Ronnie shows Howe to do it

Ronnie Howe ended a frustrating run of near-misses in the style you would expect from a 2-7 chance as he made all to land the Go Pontin’s Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Southwell.

The gelding provided a predictable start after the fixture had been threatened by a waterlogging problem on the bend four furlongs from the finish, caused by the River Greet bursting its banks.

Phillip Makin made every yard on Ronnie Howe – named after his 77-year-old owner who used to be a farming neighbour of trainer Michael Dods – to score by four lengths and one and a half from Mangano and Royal Dagger.

Dods said: “He really had to win such a bad race as he ran a cracker last time when needing the run.

“We named him after his breeder who now lives at Barnard Castle.”