Spic 'N Span cleans up at Southwell

Cathy Gannon's positivity was rewarded when Spic 'N Span claimed a sixth course success at Southwell today.

Gannon followed to the letter the orders of trainer Ron Harris by ensuring the six-year-old was soon at the head of affairs in the 32Red Handicap.

Renowned front-runner Lucky Art was also handy from the outset, but Spic 'N Span had already flown and held on by a head.

Gannon said of the 7-1 winner: "Ron told me to take a few lengths out of them at the start and it worked.

"He ran well at Lingfield last time but he loves it here."

Lightning Cloud's subsequent victory in the southwell-racecourse.co.uk Median Auction Maiden was marred by the death of X Rated.

Alan McCabe's three-year-old was put down after fracturing a fetlock when crossing the line in second place.

The winner, trained by the in-form Kevin Ryan, was backed into 8-11 favouritism and eased nonchalantly clear by five lengths - despite showing traits of naivety inside the final furlong.

Jockey Phillip Makin reported: "I didn't think I'd had a race at the top of the straight, but then he started running around all over the place."

An eventful race also had bleak consequences for 5lb claimer James Rogers, who was slapped with a 10-day suspension for failing to ride to the finish aboard Mini's Destination.

The John Holt-trained filly came home fourth, a short head behind Precocious Kid.

Rogers will be sidelined between April 26 and May 5.

Makin was later denied a swift double when Ingleby Arch succumbed to Bonnie Prince Blue in the Play Golf Before Racing At Southwell Claiming Stakes.

Tom Queally had to work hard for his riding fee, however, as the James Given-trained winner was badly outpaced once the traps opened.

The 9-2 chance eventually hit his stride approaching the straight, and ploughed a lone furrow along the far rail to defeat the odds-on Ingleby Arch by two lengths.

Makin's chagrin lasted all of 30 minutes as Mitchum (7-2) later scooped top honours in the Golf And Racing At Southwell Maiden.

David Barron does a fine job with young horses at his Thirsk headquarters and had this Elnadim colt aching for an outing on his racecourse debut.

Mitchum was seldom required into offensive action in seeing off Dougie Boy, the 15-8 favourite, by eight lengths.

Barron's daughter, Nicola, said: "He hits the ground quite hard, which is why we came here rather than run him on fast turf.

"He should strengthen up for that run."