Carr hails 'quirky' Magical Effect as ten-year-old rolls back the years in style

Tuesday: Catterick

Ruth Carr has hailed her "grand old servant" Magical Effect after the ten-year-old defied his advancing years with a dominant victory in division two of the 7f handicap.

An early deluge changed the going to heavy and a wide draw played into the hands of winning jockey Jason Hart, who used fresh ground on the outside to cruise clear by ten lengths.

"It was brilliant," Carr said. "He's been a grand old servant for us and a bad draw turned into a good draw in the end. He's been quirky but he's provided his owners with a lot of fun and he's been good fun to train too."

The fire still burns bright for Magical Effect – despite his advancing years – and his training routine at home has helped keep him in top condition.

Carr added: "He doesn't get ridden too much at home, he prefers to do his exercise loose and get turned out – that's how we've kept him sweet all those years.

"He'll keep going the rest of this year, what we'll do next year we haven't decided yet, but if he wins another one we might not be quick to retire him."

Fifty up

Sam James posted a career-best tally of 57 winners in 2021 and he brought up another half-century with victory aboard the Grant Tuer-trained Lezardrieux in the 6f handicap.

Long journey

The 502-mile round trip from Andrew Balding's Hampshire base paid off when the stable's sole runner, Sporting Icon, struck in the 6f novice.

Results, replays and analysis

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