There was a 33-1 shock in the feature race at Wetherby as Malcolm Jefferson's According To Pete landed the Betfair, Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.
Having been lost to the weather for the previous two years, course officials were delighted with the quality of the field, with Gold Cup fifth Midnight Chase heading the weights. However, it was Jefferson's 10-year-old, racing from 8lb out of the handicap, who recorded his first success in over two years.
Ridden by 22-year-old Harry Haynes, the veteran relished having his own way out in front and jumped with great accuracy. Turning into the straight the challengers looked to be mounting up, but According To Pete held off Helpston by a length, with Midnight Chase running well in third.
The winning trainer said: "He hasn't won for a while, but he's run some crackers in defeat. I told Harry to make it if he could as he likes being in front and he gets into a nice rhythm.
"The handicapper absolutely hammered him for winning the big fixed brush hurdle race at Haydock and he's only little, so he's not built to carry lots of weight. He's been a grand horse and as a home-bred you couldn't ask for more."
The star of Lucy Alexander is certainly on the rise and she can add beating Timmy Murphy in a close finish to her C.V. after the victory of Turbolinas in the Check Betfair Before You Bet Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
Murphy appeared to have done everything right on Bagsy's Bridge, but Alexander was making relentless progress after the last on Kate Walton's Turbolinas (9-1) to win by a neck.
Walton said: "That's her first ride for me but she did come and ride out before the season started and I've been following her closely. He's not straightforward but has ability as he won a bumper first time out."
Murphy lost out in another photo finish in the Read Donald McCain's Column On Betfair Handicap Chase as Bene Lad went down by the narrowest of margins to Tyrone House (9-1) and James Reveley.
Tom George was out of luck in the feature when his Halley unseated Liam Heard early on, but they combined to take the novices' handicap chase with chasing debutant Nodebateaboutit (10-1), who was having just the fourth run of his life and won by a neck.
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