Dis Donc digs in to give 'humbled' Hammond landmark 100th course winner

Thursday: Wetherby

Micky Hammond has saddled more runners at Wetherby than anywhere else and the Middleham trainer enjoyed a landmark 100th winner at the West Yorkshire track courtesy of Dis Donc in the 2m3½f selling hurdle.

Available at 28-1 in some places on Thursday morning, the nine-year-old went off the 10-1 outsider of the field of four and stuck on gamely under Jamie Hamilton in the silks of the Ursa Major racing club.

Some members of the ownership group could be heard screaming their gelding home in a thrilling three-way finish and Hammond said: "We’ve been struggling with him a bit, but it all fell into place, which was great.

"It was a lovely ride by Jamie, he judged the pace to perfection. He saved enough after jumping the last hurdle.

"He had some fair form in Ireland and I feel very humbled and delighted to get 100 winners at Wetherby, which is my favourite track in the north to go to a jumps meeting so the whole team, past and present, are delighted."

Dis Donc’s victory was the perfect way to bounce back for Hamilton, who had been unseated at the first obstacle by outsider Call Me Jezza in the opening 2m maiden hurdle, which was emphatically won by the Brian Hughes-ridden Spiritofthenorth to give Flat trainer Kevin Ryan a first winner over jumps since August 2019. Hughes completed a double aboard the Joanne Foster-trained Sigurd.

Double delight

Also enjoying a double were Oliver Greenall and Craig Nichol, who took the 2m5½f handicap hurdle with Jet Of Magic and the first division of the 3m handicap hurdle with The Questioner.

Results, replays and analysis

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