Mayfair Lady is a champ at York
Friday 10 June 2016 18:34, UK
A review of Friday's meeting at York as Richard Fahey's Mayfair Lady won on her reappearance under Adam McNamara.
Promising Irish-born apprentice Adam McNamara continued his rise by registering his biggest success to date on Mayfair Lady at York.
McNamara, taking his tally to 14, has made a big impression since joining the Richard Fahey stable last year after starting his career with Johnny Murtagh in County Kildare.
He gave a polished performance when making all the running Mayfair Lady (5-1) on her seasonal reappearance in the £30,000 EBF Breeders' Series Fillies' Handicap.
Mayfair Lady, had smart form as a youngster including when winning a nursery by five lengths at the Ebor meeting, but connections could not be certain she had trained on. However, she answered the question in the affirmative, and better-class races await.
"She travelled really well through the race and I never heard another horse," said McNamara.
"She responded well, she's genuine and towards the end she just got a little tired, so hopefully she'll come on for that and improve again.
"Things are going well so hopefully I can keep it rolling. I had a winner on Thursday night and now one today."
Fahey's assistant Robin O'Ryan said: "She's not the biggest in the world and we didn't know if she'd trained on or not, but she's started to come good in the last two to three weeks.
"She won well here in August and we'll look at black type for her now."
Pandora (8-1) came from last to first to secure her first victory since her debut in the 888sport.com Handicap.
Highly-tried last season when she was third in the Musidora Stakes on this course, the David O'Meara-trained filly benefited from a drop in grade to get back to winning ways.
However, she made life difficult by losing several lengths at the start.
Gradually brought into contention by Phillip Makin and switched over to the stands side, Pandora got up in the dying strides to deny Forgotten Hero by three-quarters of a length.
O'Meara said: "I'm not sure what happened at the start. She wore a hood for the first time and that might have put her to sleep.
"We dropped her in grade a little and we probably got the trip wrong last time as we ran her over a mile.
"This was a mile and a quarter and Phillip suggested we ought to step up again to a mile and a half."
Iain Jardine's decision to run Shrewd (12-1) in the Rush Hair Opening 18th June Handicap only after the morning rain proved justified as the six-year-old defied top weight.
Ridden by Martin Dwyer, Shrewd prevailed by three and a quarter lengths from Rite To Reign.
"Everything fell right for him. They went very quick," said Jardine.
"I was worried with the ground being good to firm about running him, so when the heavens opened I was delighted.
"I wouldn't be afraid to run him over hurdles next time."
There was a sad postscript as Vilman, trained by Simon West, had to be put down after breaking a leg in the final furlong.
Angel Meadow, Micky Hammond's first two-year-old runner of the campaign, delivered a 66-1 surprise in the Mel Brittain EBF Novice Stakes under PJ McDonald, holding off the attentions of Dundunah by a head.
The Middleham handler said: "We've only got five two-year-olds. We're not really renowned for juvenile winners, more three-year-old novice hurdlers."
Melaniemillie (7-2) ran out a cosy winner of the SKF Rous Selling Stakes before being retained by connections for £21,000.
That was in sharp contrast to November when there was no interest in her at all and she was bought back by owner-breeder John Sissons for £800.
Trainer Ollie Pears said: "She can run all right, and she might run again at Ripon on Wednesday. We'll crack on with her."
Classic Seniority (16-1) built on his third place at this track last month to land an emotional victory in the Jigsaw Sports Branding Handicap.
Marjorie Fife's four-year-old was brought with a late run by James Sullivan to take the spoils by a length and a quarter from Get Knotted.
Fife said: "We really wanted him to win as one of his owners Derek (Woodall) isn't very well. We knew they would go a fair pace, which suits him."
The David Simcock-trained Viserion (9-1) opened his account at the 10th attempt when steered home by George Buckell in the ripleycollection.com Apprentice Handicap.