'It's good to get one on the board' - Alain Cawley ends 11-month wait for winner

Alain Cawley secured his first winner since January 9 and a first since returning from a broken pelvis last month when Scoop The Pot landed the 2m7½f handicap chase.

Cawley was ruled out for just shy of 12 weeks due to the injury suffered in a fall from the Micky Hammond-trained Swarez at Southwell in August.

"It's great to be back in the winner's enclosure," said Cawley. "I was off for just short of 12 weeks after breaking my pelvis and there have been plenty of near misses since, so it's good to get one on the board."

The victory was also overdue for the Ben Haslam-trained Scoop The Pot, who himself had not won since scoring at Fontwell two years ago.

Laskadine brings up a double for trainer Ben Haslam at NewcastleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"His jumping let him down last time and this galloping track suited him better," Cawley added. "We knocked on the door and thankfully it's opened this time."

Scoop The Pot carries the colours of JP McManus, and trainer and owner combined to score again when Laskadine put the field in division two of the 2m handicap hurdle to the sword under Aidan Coleman, carrying a welter burden of 12st 2lb.

Bay defies drift

Tortuga Bay was a big drifter in the betting before division one of the 2m handicap hurdle but the lack of market confidence proved to be a misnomer as the James Ewart-trained mare posted a convincing success under Brian Hughes.

The six-year-old had failed to meet expectations following an impressive point-to-point success in April 2018, registering form figures of 48P8 in four ensuing starts.

Tortuga Bay (Brian Hughes) scores her first victory under rulesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Hughes said: "She won a point-to-point but since then she hadn't been seeing out her races. She had her wind done and I think that's made a big difference.

"James's horses are also running better now so I can't say it was the biggest surprise to see her go well and win."

Results and analysis

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