Lordship thrives in testing conditions at York

Fourth win of the campaign for William Haggas’ charge.

Adam Farragher feels Lordship has not stopped improving yet after William Haggas’ inmate landed his fourth success of the year in the GBP 100,000 William Hill Finale Handicap at York.

A winner at Chepstow, Yarmouth and Haydock in the summer, it perhaps looked as if the handicapper had him in his grasp when only fourth in the Melrose at the Ebor meeting and fifth in a valuable event at Haydock.

Racing on soft ground for the first time, Farragher thought it would bring about improvement and it certainly did, as Lordship got the better of a duel with Andrew Balding’s Urban Outlook, who was chasing a hat-trick, by a length and a quarter.

“He’s been a big improver from one run to the next. He ran a super race in the Melrose and that form is red-hot,” said Farragher.

“Coming here today I thought the dig in the ground would bring out a bit more in him, I’ve been saying that since the start. It’s extreme here today, probably heavy, but he stuck it out well.

“I got him rolling early because I could see David (Probert) travelling well and I didn’t want him to get away.

“I wouldn’t know where his ceiling is to be honest, he’s improved with each run.”

The British EBF GBP 100,000 Final went the way of Kevin Ryan’s Apiarist, who broke his maiden at the fourth attempt.

Back in August he had been beaten a head by Richard Fahey’s Sailthisshipalone and on 1lb different terms there was little to separate them again.

Apiarist and Tom Eaves return as winners
Apiarist and Tom Eaves return as winners (Nick Robson/PA)

The pair pulled clear of the favourite Grey Cuban, with Apiarist (28-1) and Tom Eaves prevailing by a neck.

“He’s a horse we’ve always liked but it’s been slow progression. He went too quick (over a mile) last time so I told Tom to take his time today,” said Ryan.

“He’s a big, raw horse and he’ll make a lovely three-year-old. It was a nice prize to win today. He’ll probably start back at the Dante meeting like most of ours.

“We’ve had a good year. I base it on prize money now, I used to be a numbers man but the big winners give you the appetite for the job.”

David and Nicola Barron’s Pilgrim (15-8 favourite) was not winning out of turn in the William Hill EBF Novice Stakes.

Pilgrim takes a well-earned drink
Pilgrim takes a well-earned drink (Nick Robson/PA)

Rated 83 after four good efforts, he was kept honest throughout the final two furlongs by Tim Easterby’s Elegant Call but eventually pulled a length and a half clear with the promising John and Thady Gosden-trained newcomer Gamekeeper in third.

David Barron said: “I was worried about the ground I must admit, at this time of year at the end of the season, it’s very tiring.

“Joe (Fanning) said he wasn’t in love with it but he was good enough. The handicapper can’t go too mad, so we’ll hopefully look at some of the nice sprint handicaps next season.”

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