Jimmy Fortune advertised his skills with a superb double aboard the Lynda Ramsden horses Courtesan and Bodfari Quarry at Beverley yesterday.
He produced an exhilarating effort to deliver hot favourite Courtesan a winner in the Holderness Pony Club Novice Stakes.
With Mrs Ramsden, his main retaining trainer, set to hand in her licence at the end of the season the Wexfordman will be seeking fresh opportunities. And it will be a great surprise if several leading trainers are not beating a path to his door in an effort to sign him up.
Fortune compared favourably with his friend Kieren Fallon, the former stable jockey of Mrs Ramsden, to land the spoils on Courtesan.
Fallon had attempted to slip the field on Edmo Heights and the champion is always a difficult man to peg back. However, Fortune pulled out all the stops and edging closer throughout the final furlong, the 7 to 4 favourite Courtesan forced his way to the front close home for a head verdict.
"It was certainly exciting to see our jockey and ex-jockey in a head-to-head finish like that," said Mrs Ramsden. Fortune went on to clinch a double aboard Bodfari Quarry - and again got the better of Fallon - in the Westwood Maiden Fillies' Stakes. The newcomer finished with great effect to deny Fallon on the favourite Lunar Prospector.
