PONTEFRACT provided the setting yesterday to restore the spirits of the downcast Peter Chapple Hyam camp. The victories of Count Roberto and Howqua River lifted the Manton gloom after a disastrous weekend at Longchamp when Monza was disqualified and Polaris Flight fatally injured in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Howqua River, owned by Chapple Hyam's wife Jane, provided the stable apprentice's Rya Cody Boutcher (18) with his first success.
The youngster put up a polished performance to force the 12 to 1 shot home by a head from Arc of The Diver in the Pontefract Apprentice Series Handicap Final.
The maiden Count Roberto had appeared to face a task with top weight in the Levy Board Nursery. But well ridden by Robert Havlin, the 12 to 1 chance mastered Pat Eddery's mount Dowry for a clear cut success.
Eddery travelled to Yorkshire after his visit to France to reinforce his claims for the jockeys' title with a double aboard Silver Patriarch and Ortolan.
Silver Patriarch showed himself well suited by the extreme trip - for a juvenile - of 10 furlongs when out staying Frankie Dettori's mount Perfect Paradigm.
He struck again when Ortolan, trained by Richard Hannon, easily justified odds on favouritism in the Buccoo Reef Claiming Stakes. The colt was claimed for £14,000 by Diamond Racing and will he joining Les Eyre.
Dettori's visit was not in vain as Canyon Creek scored on his belated debut in the Caroni Maiden. John Gosden's colt has taken time to come to himself but looks the type to progress as a four year old.
