Jean-Pierre Guillambert, who rode the runner-up, and Nicol Polli, who was on the unplaced Gavanello, were both suspended for one day (September 10) because they started from the wrong stalls.

There was an exciting end to Ripon’s year when Paul Hanagan got Fair Spin home by a short head from Wrenlane in the Wakeman Stayers’ Handicap.