Gamble pays off as trainer Tim Reed celebrates first winner of the season

Wednesday: Perth

Trainer Tim Reed celebrated his first success of the season after the gamble to return Big Difference to a shorter trip paid off.

The nine-year-old had been racing mainly over longer trips, but in the hands of the trainer's son Harry he proved too good for the favourite And The New in the 2m4f handicap chase.

"I bought him privately out of Ben Pauling's stable and we had to work on his back before he was able to run," said the trainer.

"In his first two races for us over three miles we thought it was possible he wasn't quite getting home and he appeared to not appreciate the cheekpieces last time. We decided it might work giving it a go over the shorter trip, but it was a bit of a gamble running him from 2lb out of the handicap.

"I'm delighted as this was my only horse to run, though we've got two more now to go over the summer."

More success for Jeffreys

Trainer David Jeffreys has his team in good heart, and his Getaman carried off first prize in the 2m handicap chase, defeating the 4-5 favourite First Angel by five lengths under Kielan Woods.

Brian Hughes gets the best out of Lake Shore Drive (right) to land the 3m handicap hurdle, the start of a double on the card for the champion jockeyCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"He's well handicapped now and he jumped like a buck today," said Jeffreys of the winner. "He's probably versatile as to the trip, but Kielan reckons he's best at two miles."

Brian Hughes extended his lead to two over Sean Bowen in the race for the jockeys' championship with victories aboard the Laura Morgan-trained pair Lake Shore Drive and Illusion Of Time. but the ride of the day belonged to Bowen, who produced a tremendous effort to score on the lazy Britzka in the 2m handicap hurdle.

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