Buzzard Trix flies in Lord Daresbury Open at Tabley for Tommie O'Brien

The large crowd was treated to some good racing in glorious sunshine. Bradley Gibbs recorded a training double, while jockeys Huw Edwards and Tommie O’Brien each rode a double.

Gibbs was absent on the day, due to his partner Claire Sherriff having an accident earlier that morning. The first leg of the double came courtesy of Tommie O’Brien on Premier Fantasy in the Restricted who got the better of a great duel with John Dawson on Surprise Attack in the straight, winning by a neck. The five-year-old gelding had previously won a Maiden at Kimble and looks a useful prospect.

Gibbs' double came in the concluding three-mile Maiden where Freddie Mitchell had no trouble in beating Huw Edwards on Sabre Rattling by five lengths. The eight-year gelding, owned by Timothy Talbot has taken time to mature having been in training with Donald McCain previously and running well in a Bangor Novice Hurdle just over a year ago.

The second leg of O’Brien’s riding double was aboard Buzzard Trix in the featured Lord Daresbury Race where the combination led throughout from Huw Edwards on The Creadan Rogue and won easily by fifteen lengths. The Deborah Walton owned winner is trained by Heidi Brookshaw and clearly likes the track as he won a Conditions Race at the corresponding meeting last season.

Edwards rode a double courtesy of Willewonga in the Mixed Open and Eeze a Saint in the Small Keepers Race. In the Mixed Open, Fred Phillipson-Stow on the Cheltenham Hunter Chase Winner A Jet of Our Own set out to make all but was passed by Edwards on Willewonga after three out who ran on gamely to win by a length and a half. The winner trained by Hannah Roach was having his first win for eighteen months and was suited by the better ground here and the two-and-a-half-mile trip.

Archie Loweth on the odds-on favourite Pym led in the Small Keepers Race but had no answer to Edwards on Eeze a Saint who took it up at the 15^th and won by five lengths. The winner was bought privately by Jane Wanless from David Futter and is trained by her husband Martin. The ten-year-old winner had previously won his Maiden here five years ago, when trained by Josh Guerriero.

In the opening Maiden for four- and five-year-olds over two-and-a-half miles, Jack Teal on Boots Folly took it up three out from Guy Sankey on Chief Hopper and ran on well to beat John Dawson on Vadaverro by five lengths. The five-year-old home-bred winner is trained by Teal for Peter Maddison from Skewsby.