Panama fixes it for Saville
Trainer Joss Saville ended his wait for a winner as Panama At Once emerged from the gloom to triumph at Newcastle.
But the Middleham handler, racegoers and television viewers saw little of the action in the SV Rutter Ltd Handicap Chase as the track was enveloped in thick fog before the three-mile heat.
Only flashes of the race could be viewed with the runners swallowed up by the mist, but it was 25-1 shot Panama At Once who eventually passed the post 14 lengths clear of Getinbybutonlyjust.
Panama At Once’s victory was a first for the yard in 237 days and Saville, who has just 12 horses in training, was understandably thrilled.
“I didn’t get to see much of it but I’m absolutely delighted,” he said.
“I only saw one or two jumps but the jockey (Tom Messenger) said he jumped well, just popped away and kept slogging away in the mud.
“I’m so pleased as we’ve been a bit unlucky with this horse the last twice.
“It has been a long time since my last winner but we’ve moved yards in the last eight weeks and we’ve only just really settled in so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here.”
The closing United Carlton Office Systems Ltd Standard Open NH Flat Race was run in similarly bleak conditions but proved no bar to success for Bishops Heir (7-1).
Howard Johnson endured a day to forget as he had four favourites beaten, headed by 3-1 chance Drever Route in the first division of the Bet365.com Novices’ Hurdle.
He could finish only seventh as Mighty Moon (7-2) strolled to an eight-length success over Ockey De Neulliac for trainer Richard Fahey.
Johnson’s Whisky Magic (6-4 favourite) found the burden of top weight too much in division two with the Nicky Richards-trained Steady Tiger (11-4) taking full advantage.
Off the track since winning a Kelso bumper exactly two years ago, Steady Tiger showed plenty of guts for Davy Condon to hold the late thrust of Best Lover by a length and three-quarters.
Johnson suffered further bad luck as Player crashed out at the first in the St James Security Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Pass The Class looked a likely winner until he take a heavy fall at the third-last, bringing down Frith in the process.
Shelomoh was left in a winning position and capitalised on the opportunity to win by a length for Paddy Aspell.
Door Boy was sent off the 4-11 market leader for Johnson in the Gosforth Decorating And Building Services Novices’ Hurdle but could finish only third behind What A Buzz (4-1).
Nelliedonethat (11-8 favourite) revelled in the testing conditions as he completed a quick double for trainer Lucinda Russell in the pinkmafiafc.co.uk Handicap Chase.
Rank outsider Delightfully (25-1) sprung a surprise when breezing home by eight lengths in the opening Sun Newspaper Help For Heroes Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
