Carlisle review: Jockey Ben Curtis stars with brilliant four-timer

A review of Tuesday's action at Carlisle, where jockey Ben Curtis stole the show with a four-timer on the card.

Ben Curtis enjoyed an afternoon he will not forget in a hurry with a magnificent 2,645/1 four-timer at Carlisle.

A former joint champion apprentice in Ireland before subsequently making the move to Britain, Curtis got the day off to a flyer aboard Les Eyre's Star Ascending in the opening Carr's Group Handicap.

With the stable having been without a win since July, Eyre's charge was sent off at 12/1 and stayed on strongly close home to break his duck at the 10th attempt.

Diatomic finally came good for trainer Tom Dascombe in the Kingmoor Park and Carlisle Youth Zone Handicap.

The son of Bushranger had been placed seven times from 19 previous starts, but had never found the number one spot.

Runner-up four times on the spin between early July and late August, the 8/1 shot needed to bounce back from a disappointing at Musselburgh and knuckled down well for Curtis to see off Rose Acclaim by a length and a quarter.

Curtis' hat-trick strike came aboard Alan Swinbank's In Focus (6/1) in the Jopson's Jewellers Handicap, before completing his excellent day's work on 5/2 favourite Billy Ranger for the same trainer in the concluding Yesss Electricals Handicap.

Ann Duffield has enjoyed a good season with her two-year-olds and Ninetta provided her with another juvenile winner in the Baines Wilson LLP Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Rosina looks the pick of her crop and she will be aiming to extend her winning run at Ayr later in the week, but Ninetta is bred to be more than just a precocious type.

A daughter of Derby winner New Approach, her dam, Pine Chip, is a full sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Peintre Celebre.

Despite that breeding, Ninetta cost a relative bargain at 60,000 guineas and made a very pleasing debut at Beverley a fortnight ago.

Sent off the 8/11 favourite to beat just four rivals, the result was never really in any doubt as she made all the running.

"She's lovely, she ran really, really well first time at Beverley but she needs every inch of this trip (seven furlongs)," Duffield told Racing UK.

"She's by New Approach out of a full sister to Peintre Celebre. She's got a blue-blooded family and did that really well.

"Hopefully she'll be even better next year, but I'm very pleased with her.

"I wouldn't rule out another run, we'll see how she takes that, we could look to step her up in trip but if she didn't run again it wouldn't worry us.

"Her owner's ambition was to win a race at two with her, though, so that's job done.

"She's very valuable."

Ruth Carr's Tanawar came from last to first to win the first division of the North Associates Handicap.

Punters could not split the winner, runner-up Incurs Four Faults or the third Home Flyer as they were sent off the 7/2 co-favourites and the three of them dominated.

Jimmy Sullivan was bustling his mount along at one stage but once in the straight he soon picked up the bit and devoured the steep climb to the finish.

Tanawar powered two and a quarter lengths clear at the line.

The second division went to top weight Gone With The Wind (9/2) for Rebecca Bastiman and Andrew Mullen.

For much of the extended seven furlongs Tracey Waggott's The Fulwell End looked like notching a first career win under Joe Fanning off a lowly mark of 47, but the hill just found him out.

Elliott was at work from some way out aboard Gone With The Wind, but the former Jeremy Noseda inmate responded well close home to score by a length.

Bastiman said: "I'm delighted. He's a horse we bought at the sales last year and it has just taken us a while to find the key to him.

"Andrew certainly earned his riding fee, but he got there where it matters, so it's great.

"He is entered at Hamilton next Monday, but we'll see how he comes out of the race."

Meandmyshadow (17/2) notched her 13th career success for trainer Alan Brown after Dale Swift's bold decision to plough a lone furrow on the far side of the track paid off in the Land And Lakes Handicap.