Catterick: 'It's taken me all this time!' - owner celebrates first double after more than 40 years

Friday: Catterick

Almost a year on from providing Randall Orchard with his 100th winner, Trac sealed a first double in more than 40 years of involvement in the sport for the local owner when landing the 2m3f handicap chase.

Orchard, whose first winner was the Muriel Naughton-ridden Jazzman at Beverley in 1980, struck in the opening 2m3½f conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle with the Sue Smith-trained Prairie Wolf before the Micky Hammond-trained Trac gained a second success over fences.

Orchard said: “It’s taken me all this time to get a double – there’s been plenty of ups and downs – but it’s been a brilliant afternoon and it’s extra special to do it at my local track.

“I tend to pop down to the local pub on a Friday and have a couple of beers with some mates, who came racing today, so we’ll stick to the routine to celebrate.

“Prairie Wolf didn’t start off great over hurdles but Sue gives them plenty of time and he now looks the horse he was in bumpers, while Trac has excelled over fences and is going in the right direction.”

Prairie Wolf’s rider Thomas Willmott was taken to the James Cook University Hospital with a suspected broken ankle after a fall on North Parade in the 2m novice handicap chase.

Treble up

Brian Hughes rode a 182-1 treble with wins on Ballygeary for Donald McCain, Zestful for Martin Keighley and Hard Iron for Nicky Richards, who earlier won with the Sean Quinlan-ridden Snowy Clouds. Betty Baloo landed the feature mares’ handicap chase for Jamie Hamilton and Tim Easterby.

Results, replays and analysis

Read these next . . .

Chepstow: unbeaten Doyen Star 40-1 for Supreme and Ballymore after second hurdles win  

Bahrain: Warren Point helps secure Charlie Appleby double in Bahrain 

Members' Club special offer: 50% off three months 

Upping The Ante star Johnny Dineen joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the key horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday, exclusively for Members' Club subscribers. Sign up to Members' Club here for more top jumps season insight.