Magnificent Mathers gets Volta Do Mar home

Pat Mathers more than earned his riding fee on Volta Do Mar in the claimer at Redcar. The jockey was hard at it soon after halfway, presumably at which point his mount was backed at 50 on Betfair, and victory still seemed unlikely 100 yards out, but Mathers put his mount’s head in front on the line to deny Pavela, who traded at 1.02.

It appeared Munfallet might have bolted in the 6f handicap at Haydock as he soon had two lengths on the field and the writing seemed on the wall as his rivals drew alongside before the final furlong. However, he dug extremely deep and rallied to regain the lead on the line after trading at 120. Runner-up Blaine was backed at 1.1.

Jim Crowley has had the Midas touch in the last few weeks on his way to landing the jockeys’ title, but Bithynia was one who got away in the 6f maiden at Redcar. The filly seemed to hang fire under Crowley’s drive after hitting the front and, despite trading at 1.04, she was outbattled by Khamaary (70).