Allen on a High after Lingfield win
Trainer Mark Allen finally ended a faith-testing quest for a winner as High 'N Dry came home in style at Lingfield.
Allen has a wealth of experience on his side but has suffered a number of near-misses along the way before the John Ferguson 40th Birthday Handicap, where his chestnut filly displayed a sharp turn of foot to pull two-and-a-half lengths clear of her rivals in the hands of Paul Doe.
Despite her trainer's fruitless streak of 145 runners, punters evidently retained some faith to send her off at 11-2.
"It's a hard game and we've had quite a few seconds, so I hope the winners come along like buses now," said Allen, who learned the ropes with Freddie Maxwell and Peter Walwyn.
"We've been waiting far too long to remember - five or six years I think."
Neil Callan proved more than up to the task of landing a minor gamble for Epsom trainer Simon Dow and owner Helen Chamberlain.
Napoletano, sporting the colours of the Soccer AM presenter, was backed into 8-1 from 11s for the Easter Egg-Stravaganza @ Pontin's Handicap and although his response was not immediate when put under pressure, the gelding motored down the centre of the track to lead just before the line.
"I needed that," said Dow, out of the winners for some four months.
"He's been a little unlucky and needs things to go right for him. He did have some decent form in Germany and we bought him for Helen to have a bit of fun with. On that form, he'll go in again."
Callan later doubled up on 13-8 favourite Sands Crooner, defying his highest mark for several years in the Time To Get Egg-Cited @ Pontin's Handicap.
The Put On Your Easter Bonnet @ Pontin's Selling Stakes suited Competitor (5-1) perfectly as he completed his seventh course victory, six of which have been in the same grade.
Kirsty Milczarek cleverly stole an advantage on the home bend and quickened well clear.
Surprisingly, the seven-year-old is still an entire despite not exactly being a serious stallion prospect.
Trainer Jon Akehurst said: "His old owners wanted to get out and I couldn't sell him, so I kept him myself and he's the first in my colours. They look good on Kirsty anyway!"
In terms of betting, there was a surprise in the Join The Easter Parade @ Pontin's Maiden Stakes although the 12-1 winner Lucullus had achieved a reasonable rating on his debut at the track a fortnight previously.
The 2-5 favourite Always Certain could never quite impose himself from the front and Lucullus was the one to take the opportunity, finishing with a flourish under Steve Drowne.
"He fractured his tibia last year but has always worked well," explained trainer Michael Blanshard.
"We'll leave him for the grass season now as he has not come in his coat yet."
Jamie Spencer looked to have hit the front a bit too soon aboard Warming Up (15-8 favourite) in the DLA Piper Handicap but the joint-champion jockey pulled out all the stops to outlast Lord's Bidding in a photo finish.
Spencer's mount did, however, move across Tobago Bay two furlongs out and he was banned for a day (April 2).
Scripted did his best to make all in the Play Golf @ Lingfield Park Handicap but could not match the late effort of the William Jarvis-trained 5-2 favourite Shogun Prince.
