AWESOME FOURSOME FOR WINSTON

Caranbola showed there is no substitute for course form by recording her fifth Beverley success in the Rawfield And Paragon Data Handicap - part of a treble for trainer Mel Brittain and a four-timer for jockey Robert Winston.

Brittain's tenacious mare struck on the Westwood three times during 2010 and was also victorious over course and distance last month.

She showed nothing like the same level of form on her latest appearance at Thirsk but returned to East Yorkshire, the 2008 Hilary Needler runner-up was able to show her true colours once again.

It was hard work for the sprinters in ground that was deteriorating all the time, but 5-1 shot Caranbola overcame a tardy start under Winston and stuck on gamely at the death to beat Haajes by half a length.

"I don't think she'd have won if she'd have missed the break like that on faster ground," said Brittain.

"This is probably as soft as she'd like it, but she goes on anything - especially here.

"She's in at Nottingham on Friday but we'll take her home and see how she comes out of this race."

Brittain and Winston went on to score later with Carragold (9-1) in the Dove House, Love You 2 Handicap, while the jockey completed his hat-trick in division one of the FindaProperty Handicap on 11-2 shot Ferney Boy, trained by Chris Fairhurst.

In the second division Winston and Brittain were reunited with six-length winner Grey Command (5-1) to give the pair a red-letter day.

Winston's four winners combined totalled 2339-1 while Brittain's was a 359-1 treble.

Ailsa Craig (14-1) got up late in the day to land the Wold Construction Brian Auchterlounie Memorial Handicap for Edwin Tuer and Tony Hamilton.

Hot favourite Licence To Till made most of the running in the 10-furlong event but as the petrol gauge emptied late, Ailsa Craig picked him up to secure a half-length verdict.

Tuer said: "We had her in at Ripon last week, but she was a gallop short so we left her for here.

"I was worried about the ground but she's got form on good to soft so we took a chance."

Hamilton had earlier been successful on 25-1 shot Swift Encounter in the EBF motors.co.uk Maiden.

The Ann Duffield-trained youngster had shown little on debut and again looked to be going nowhere turning in, with Hamilton riding for all his worth.

But as those up front tired, Swift Encounter's stamina began to kick in and he finished off his race strongly to get up by half a length from Ventura Spirit.

Tim Palin, racing manager for owners Middleham Park Racing, said: "There's not much to him on pedigree - his sire (Antonius Pius) has been a disaster - but I just thought he was a lovely-looking horse.

"I didn't have any concerns about the ground and it didn't look the toughest maiden in the world, so we were confident.

"Tony said he was a bit slow to learn, bordering on being thick, so there'll be more to come from him, hopefully.

"I wouldn't think you'd see much more of him this season, but he'll be a nice horse next year."

Key Ambition was Bryan Smart's second juvenile winner in two days when landing the Hull Daily Mail Maiden Auction Stakes.

The 100-30 chance had shown a good level of ability when second on debut at Carlisle last month and built on that to score by a ready three and three-quarter lengths in the hands of Tom Eaves.

Smart said: "Tom walked the track before racing and decided to come down the stands rail, so his wide draw worked out.

"We thought he'd improve from Carlisle, but he's clearly improved a lot.

"We'll probably go for a nursery now, but he might come back here for a conditions race."

Richard Fahey's Bolodenka (9-4) made the most of a drop in class when annihilating his rivals in the Journal Classified Claiming Stakes under Paul Hanagan.

Fahey's assistant, Robin O'Ryan, said: "They went a good gallop and that definitely suited him.

"He likes a bit of cut in the ground and he is always a danger at this level."

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