London & The South has one hand on the Racing League trophy after increasing its lead on the penultimate night of the competition at Newcastle.
Having started the evening 95 points in front, Matt Chapman’s team is now 125 points clear of closest challenger The East ahead of next week’s finale at Southwell.
London & The South bagged a bumper 74 points in Race 31 as Chapman played his remaining joker, with Bragbor landing the spoils for George Scott and the team’s other runner Telepathic finishing fourth.
It was a notable success for Richard Kingscote, who was having his final mount of this year’s competition and has a near unassailable lead in the race for the £20,000 top jockey award.
Kingscote has collected 299 points, with the East’s Daniel Muscutt in second on 205 with four allocated rides remaining.
Kingscote said: “Bragbor is still a bit immature. They went a bit too slow for us and I would have liked more of a gallop. He was not the quickest away from the stalls and I was a length further back than I would have liked. He did well to go and win. I felt he responded well when the other horse came to him.
“The top jockey award would be a nice pot to win and thanks to Racing League for putting it on. I was not thinking about it the first few meetings – I did not even know there was prize money for it until the last meeting – but Matt has had me busy and the horses have been consistent. The Kublers helped get my numbers up and George Scott has thrown me some nice rides as well. It has been great.”
The East had two seconds earlier on the card but gained a much-needed win in Race 34 with Tom Clover’s Crack On Boys, who is now unbeaten in two starts at the track under jockey Jack Mitchell.
Mitchell said: “It was a pleasing performance as stall one is not ideal here on the straight track. I was a little further back than I wanted to be, but Crack On Boys was in a lovely rhythm and I was able to follow the horses I wanted to. The pace collapsed a bit going inside the two, which gave him a bit of room. He is by Cracksman and I think he will be a better four-year-old, as he is still quite gangly and weak.”
Bottom side The North posted the result of the night in Race 33, with Brian Ellison’s winner Northern Spirit and the third South Parade earning 80 points after team manager Mick Quinn played a joker.
The North had struck in the £75,000 feature 30 minutes earlier with the Richard Fahey-trained Golden Mind, who was a second Racing League winner of the season from just four rides for apprentice Warren Fentiman.
Quinn said: “Northern Spirit and South Parade were second and third in the race last year. We felt both horses were in great form. Richard’s horse South Parade likes to go forward, whereas Northern Spirit is a finisher. It was a shame South Parade could not hold on to second, but we will take first and third. It was a near-perfect joker and I was worried we might have missed an opportunity in the previous race, having had the first and fifth. Thankfully, I maintained my judgement and it has worked out.”
Ireland had two eye-catching winners on the night including Tuco Salamanca, who scythed through the field in Race 35 to follow up his opening night success at Great Yarmouth. Ollie Sangster’s three-year-old was bred by champion trainer Aidan O’Brien and his wife Anne Marie.
Winning jockey Cieren Fallon said: “Tuco Salamanca has his quirks but, if you can get things right in the prelims, he has a lot of ability. He has won two Racing League races now this year and they are not easy to win. These sprinters get better with age and I think he has a big future.”
Ireland’s Richard Hughes travelled up from York to see Circus Of Rome dismantle a competitive field in Race 30, on what was the three-year-old’s first appearance since scoring at Newbury in early June.
Hughes said: “Circus Of Rome is going the right way. We gave him a little spell after Newbury because there was no rain on the horizon, so he had a month off and has come back stronger. We felt this was a nice race to start him back and I think he will improve for it. His next target will be a 100-grand race at Haydock over a mile and six furlongs – I think he will be a live one in that.”
Scotland remains in third place after the Charlie Johnston-trained Sax Appeal continued the team’s good record in staying contests this season in Race 29 under apprentice Archie Young.
Team manager Alex Steedman said: “I thought it was a very cute ride from Archie, on a horse dropping in grade and going back up in distance, which we thought would suit. They went quite hard early and Archie settled him beautifully in that second tier. It was a lovely ride from a young guy taking his chance on the big stage.”
Racing League standings after week five:
London & The South – 738pts
The East – 613pts
Scotland – 552pts
Wales & The West – 505pts
Yorkshire – 494pts
Ireland – 473pts
The North – 423pts
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