Keith Dalgleish restores local pride after Chichester sees off English raiders

Keith Dalgleish fought back for Scotland with a one-two in the feature race on the opening day of the Gold Cup meeting.

Yorkshire stables had won the first five races until Chichester and Platinumcard took the first two places in the £30,000 Virgin Bet Kilcerran Cup for his Lanarkshire yard.

The winner, owned by Hamilton chairman Sir Ian Good, scored by six and a half lengths to add to his success in the Carlisle Bell in the summer.

"That was a really good performance," said jockey Callum Rodriguez. "They went a nice gallop and he travelled round lovely. He really picked up when I asked him to and it was impressive. He's been very consistent, he's shown he's got the class and everything fell right for him today. It's exciting."

Good added: "He's a good horse but sometimes he gets himself into a position he has to get himself out of, and in a lot of his races he's finished well for second or third."

Outbreak heartbreak

One of the biggest betting meetings of the season started with a shock for punters when 2-7 favourite Outbreak was beaten by 10-1 shot Gorak in the opening two-year-old race.

Even winning trainer Richard Fahey was taken aback and he said: "That was a surprise as I thought the favourite was nailed on. But Gorak is a lovely horse and I'm mad on him. He carries plenty of condition and he's got better with racing. There's a mile Listed race at Pontefract that could be ideal for him, he stays well and he's improving all the time."

Gorak: too good for OutbreakCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Backers rewarded

Favourite backers had better luck in the fillies' handicap, but only just. It took a while for the judge to decide that 3-1 market leader Bollin Margaret – racing for the second time in four days – had defied top weight by a nose.

Tim Easterby, who had three winners on this card last year, said: "She's really tough and she had a big weight to carry. She got shut out a little bit at Haydock last Sunday, she had a race but she didn't really get into the battle."

Easterby had to settle for a double this time, with Eclipse De Lunar taking the 1m5f handicap under David Allan.

Bollin Margaret (near side) got the better of Alyara (far side) by just a noseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Express delivery

Michael Dods, whose Commanche Falls will bid to add Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup to his summer success in the Stewards' Cup, also sprang a surprise when 14-1 shot Northern Express caught 4-1 favourite Poet's Magic late on in the 7f handicap.

He said: "He disappointed at Ascot. It may have been the straight track but he'd been wearing a hood and he didn't jump the stalls and he never looked interested. I told Paul Mulrennan to drop him in and he's done it nicely. He's a fair horse – on his day he's pretty good but he can disappoint as well."

Northern Express (left) comes good without a hoodCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Great start

Middleham Park Racing struck at one of their favourite meetings when Kevin Stott got Ventura Rascal home by a head in division one of the mile handicap.

"It's great to start with a winner," said racing manager Mike Prince. "There are over 40 members here this week, we love targeting this meeting and we have 15-odd runners.

"Lexington Dash runs in the [Ayr] Gold Cup and the less rain the better."

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