'That was just fantastic' - Harry Eustace enjoys his first winner as a trainer

Rookie trainer Harry Eustace got off the mark at just the fourth attempt when Coverham landed a gamble at the opening meeting of the year on the North Denes.

It was fitting that the 7-2 chance was carrying the colours of the Blue Peter Racing partnership as the syndicate were long-time supporters of Harry's father James, from whom he recently took over the reins at Park Lodge Stakes in Newmarket.

The triumph was also a first winner at the track for apprentice Theodore Ladd, who had his mount well to the fore throughout the mile handicap.

Eustace, 32, said: "I've said it to a few people recently that getting the first win would be the hardest and that was just fantastic.

"If there's a horse who epitomises Park Lodge Stables its Coverham, who's been an absolute trooper for Dad and the Blue Peter Partnership. They've been good supporters of the yard for over 15 years and he sums up what is good about British racing."

Fleet sinks rivals

Royal Fleet ran out an appropriate winner of the mile novice stakes which has a rich past as it was won by subsequent Group 1 winner Without Parole in 2018.

James Doyle's mount made all but was only hitting top gear close home to put Sunrise Valley in the shade and it took an age for the Godolphin jockey to pull him up.

Royal Fleet returns in triumph

Doyle said of the Charlie Appleby-trained winner: "He got into a nice rhythm in front and quickened up so well that it took me an age to pull up. It's difficult to know what trip he wants on pedigree but he'll get further."

Royal Fleet was handed an opening quote of 25-1 by Paddy Power to emulate Without Parole in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Doyle was doubling up after partnering Second Wind to a debut success in the 5f maiden stakes to give trainer William Haggas a first juvenile win of the season.

Phantom stars

The opening meeting is often staged on soft ground but not this year, which was key to the gamble landed by The City's Phantom in the 1m2f handicap that kickstarted a treble for champion jockey Oisin Murphy.

The four-year-old bounced off the good to firm ground to make all and reward those who had supported him into 11-4 favourite from twice those odds in the morning.

The City's Phantom warms down after his victory in the 1m2f handicap

Winning trainer Richard Spencer said: "This dry spell has suited him as he loves this type of ground. We won't be in a rush to run him again as he's best fresh."

The champion jockey later won both divisions of the 1m2f classified stakes when Noble Queen scored in similar fashion for Ed Walker before Lochanthem was even more impressive for Michael Bell.

Wall in form

Chris Wall is usually in the winner's enclosure at the Norfolk track in the summer when he sports a Panama hat but was happy to be hatless after Bague D'Or landed the 1m2f handicap for three-year-olds.

Bague D'Or and Jack Mitchell after winning the three-year-old handicap

The son of Belardo was shunted into 11-4 favourite (from 9-2) at the off and hit top gear late under Jack Mitchell.

Wall said: "The filly in the previous race ran well so the team are forward and in form. He got shuffled back a bit down the back straight but came through nicely in the end."

Results, replays and analysis

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