Sam England enjoys a happy Mother's Day following valuable Go North double
Sunday: Carlisle
Sam England earned the perfect Mother's Day gift by winning two valuable series finals on the last day of the Go North Weekend.
It was a family day out to savour for the Guiseley-based trainer, who landed a pair of £35,000 handicap chases with victories for Croagh Patrick and No Cruise Yet.
After in-form rider Lewis Stones steered home Croagh Patrick in the 2m4f handicap chase, England's husband Jonathan got in on the act on No Cruise Yet in the 3m½f handicap chase.
The trainer, who brought three-year-old son Albert to the course, said: "It's been a good Mother's Day and I've got the little one with me as well. I said if we have another winner, Albert could have another ice-cream, so he's happy about that."
The England stable is enjoying its best season and the plan to target the Racing Post-sponsored three-day meeting, which offered total prize-money of £285,000, paid off handsomely.
"We aimed a couple of horses at it last year and thought it was definitely worth having another go," she said. "We're a small yard and it's great to earn nice prize-money, in effectively 0-120 races. I see the majority of the finals have gone to northern trainers as well, which is good."
Jockey William Shanahan received a seven-day ban for using his whip above permitted level on If Not For Dylan, who was second to Croagh Patrick.
Almost the perfect victory
Borders trainer Stuart Coltherd celebrated a homebred winner of a Go North Series final in the colours of his racing club – but there was one thing missing.
Son Sam had been aboard the prolific Wheelbahri for his previous two wins but had to watch on as Jamie Hamilton steered the eight-year-old home to a four-timer in the £35,000 2m handicap chase.
After breaking his cheekbone in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival, Sam Coltherd was replaced by Hamilton, whose attacking ride brought out the best in Wheelbahri.
"I never thought we'd be here as I was trying to get a win with him and now he's done four in a row," said the trainer.
"To win a final is unbelievable and it was worth waiting on him. I was quite confident he'd stay as all his work at home suggested he would and I said to Jamie to ride him like the best horse and nothing got near him.
"Sam will be a wee bit upset, it's great when he's riding them but it's a team effort and Jamie has been an able replacement and ridden him to perfection. He's on the mend and hopefully it won't be too long before he's back on board."
Coltherd gained extra satisfaction from the victory as it came for the Coltherd Racing Club.
"It's a brilliant series and great prize-money for the standard of horses up north," he added. "It's a great final to aim for and we've got a lot of local friends in the racing club, so it's great for everybody."
Palm Beach makes a splash
The card started with a shock in the novice hurdle as 2-9 shot Gredin was put in his place in no uncertain terms by Palm Beach, who bolted up on his debut for local permit-holder John Dixon.
Bought out of Joseph O'Brien's yard for £10,500 in January, Palm Beach travelled well throughout and had the odds-on favourite in trouble a long way from home.
Palm Beach carries the colours of the trainer's wife Sheila and is ridden by son John jnr, who said: "He felt like he was going half-speed the whole way round and he did that well. He's been working very well and I was hopeful of a big run."
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