Bertoliver delivers at Chester
Bertoliver clocked his second success on the Roodee when making all under Philip Robinson to claim the toteplacepot Handicap at Chester today.
Tom Dascombe's five-year-old proved popular with those in the packed enclosures, and he was backed down to 3-1 at the head of the market having opened at 9-2.
Robinson, who had partnered Bertoliver to two of his previous four wins, set decent fractions up front and kicked again approaching the final furlong to see off Le Toreador by a length.
Robinson said: "Keeping him happy is the key to him, and I managed to give him a breather and let come back on the bridle.
"When you do that it keeps him sweet and he was able to kick on again."
With Dascombe supervising runners in Ireland, his assistant Colin Gorman was on duty at Chester, and he added: "Philip gave him a great ride and he enjoys it here.
"The plan was to jump and take a lead and thankfully they have left him alone in front.
"He is a course specialist so hopefully he can come back and win more races here."
Ian Williams is making a name for himself at this track when it comes to valuable staying races, and the trainer of last year's Chester Cup winner Bulwark struck again in front of the Saturday crowd.
Williams has coaxed steady improvement from Munsef since acquiring him three months ago, and the seven-year-old stepped up to the mark under Eddie Ahern in the totepool Chester Stakes.
The 5-1 chance was forced to miss the Ebor on Wednesday with a bruised foot, but relished the near mile-and-three-quarter trip to readily take the Listed handicap.
Williams said: "It was disappointing he missed the Ebor after running so well today.
"The step up in trip was going to either help him or beat him, but it seems to have helped and he has found a bit of improvement.
"His owner (Dr Marwan Koukash) is keen to run in the Melbourne Cup and I am keen to go to.
"I don't know if he would be good enough but we will chat about going, and there is also the Stockholm Cup next month to consider."
Carcinetto has been highly tried during the summer and was rewarded for her efforts in the £40,000 totescoop6 Handicap.
David Evans' mare was drawn in box seat one for her 84th career start, and the 16-1 chance capitalised on her inside berth to fly up the rail in the hands of Barry McHugh and score by a neck.
Evans said: "She loves it. You can give her three days off and her muscles tie up, so she never gets a day off.
"We will keep her going while the ground is fast and she may even go to Dubai during the winter."
Quarrel was William Haggas' sole runner on the card and there was no argument about his victory in the three-runner toteexacta Conditions Stakes.
Michael Hills bustled the 2-1 chance into an early lead and the Ascot maiden winner had no trouble maintaining his unbeaten record as he shrugged off the attentions of 8-11 favourite Atlantis Star for a length success.
Hills said: "He was bought at the breeze-ups and won first time out at Ascot.
"You have to be decent to be able to do that and he is a nice horse."
Hills completed an 11-1 double and provided his father Barry with the third leg of an across-the-card treble as Ransom Note held the late charge of Demonstrative by a nose in the totesport Home Of Pool Betting EBF Maiden Stakes.
The jockey had to wait for the false running rail to drop away turning for home before seeing daylight, but his mount responded in an authoritative manner when in the clear.
The 3-1 chance lengthened with purpose inside the final furlong, and found the line arriving just in time as Demonstrative flew from the rear.
Hills added: "He is a nice, progressive horse and he ran in a good race at Newmarket last time.
"I was glad the rail dropped away as I was locked in, and with a clear run he would have won easier."
