Perfect timing from Litigant denies Turner

Joe Tuite’s charge was a shock winner of the Ebor at York in August, but he was not unfancied as a 10-1 shot as he dropped back to 12 furlongs on Town Moor.

It looked like being a dream result for Turner as she hit the front aboard Buonarotti on her final ride before retirement.

However, Litigant was delivered with a perfectly-timed challenge by George Baker, starting his run in earnest with around two furlongs to go before defying top weight to win by an eased-down four-and-a-half lengths.

Esteaming claimed third, beaten by two-and-a-half lengths, with Mistiroc fourth after steering a wide route in the early stages.

Tuite said: “There’s a lot of satisfaction and a bit of relief as well.

“It wasn’t the plan originally to be in the November Handicap but when we ran at Ascot last time, things just didn’t go to plan at all so we said we would come and give it a go. I think he proved today what a good horse he really is.

“We’ve always said he’s a Group horse and I think that was a Group Two or Three performance today. George couldn’t believe how well he was going when he pulled him out, he said he just kept coming. He said he could have been clever, but there was no point in that ground.

“We’ve got lucky. We’ve got him right for the Ebor and since the Ebor, there’s been no hurdles. We went to France to run on Arc day and the ground was too fast and it was hard to take him out as we were all there and keyed up to run.

“I said if we ran the horse, we would wreck him and there’s big days in him for us yet, so we had to be patient.

“Then we went to Ascot for Champions Day, we got trapped out wide and it never happened but today it’s come good.”

Jack Dexter (6-1) scored his first win in two years as he repeated his 2013 success in the Betfred Lotto 100K Cash Giveaway Wentworth Stakes.

Jim Goldie’s charge had not tasted victory since his win in this Listed contest, but he bounced back in style as he edged out Lightning Moon by a head under Danny Tudhope.

Goldie said: “We have been waiting for this ground for him.

“He runs in the top races but the ground is the key to him.”

The other Listed prize on the card, the Betfred TV EBF Stallions Breeding Winners Gillies Fillies’ Stakes, went the way of Roger Varian’s Princess Loulou.

Joe Fanning kicked for home a couple of furlongs out and while she tired a little towards the finish, Princess Loulou crossed the line a length and a half ahead of Latenightrequest.

Fanning said: “Roger said he had her back to her best and she’s done it well.”

Withernsea swooped late to secure his first success this year in the Betfred Good Luck Hayley Turner Handicap.

The 8-1 shot had failed to strike in eight starts but made it ninth-time lucky as he edged out Jamaican Bolt by a length in the hands of Tony Hamilton.

Hamilton said: “It was hard work today but this horse has been a bit unlucky this year and should have won more races than he has.

“He loves these conditions.”

Sainted delighted trainer William Haggas as she made a winning debut in the first division of the Betfred Mobile Cock O’The North EBF Maiden Stakes.

Sent off a 5-1 chance, Sainted poked her nose in front in the closing stages, recording a three-quarter-length victory for Pat Cosgrave.

Haggas said: “She’s toughed it out and he never had to hit her. She wanted to win, which is nice.

“She’s been slow to come to hand but so was her mother (Blithe) who I trained and she was a good filly.

“It was nice to get a run into her on grass and we’ll see what happens next season.”

Division Two went to the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Times Legacy (16-1) while Flying Pursuit (6-1) proved a neck too good for Cuppatee in the Betfred ‘Racing’s Biggest Supporter’ Nursery.

Westwood Hoe and Neil Farley caused a 50-1 shock as they claimed the closing Betfred ‘Supports Jack Berry House’ Apprentice Handicap, the final race of the turf season.

n Nicky Henderson could not hide his delight as Simonsig and Bobs Worth made their belated comebacks in the Betfred Hurdle at Aintree.

While the result was a bit of a surprise with Bobs Worth defeating Simonsig in a tight finish, the Seven Barrows trainer was pleased the pair had passed their tests with fine displays. All eyes were on Simonsig, who was having his first start since winning the 2013 Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, but Bobs Worth (11-1) took the honours.

Nico De Boinville made full use of Bobs Worth’s stamina on the rain-softened ground and the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero got home a length-and-a-half to the good.

Henderson said: “It’s been a long way back for both of them from the wilderness, but we’ve made a bit of progress.

“Simonsig was fantastic. Barry (Geraghty) said he got tired turning in, he was empty at the second last and he had to hang on to him.

“It was probably a bit far for him in that ground, but Bobs Worth stays.

“The idea was to get a run into him before the Hennessy.

“We haven’t got a plan for Simonsig. I’d like to go back over fences. You saw how keen he was, we had to take the freshness out of him.

“We’re delighted with both of them obviously. They’re a bit more than halfway back.

“We’re going to try to bring the third leg of this triumvirate (Sprinter Sacre) out next weekend (in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham).”

Bobs Worth was cut to 12-1 from 20s with Betfred for the Hennessy which he won in 2012.

Henderson had earlier struck with Broxbourne (6-1), who led all the way to make a winning reappearance over jumps in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier).

David Bass only made the running as nothing wanted to go on, but the six-year-old got a soft lead and Broxbourne kept up the gallop to win by five lengths from Our Kaempfer.

Henderson said: “She was meant to run in the mares’ race at Wincanton, but I thought the ground was too soft so I brought her here.”

Making a pleasing return in third was Shutthefrontoor, whose target will again be the Crabbie’s Grand National after he finished fifth last term.