Cheltenham may be the target for stayer Sam

The biggest win in Middleham jockey Joe Colliver’s career, victory in the £100,000 contest capped a year to remember for North Yorkshire dual purpose trainer Jedd O’Keeffe.

Sam Spinner, just five, hinted that he belonged at this level when a gallant second in last month’s Silver Trophy at Chepstow, but he dominated this race from the outset to win by 17 lengths.

O’Keeffe said: “I was a bit worried turning for home as I wondered whether they’d come and catch him, but he kept going and I thought he was given a beautiful ride.”

Asked about future plans, the Leyburn-based trainer said: “We were thinking about the Coral Cup (at Cheltenham) or maybe trying to qualify him for the Pertemps Final.

“Maybe we’ll have to aim a bit higher now. I don’t have many jumpers – he’s the best I’ve had – and it will be exciting thumbing through the programme book.

“We could look at the Long Walk at Ascot, but is that aiming a bit high? I’m a bit out of my comfort zone, to be honest.”

The sting in the tail was an eight-day whip ban for Colliver for over-use of the whip. Earlier the rider had told The Yorkshire Post: “Jedd has been very good to me and it’s nice to pay him back.

“He’s very laid back and an absolute gentleman. It makes the job all the more easier. Happy people mean happy horses.”

Just like Sam Spinner, Hainan also jumped and galloped his rivals into submission in the Betfair Each Way Edge Handicap Chase over three and a half miles.

This six-year-old grey – another Yorkshire prospect with age on his side – relished the test on stamina-sapping heavy ground to the delight of jockey Danny Cook.

Hainan is trained at High Eldwick by Sue Smith who said: “This is obviously what he’s been waiting for - three and a half miles on heavy ground.

“They’re stiff fences here, but he jumped great and handled the ground well.”