Dore plays his ace at Southwell

Snow brought British racing virtually to a halt today but the sole surviving meeting at Southwell proved fertile ground for Lincolnshire trainer Conor Dore.

Dore made it two in as many days at the Nottinghamshire venue when Ace of Spies cruised comfortably clear in the Bet On The Ashes At totesport.com Handicap, while he managed to claim Camps Bay, an absurdly easy winner earlier on the card.

The Fibresand track, a few miles west of Newark, had largely escaped the frozen devastation in much of the country with just a dusting of white in the surrounding area.

But there were non-runners in many of the races, which Dore believed was a help to 7-4 favourite Ace Of Spies, who was only fifth at the track on Tuesday.

“It was a good performance but the horses dropping out, especially Roy Brotherton’s horse (Cape of Storms) made it easier,” said Dore.

“We’ve had quite a few go close over the last couple of weeks so it’s nice they have started winning.

“We haven’t had so much snow, but a hard frost. We’ll keep running them if we can though.”

Camps Bay was simply in a different league to his rivals in the Bet totepool At totesport.com Claiming Stakes.

Dropping down to basement level and making his Fibresand debut, the 6-5 favourite was behind at the home turn but changed things in an instant, eventually pulling 21 lengths clear under Barry McHugh.

This was the six-year-old’s first victory since July 2007 but he ran in some top handicaps when in Amanda Perrett’s care.

This was to be Camp’s Bay final run for the in-form Brian Ellison after Dore claimed him.

“He had been running in some good races and I wasn’t trying to be clever running in a claimer, I just wanted him to have a confidence booster,” said Ellison.

Trainer Kevin Ryan will have been thrilled with Phillip Makin, who was seen at his very best on two occasions to prevail in tight finishes.

Silaah (9-4 favourite) looked all over the winner of the Bet On totescoop6 At totesport.com Handicap as he cruised into contention but he could not seal the deal when Michael O’Connell started to ask him for an effort.

Ryan’s Everymanforhimself (5-1), another to have contested top-notch handicaps in his time, was more willing to comply with Makin’s demands and he ended up winning by a head.

It was a similar story in the totesport.com Handicap as Nightjar, heavily backed into 2-1 favourite, scraped past the post in front of the strong-travelling Docofthebay.

Teenager George Chaloner, who rode the first winner of his career at Wolverhampton on December 9, had to wait only a few days for his second.

Just four started the six-furlong toteplacepot Nursery and only two really got into it, with the more guaranteed stamina of Dunmore Boy (8-1) finding out the 8-11 favourite Je Suis Unrockstar, whose best form had been over the minimum trip.

Shane B Kelly made a useful spare ride count by replacing Ian Mongan aboard even-money favourite Kumbeshwar in the toteswinger Handicap.

David Evans’ three-year-old was carrying a 6lb penalty, as he had been successful over the same 11 furlongs in a claimer at the course on Tuesday.

Kumbeshwar cruised past Eton Fable at the halfway stage and had too much in reserve for Castle Myth, who attempted to challenge on the wide outside but was held by five lengths.