By Peter Moore at Lingfield Park Friday 3rd January 2025
North Yorkshire trainer Charlie Johnson continued his winning start to the year by saddling a double at a cold Lingfield Park on Friday.
The Middleham trainer started the New year with a winner at Newcastle on New Years Day when Dreams Adozen prevailed.
At Lingfield, Knockbrex and Etretat were successful to make the 540 mile trip worthwhile.
Knockbrex started the ball rolling in the 1m 4f handicap under Jack Mitchell.
It has been eleven runs since the five-year-old has got his head in front, but under Mitchell the horse quickened nicely to win by two and a half lengths.
Mitchell bagged a double on the card by steering Boatswain to win in impressive fashion on debut for owners Rabbah Racing.
The three-year-old landed a sizeable gamble having been backed in to evens from 11-4 for the Owners who were successful with Pen Portrait at Sharjar last Saturday.
Etretat continued his good form of 2024 to bring up a double for Johnson with apprentice Archie Young in the saddle for the 1m 2f handicap.
Master Of My Fate held off a late challenge for his first win at Lingfield in the 5f Class 5 handicap.
Under Hart, the four-year-old quickened well to win by one and three quarter lengths from Nogo’s Dream.
Thirty minutes earlier, Hart steered the odds on favourite Jiff’s Army to victory.
Despite being absent since September, the three-year-old appeared to like the extended one mile trip, having previously run over seven furlongs.
The experienced Tadreeb picked up his third win at the Surrey course by taking the 7f handicap by three quarters of a length for trainer Rod Millman having been dropped in grade on his first run since leaving Michael Attwater.
Secret Strength was another first time out winner for a new yard after coming through late to win by one and a half lengths from Kondratiev Wave for Moreton In Marsh trainer Shaun Lycett.