13 January 2024 , 17:34
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James Best put family first for a career high on My Silver Lining in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick.
Emma Lavelle's mare found most when it mattered to hold off Galia Des Liteaux – and deny trainer Dan Skelton a seventh winner on the afternoon. The 17-2 winner is owned by Best's mother-in-law Celia Djivanovic, who cheered her gallant grey home in the winter sun.
"I think it's the best day of my career," said the rider, a competitor on British racecourses for 16 years. "This is what dreams are made of. It means so much that my whole family are here – my mother-in-law loves racing and I'm just so pleased to win a nice one for her."
Skelton's runner-up chipped away at a three-length deficit from the final fence, on a red letter day for the stable. The trainer, based 15 from Warwick, was cheering a fine set of results from holiday in Barbados.
Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle longshot Jay Jay Reilly headlined a six-timer, at cumulative odds of 3,318-1. Priced at 33-1, a bold jump gave Tristan Durrell's mount the momentum over Nemean Lion at the final hurdle.
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The win was a day to remember for the 3lb claimer, as he was also aboard Flegmatik (7-2) in the New Bet-In-Race With Coral Handicap Chase.
"I've never ridden a double before and to do it on a big day like this is just unreal," said Durrell.
Dan Skelton, currently on holiday in Barbados, was delighted with the day's results (PA)Skelton's assistant Tom Messenger was on duty at Warwick, where Grey Dawning (5-4) romped to a 14-length triumph. Smart types Apple Away and Broadway Boy were left well behind by the well-backed Hampton Novices' Chase winner, who opened at 15-8 on-course.
"Dan rang me and he was very excited," said Messenger after the Grade Two contest. "This horse doesn't show you much at home, but he comes alive on the track."
Patience paid off for Sam Brown (17-2) and Jonathan Burke in the Veterans' Chase Series Final. The jockey was sidelined following a 2023 Grand National fall from Anthony Honeyball's trainee.
"I was lucky to come out of it with just a broken arm," he said. "They have done an incredible job to get him back."
Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien grabbed the glory with Banbridge (3-1) in Kempton's Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase. Bookmakers reacted to the length and three-quarters success by halving his odds to 5-1 for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March.
However there was a sad postscript to the race, as Laura Morgan's stable star Notlongtillmay suffered a fatal injury.