Best hoping for good things from Willis

John Best is plotting a fruitful New Year with his quickly-progressing Lingfield winner Mr Willis.

There is much to like about the gelding, who turns three on January 1 and he is in the shop window after breaking his duck in division two of the William Hill January Sale – Enhanced Favourites! Nursery.

A really eyecatching fifth when not getting the breaks over the same seven furlongs just over a month ago, punters were prepared to give Mr Willis another chance and backed him into 11-10 favourite.

Steve Drowne drew a scything run out of him down the centre of the track and he dashed an easy length and a quarter clear.

“We were hoping for that, but he has still got to go and do it,” said Maidstone-based Best.

“I’d hope he’d improve and win two or three now. We’ll run him a bit more and hopefully find a buyer.

"His dam (Santiburi Girl) was my first winner on the Flat and this horse reminds me of Kingsgate Bay, who we won four on the bounce with and managed to sell.”

The British Horseracing Authority will review the race as Mr Willis had never previously been placed. Best explained this was a lower-grade contest and he had been gelded after his third run.

William Hill were sponsoring the entire card but to the bookmakers’ chagrin, many of the winners were not hard to find.

Division two of the nursery went to top-weight Cut And Thrust (7-2), who pulled nearly three lengths away for the usually feared combination of Neil Callan and Michael Jarvis.

There was a birthday present for trainer Amanda Perrett in the seven-furlong maiden.

Her 13-8 favourite Dimander was value for more than his neck verdict over Maswerte and still looked green despite a good recent run over course and distance.

Jockey Jim Crowley, on double form at the track the day before, said: “We were pleased with him. He’ll obviously be put away until next year!

“Seriously, he won’t be running on the all-weather and I’d like to think he’d step up to a mile now.”

In even better form at Wolverhampton’s Tuesday night meeting had been Chris Catlin, who added to a Dunstall Park treble by poaching a clever lead on the grey Summer Rose (5-1) in division one of the five-furlong handicap.

Milton Bradley ensured a forgettable year ended on a winning note through Lithaam (2-1 favourite) in the second leg.

Hayley Turner was the centre of attention after claiming her 100th winner of the year at Wolverhampton but was out of luck from three rides.

A few years ago Cathy Gannon was getting similar acclaim in Ireland but after a difficult period in this country she is starting to be noticed again.

A textbook ride from the front on 2-1 joint-favourite Wind Flow wrapped up the seller.

“Things are going well for me too – I am getting plenty of rides,” she said. “It was easy to nick this as he loves the track.”

River Kirov (9-4 favourite), luckless at the course three days before, gave Drowne a brace with a raking finish in the six-furlong handicap.

Trainer Michael Wigham said: “You saw how well he ran on Sunday. He’s in blinding form and I think there’s a seven-furlong race back here on Saturday.”

Luke Morris and Stan Moore combined in the final race of 2008, the seven-furlong handicap, through cosy scorer Southandwest (9-2).