Poignant day for Spencer as Ispahan continues jockey's red-hot winning run

Ispahan provided a poignant winner for Jamie Spencer just a day after the death of legendary punter and trainer Barney Curley, who played a key role in the early stages of Spencer's career and remained a mentor to the jockey after leaving training.

Spencer said: "He was a brilliant man and his accomplishments in racing are probably one per cent of what he achieved in life. He didn't suffer fools gladly but he's done so much for so many people."

Ispahan, who was landing his first career success, was Spencer's only ride of the day and the win maintained a red-hot run of form for the jockey, who has recorded five victories in his last nine rides.

"This is probably not his track but the race suited," Spencer said. "It's good for him to get a win as he was a bit unlucky last season and hopefully he can improve."

Tom Queally, who also worked for Curley as a young jockey, finished second – beaten four lengths – on 16-1 shot Psyche.

Double for Osbourne

Saffie Osborne rode out her 7lb claim in the opening 5½f handicap when Good Earth justified evens favouritism in good style, and her day got even better when she guided Big Little Lie to victory in the mile handicap.

Osborne endured a tough end to 2020 after suffering extensive injuries to her arm and ribs in a fall at Windsor but has returned in superb form this year with 12 winners now to her name.

Both winners were trained by her father Jamie, and she said: "I can't thank everyone who has been supporting me enough and hopefully I can keep the winners coming."

Good Earth and Osborne have formed a formidable partnership of late, combining for three winners from four starts in 2021.

The jockey added: "He's a closer and is never on the pace early so the fact they went a good gallop here has helped him see it out really well."

Lochanthem to layers' rescue

Bookmakers were on red alert as Summer's Knight was heavily backed before the 1m2f handicap but they were spared a big payout when Lochanthem won well under Dylan Hogan.

Last season, Sir Mark Prescott trained Revolver to record six straight wins as a three-year-old in a run which saw him jump from a rating of 57 to 98.

Punters appeared to see something similar in the 64-rated Summer's Knight, who was backed into 4-5 (from 13-8) but he broke slowly and had to be rousted along for much of the race by Luke Morris.

Lochanthem, a 6-1 shot trained by Michael Bell, took up the running inside the final two furlongs before clearing away by two and a half lengths from 40-1 shot Arenas Del Tiempo.

Hogan said: "I was little further back than I wanted to be but we went a nice even gallop and I made a move to get into contention so as to avoid getting into a battle with Sir Mark's horse."

Drone problem

Drones were once again seen flying over Brighton just days after the course's executive director Paul Ellison said he expected legal proceedings to be launched against their use.

Join Members' Club Ultimate and read tipping from the likes of Pricewise and Paul Kealy, all the big interviews and features, daily comment and news analysis – plus our Ultimate Daily newsletter. Click here to sign up.