'He keeps pulling out more' - Village Master continues his progress by completing four-timer

Village Master continues to shine with his impeccable form and notched a four-timer in the feature 2m7f handicap chase.

James Bowen was on board the favourite – who has won eight of his last ten chase starts – and the pair waited in second before taking the lead on the run-in to snatch victory from Fame And Fun, ridden by James's brother Sean.

"He's gone up 40lb in the handicap and every time he runs you think this might be his ceiling but he seems to keep pulling out more," James Bowen told Sky Sports Racing.

Trainer Warren Greatrex, who can boast an excellent 56 per cent strike-rate this season with ten winners from just 18 runners, purchased the half-brother to a high-class bumper winner from Irish point-to-point trainer Jonathan Fogarty for £65,000 in May 2023.

Bowen added: "He's definitely not slow, he went over two and half at Stratford and once you get stuck into him he really takes off.

"If you force him too much in the early part of the race he probably wouldn't like it. I think you have to warm him up into it and he gets a kick at the end – he's improving with every race." 

Halford's handy claim

Jockey Josh Halford celebrated his first winner in Britain on the Gordon Elliott-trained Woodland Adventure in the 2m bumper.

Halford’s 7lb claim helped to offset the topweight's double penalty and the combination justified 8-11 odds by two lengths from Midnight Pass.

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.