Lackamon and Cook combine to give Smith 1,000th winner

The 11-year-old, who had been without a win since April 2013, was under pressure almost from the drop of the flag, but Cook refused to accept defeat.

Harry Hogarth’s Alto Des Mottes had travelled smoothly through the race and looked sure to defy a 13lb rise for a recent Newcastle win, yet despite jumping the last five lengths to the good, his stride was beginning to shorten.

Cook, who looks sure to record a seasonal best this campaign, kept working at his mount and Lackamon responded to eventually win by half a length.

Once rated as high as 140 when he ran in the 2014 Scottish National, he was off a mark of 125.

“That was hard work,” said Cook, who to his credit was barely blowing.

“All this horse does is stay, it’s no secret that he has endless stamina.

“He just kept on galloping and in this ground I always thought I had a chance.”

There was a welcome change in fortune for Donald McCain as his William Of Orange (9-2) was a beneficiary of the final-flight fall of the Cook-ridden Always Resolute in the Racing UK-sponsored Novices’ Hurdle.

Brian Ellison’s Always Resolute was 13 lengths clear and due to defy a penalty, looking impressive in the process, when he stepped at the last, which left the former Sir Mark Prescott inmate infront.

“He’ll be a grand horse and he’s learning all the time,” said McCain. “He’ll keep on improving and what he really wants is better ground and a longer trip, but I’d have been pleased with him even if he was second, so to win is a bonus.”

Ellison gained some compensation when his Tomngerry (8-13 favourite) followed up a bumper win at Sedgefield in the closing Racing Again 27th January Standard National Hunt Flat Race (Conditionals/Amateurs) under Megan Carberry.

There was no strength in depth, but it takes a decent type to win two bumpers.

McCain had earlier been on the mark with Cloudy Joker in the WL And Hector Christie Memorial Trophy Handicap Chase.

A winner last time out from Uno Valeroso, the same horse chased him home again, beaten three-quarters of a length.

Henry Brooke sent the 6-1 chance into the lead at halfway and with his jumping putting the rest under pressure, he registered a third course win.

“He’s a grand little horse, Henry said he was just idling a bit at the finish,” said McCain.

“There’s another race here in a couple of weeks – he likes it here – and that might qualify him for the final of the series at Haydock, which might be something to aim at.

“Jumping is his strong suit, he got them at it a long way out.”

Wayne Hutchinson rode William Of Orange and had earlier won on Pemba (1-2 favourite) – Alan King’s first winner at the track – in the racinguk.com Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle.

Hutchinson had not had a winner at Catterick since 2003, when he won on Robert Cowell’s Rock ‘n Cold.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here,” said Hutchinson.

“I actually rode a winner here for Robert Cowell when I was an apprentice.

“She’s got a bright future; that ground is hard for juveniles but she got through it.

“She’ll jump a fence in time and might be better as she gets older.”

John Quinn, who not long ago was winning at the Cheltenham Festival, saddled what is now a rare jumping winner through Quinto (9-4) in the BHEST Racing To School Novices’ Hurdle in the hands of Tom O’Brien.

“I’ve only got a dozen in, down from normally about 20. I’ve got a few that will be doing it next year, though,” said Quinn, who has flourished on the Flat.

“He’s a grand horse, he’d had two good runs and he needed three miles.”

Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Don Cossack proved workmanlike in returning to winning ways in the Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles.

Gordon Elliott’s charge fell the previous time out in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, but was still sent off the 1-8 favourite to regain the winning thread in a race he claimed 12 months ago.

Cooper said: “He got the job done, he’s come back in trip, which isn’t ideal as he has turned into more of a stayer. He won this last year when he probably had a bit more speed; we’ve been training him to stay so he’s come back half a mile too short.”