Huntingdon: 'She could well win again' - Porter In The Park gets Lavelle stable off the mark for 2023

Tom Bellamy paid tribute to Emma Lavelle and her stable staff after getting a welcome winner on the board for the operation when Porter In The Park won the finale at the replacement fixture.

The 11-2 chance was giving Lavelle her first winner of 2023 when outgunning Global Famenglory in the 2m4½f mares' handicap hurdle.

The jockey said: "It's fantastic to get a winner on the board for the team as things have not been great lately, but everyone has been working hard to get through it. If the yard had been flying I would have fancied this mare a bit more. She was well in off 96 and could well win again on the back of that."

Cheshire cats

Homme Public kicked off a double for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero

The training combination of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero closed in on their target of 50 winners for the season with a double.

The Cheshire-based duo moved on to 41 winners, a total which has already outstripped the 37 Greenall mustered when he was solo in the 2020-21 season.

The double was initiated by Homme Public, who defied topweight in the featured 2m handicap hurdle under Toby Wynne.

Greenall said: "He's enjoyed the better ground than he's had the ;last twice and also the drop in grade. He's a cracking little horse and was quite flighty when he first came over from France. This race dropped right for him and we'll look for bigger and better things next time."

If that victory was convincing, the success of stablemate Post Chaise in the following 2m7½f handicap chase was even more so as he sauntered home for a five and a half-length win.

The successful owner Graham Cardwell lives near Haydock and can look forward to a home fixture next time with the progressive 11-10 favourite.

Greenall said: "It was softer than this when he won at Hereford last time so we were worried about the ground. He did it well and I think there is 0-125 race at Haydock that will suit him."

There were just six bookmakers at Huntingdon's replacement fixture

Different Planet

The six bookmakers at the Cambridgeshire track must have wished they had not bothered after Planet Legend landed a gamble in the opener.

The former Flat racer used to be trained in Newmarket and got his second career off the ground when trouncing the opposition in the 2m juvenile maiden hurdle.

The chestnut was bred to win a Derby when he was trained by James Ferguson. However, he is now with Richard Newland and made it third time lucky over hurdles in some style when scoring by 15 lengths and landed a gamble to boot as he was punted into 5-1 (from 12).

The son of Galileo stayed 1m6f on the Flat so winning jockey Sean Bowen was keen to keep the revs up. He said: "Richard was keen for them to go a good gallop so when they slowed it down the back I was happy to press on. His jumping has improevd a lot and he shapes as if he stays very well." 

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Punchestown: Cheltenham next for Princess Zoe after dead-heat on hurdling debut 

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