Quick-fire juvenile double takes Thore Hammer Hansen to career-best tally

Apprentice rider Thore Hammer Hansen eclipsed his previous best tally of winners in a year with a pair of hard-fought victories in Nottingham’s opening two races, both on first-time-winning juvenile fillies for his boss Richard Hannon.

Dark Tulip kicked off proceedings with a neck triumph in a thrilling four-way finish to the 5f fillies' maiden before Desert, who had outrun her 80-1 odds to finish four lengths behind stablemate Gubbass in the Super Sprint last time, cemented that form when obliging by a head in the 6f nursery.

The double moved Hansen on to 21 winners for the year, bettering the 19 he managed in 2019.

After winning on Desert, Hansen said: “We had a lot of hope after the Super Sprint. Our head lad Colin Bolger knew she was a lovely filly and said six furlongs might stretch her, but I think she saw it out fine. She got a little lonely in front but I was always going to win. She did it easy enough and will progress from this."

Fantastic four

Miramichi’s superb winning run shows no signs of stopping as the Tom Dascombe-trained three-year-old completed a four-timer with victory in the 1m2f handicap.

A 6lb penalty for last week's victory at Newbury still left the gelding 3lb well in at the handicap and he made all under Jane Elliott for his fourth win in 40 days.

King Richard

Richard Kingscote rode a treble on Touchwood – who was getting off the mark after recording four second places – in the 6f maiden, Roman Mist in the 1m½f handicap and Yagood, who claimed a fourth victory of 2021 in the 2m handicap.

Results, replays and analysis

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