Elmonjed cut for Stewards' Cup betting justifying favouritism in 19-runner Dash

Elmonjed (blue): pictured winning at York last year, won at the same track againCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Bookmakers do not sponsor big Saturday afternoon handicaps in the expectation they will be won by the favourites and Elmonjed may have cost Sky Bet a few quid by landing the £100,000 Dash.

The layers had plenty running for them in a 19-runner field over six furlongs but Jim Crowley got the 9-2 market leader home in a tight finish by a neck.

It was the four-year-old's first win of the year and the jockey said: "He's probably not the most straightforward but he's got plenty of ability.

"I had to go a fraction sooner than I wanted to before the gap closed and then he sort of shut down when he hit the front. But he likes York, he won here last year."

Elmonjed could attempt to scoop another bookmaker's cash next at Glorious Goodwood next Saturday and he is now 10-1 co-second favourite for the Coral Stewards' Cup with the sponsor.

Trainer William Haggas's wife Maureen said: "Jim said 'run him on Saturday, I would.' We'll see.

"It's a different sort of track but he likes a big field and being covered up and helped through. He's not really happy being on his own in front as long as he was today but he hung on. He'd be better on faster ground too."

Golden girl

It took until the final day for Richard Fahey to train a winner at the Sky Bet Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival but time may tell he sent out one of the classiest horses of the week.

Golden Palace, a 175,000gns yearling purchase who was also entered in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot, was giving all her rivals in the fillies' novice here 6lb, thanks to a debut success at Beverley three weeks earlier.

Yet that did not stop her pulling clear in the final furlong for a length-and-three-quarter success under Oisin Orr.

"She's quite a nice filly," said Fahey. "We do like her, but it's always tough carrying a penalty. There were a few fancied in there. She had to knuckle down.

Richard Fahey: trainer of Golden PalaceCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"She's quite a laid-back filly at home, she doesn't over express herself, and she's going to learn with racing."

Fahey added: "I had her in the Group 3 at Ascot but I just felt it was probably too early for her. I hope she's a black-type filly. I'll see what the handicapper does and the Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr is definitely on the agenda."

McMenamin trumps rivals

Wonder if Donald Trump backed Air Force One, the Sky Bet Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe winner named after the plane on which the US president flew into Scotland this weekend?

Even if he did, he could not have been happier than rider Danny McMenamin, who was delighted to land the 5f handicap for trainer Geoff Oldroyd.

"I've had a couple of goes at this, it's always a great buzz and it's even better to win it," said the former champion conditional jockey.

"It's a great thrill and it's fantastic York put this on. Every jump jockey in the weighing room loves it and we're always talking about when it's coming round."

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