York Dante meeting: Hambleton double for Navajo Chief
Last Updated: 15/05/14 3:52pm
A review of the rest of the action from day two of York's Dante meeting, where Navajo Chief enhanced his course record.
Alan Jarvis saddled what could be one of his last winners when course specialist Navajo Chief (15/2) landed the Betfred Hambleton Stakes for a second time.
Jarvis is set to lose his licence after the British Horseracing Authority deemed him to be no longer being a fit and proper person due to a debt owed to Doncaster Bloodstock Sales.
Navajo Chief looked beaten after Fort Bastion hit the front but Kieren Fallon produced a power-packed ride to get back up and win by a short head to compensate somewhat for his Dante disappointment with True Story.
Jarvis said: "He loves it here and it was a great ride.
"I've had all the best jockeys ride for me down the years, Lester Piggott and the likes, but Kieren is the best in the world.
"He won't be my last runner. I've got a few over the next couple of days and then hopefully my son can take over. If he can't, then there's a life outside racing.
"I might write a book one day and that will be interesting."
Proud Yorkshireman Paul Midgley was delighted to get back in the York winner's enclosure as Monsieur Joe flashed home to claim the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Stakes in the hands of Graham Lee.
The seven-year-old has been a smart sprinter for a number of seasons for Robert Cowell and switched hands at the end of last season for 48,000 guineas.
Having run some good races in Dubai before running down the field in the Hever Sprint at Lingfield, Monsieur Joe was a 25/1 shot for his return on the Knavesmire and was produced to lead inside the last of five furlongs.
Elusivity was beaten a length into second, with Top Boy and 11/2 favourite Ashpan Sam finishing third and fourth respectively.
Midgley said: "Ask any trainer in Yorkshire and they love having winners at York. I don't think we've had one for two or three years.
"We didn't have this horse last year and we took him out to Dubai, where he ran some good races without winning a lot of money.
"I wondered whether he was still capable of winning a race like this at his age, but he's answered the question today. Graham gave him a peach of a ride.
"He'll go for the Dash at Epsom now. Before this I would have said Epsom wouldn't have suited him, but it's a pretty sharp five furlongs here.
"He wants a good gallop and you need the gaps to come. The gaps came beautifully for him and I'm absolutely chuffed."