Tax bonus for Nicholls
Tax Free put some recent disappointments behind him when landing the Michael Foster Memorial Conditions Stakes at Thirsk.
The David Nicholls-trained five-year-old failed to fire in two starts in Dubai this spring but powered home with his customary late rattle.
The classy gelding hit the front around a furlong from home and just had to be kept up to his work to fend off Bond City by a length and a quarter, with Fayr Jag a further half-length away in third.
“He’s always been a good horse and he’s never really had any problems, but we took him to Dubai and failed over there,” explained Nicholls of his 11-4 winner.
“We weren’t entirely happy with him then, but that was much better and hopefully we can kick on with him now.
“He’s not in the Duke Of York (Stakes). His next race might be the Temple Stakes, but we’ll have to see how he is after this first.”
Osolomio justified favouritism at 8-11 when scoring an emphatic two-and-a-half-length victory in the Constant Security Handicap.
Dale Gibson made all the running aboard Alan Swinbank’s gelding, who repelled 10-1 chance Sforzando with something in hand.
“He’s a good horse and he’s really strengthened up over the winter – he’s put on 25 kilos,” Swinbank said.
“He was always the type to be better at four than he was last year and he wants this quick ground. I'd be looking for a nice race for him in the middle of the summer now.”
Bustan bounced back to form when benefiting from a cool Jean-Pierre Guillambert ride in the Polar Ford Handicap.
Giles Bravery’s charge had not tasted success since scoring at Newmarket almost five years ago but the 14-1 chance powered home for a one-length call over 16-1 shot Imperial Echo.
Winning owner Julia Morley said: “That’s a fantastic start to the season and it was a lovely comeback. He just had slight problems last year and hadn’t run for a while as Giles likes to run on the turf rather than the all-weather.”
Bill Turner was on hand to greet Daddy Cool after the son of Kyllachy had burned his rivals off in the Thomas Lord Stakes.
The 9-2 chance had a length and a half in hand of runner-up Rebel Duke, who just shaded Steelcut for the silver medal in the five-furlong dash.
Turner said: “That was needed, but I’m delighted with him. He probably only just gets five furlongs which is why we came here as it’s an easy track. The handicapper will probably pop him up a bit after this though as he’s beaten a couple who are OK here.”
Splitthedifference gave favourite-backers the perfect start when justifying odds of 7-4 in the opening Squire Frederick Bell Claiming Stakes.
Mick Channon’s charge eased to a comfortable three-length success before being claimed by Declan Carroll for £8,000 (€11,800).
