Joy for Kent as Gonalston lands Lincolnshire National

A long-awaited winner is the sweetest success for any trainer and the relief and joy was there for all to see after Nick Kent celebrated a local victory in the Lincolnshire National with topweight Gonalston Cloud.

Brigg-based Kent, who has 14 horses in training, has endured a year to forget with his string failing to hit form, but his patience and determination to turn the corner was finally rewarded by his stable star.

In a stirring climax, the nine-year-old grey, owned by Roger Jackson, finished with a flourish under Adam Wedge to deny James Banks, who was aboard the James Evans-trained Amiral Collonges, back-to-back wins in the race.