Harry Derham dedicates Teddy Blue's win to Michael O'Sullivan a day after attending his funeral

Harry Derham dedicated the second leg of a double at the track to the late Michael O'Sullivan, just 24 hours after attending his funeral in County Cork on Thursday.

The trainer struck with both of his runners, with 10-1 chance Dramatic Encore landing the 2m4½f maiden hurdle before Teddy Blue defied top weight in the 2m½f novice handicap chase. Both were ridden by Paul O'Brien.

Derham said: "I would like to dedicate the win of Teddy Blue to Michael. I was at his funeral yesterday and it was very moving and there was a great turnout. Teddy Blue did it well and enjoyed making his own running."

Timetoshine sparkles

Nicky Henderson introduced the smart hurdling newcomer Palladium at the Cambridgeshire track in January, and was back a month later with another ex-Flat performer in the shape of Timetoshine, who defied a market drift to land the 2m maiden hurdle.

Chalked up at 9-4 in the morning, the ex-French performer drifted right out to 15-2 at the off before overcoming some dodgy leaps to see off the gambled-on Dan Skelton-trained Wotter Trotter.

The Million In Mind partnership and Timetoshine

Nico de Boinville sat tight when Timetoshine got in close at the last before going on to record an eight-and-a-half-length victory on the five-year-old mare.

The winning syndicate was the familiar Million In Mind Partnership, whose 30-strong turnout numbered former Channel 4 commentator Graham Goode. 

Spokesman Anthony Bromley said: "She was a very green on her first go over hurdles and got into the bottom of a few, but finished well off a strong pace. The members were worried about the market drift, but I just told them they would get more if they backed her. I don't know about future plans, but she probably wants more experience."

Jubilant joy 

Newmarket trainer James Owen lies third on the top trainers' board at the track for 2024-25 and may well be set to take higher rank after Jubilant came from last to first to land the 3m1f handicap hurdle.

Alex Chadwick gave the well-backed 2-1 favourite a confident ride to score tidily from Gustoso on his first go at the trip.

Owen said: "It looked as if he was always going to win and it's no surprise as we were waiting to run him over this sort of trip. We had to pull him out twice because of soft going, but he handled this ground which had dried out a bit. He could be a good spring horse before going chasing next season. "

Jungle book

Bookmaker Gary Wiltshire was betting at the track as usualm but was also doubling up as an author as his book 'Fifty Years In The Betting Jungle' was on sale in the grandstand even though it is not officially published until March 1.

Gary Wiltshire with his new book

The book is published by Weatherbys and is available to purchase on their website according to Wiltshire, who famously lost a fortune as a result of Frankie Dettori's Magnificent Seven at Ascot in 1999.

He said: "I enjoyed doing the book, but I reckon there are more pages on the cutting-room floor than there are in it as they didn't beat the censor. I've only done one chapter about the Frankie thing as that's been done. I hope there are lots of laughs in there."

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