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The meeting was run on a cool spring day, but with plenty of heavy rain locally, there was only one shower during racing. The highlights of the day were doubles in the first two races for trainer Joe O’Shea and jockey Huw Edwards, and another one in the closing two races for trainer Francesca Poste and jockey Alice Stevens.

The first of the O’Shea/Edwards winners was in the Members aboard The Creadan Rogue who cruised into the lead two out and easily won by thirteen lengths from Urbanist in the fastest time of the day. The winner had won three points in Ireland and was sold out of Gordon Elliot’s stable for £12,000 via ThoroughBid for Cheshire stalwart Derek Malam. He looks the type that will run well in the local area final at the same track next month.

In the Restricted, Edwards had to work harder as he looked outpaced on Iskandar Pecos four out but came with a good run after two out to stay on well and beat the long-time leader My Friend Freddie by three lengths. The winner was following up his Askham Bryan Maiden success and is another testament to ThoroughBid where he was acquired by O’Shea recently for his Head Lass Hannah Roach.

In the Ineos Mixed Open over the shorter two-and-a-half miles, Alice Stevens on For Rita waited until the second last to challenge Rewritetherules and drew twelve lengths clear at the post. The Francesca Poste trained mare was following up on her Conditions Race win at Paxford on Easter Monday.

In the concluding Maiden, Stevens always had Guivinec in a prominent position and the four-year-old Joshua Tree gelding quickly went clear of James King on the favourite Tango Pete after the second last, winning by fifteen lengths. The owner and trainer Poste acquired the winner at last year’s Derby Sales and an end-of-season return to the sales is likely to be the next step.

King only managed one winner from his five rides, courtesy of Chenery in the PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2). The mare took it up from leader Duke Arcadio at the thirteenth and was always holding the challenge of Blue Sans, prevailing by two lengths. The Harold Stock owned and trained mare was another who had won previously at Paxford.

In the Conditions Race (Level 3), Henry Crow on Poncherello led leaving the back straight and was just ahead of Milo Herbert on No Dice at the last, when the latter ran out. This left Poncherello well clear of runner-up Present Ranger. The winner was a popular local success as the gelding is owned by the Garton family and trained by Tim Garton, whose daughter Gemma is the Secretary of the point and son Richard is Clerk-of-the-Course.