Dascombe claims first career treble
Tom Dascombe has endured both highs and lows this year but the rising star of the training ranks is signing off 2008 in electric form and claimed the first treble of his career at Lingfield.
The ambitious Lambourn resident received a tremendous boost in the summer with two Group winners at the Newmarket July meeting, but the rough came with the smooth as he was forced to briefly shut down the stable when his horses were not right.
With the cold snap claiming the other British meetings, the Richard Kingscote-ridden 47-1 three-timer of The Game, Yellow Printer and Saucy grabbed a little more of the spotlight for the Dascombe operation, which has enjoyed winners for four consecutive days now.
The Game (5-2 favourite) bolted up by four lengths in the Coral Bet By Phone 0800 242 232 Handicap and while Yellow Printer (6-4 favourite) was not as obviously impressive, he was equally assured to carry home the white and purple colours of the Tony Bloom and Harry Findlay partnership in the Watch Racing UK Live At coral.co.uk Maiden Stakes.
Saucy (9-2) completed the treble by slipping the field in division two of the Coral Play Blackjack In Shop Handicap,
"Three runners, three winners - you can't get better than that. Unless you win four!" said Dascombe.
"Yellow Printer will make a nice three-year-old. We have taken our time with him as his head was a bit frazzled when we got him, but I have always liked him. He only seems to do enough and I'd say he'll have a break now.
"The handicapper is going to hammer The Game. We're going to be into the 90s now so God knows what we'll do, but he's only had four runs for us and could be improving.
"The other filly just loves it around here."
Ryan Moore timed it well from the front on Grande Caiman in the Coral On Channel 4 Teletext Page 611 Handicap.
The 13-8 favourite has only once been beaten in six visits to the venue.
The feature £25,000 Play Coral Slots In Shop And Online Handicap turned into a thriller as David Evans' Bazroy (16-1) finished a short-head and a head in front of Markab and Whistledownwind.
"I know him pretty well and he's always game," said winning jockey Stephen Donohoe.
Darryll Holland was banned for two days (December 21-22) for not riding out for sixth.
A few of the other winners were easier pickings for punters.
Certainly Thoughtsofstardom (7-2), all of whose previous victories were over five furlongs, made appeal back to the minimum trip following a spell over six in the Play Coral At coral.co.uk Apprentice Handicap.
A collected Luke Morris poked him in front close home to beat 7-4 favourite Joss Stick by half a length.
"He will win over six - he was second at Newmarket - and I'm going to keep trying but he's a five-furlong specialist really," said trainer Phil McEntee.
"He's in at Kempton on Wednesday without a penalty so he could go there."
Can Can Star (7-2) followed up on his course-and-distance victory a fortnight ago in division one of the handicap, again produced late under Shane Kelly.
Winning trainer Tony Carroll said: "It's probably just his time of year. I thought he'd be able to win again today, he just needs the run of the race.
"He's not a superstar but he's a nice horse and we will try to find another little race for him."
Long-limbed hold-up maestro George Baker delivered Star Strider (6-1) to perfection in the coral.co.uk Handicap.
Trainer Gay Kelleway was a bit anxious about her stable's form.
"That moves me on to 46 for the year, but we want to reach 50 and I was worried as I hadn't had a winner for three weeks," she said.
"This one was dropping down in grade and we thought he needed a mile but my horses have just been a bit unlucky lately."
