Germany got on the scoresheet for the first time at Catterick when the Christian Von Der Recke-trained Beanney landed the Halifax Novices' Hurdle yesterday.

Confidently ridden by Mick Fitzgerald, who was having his first mount at the course in the last five seasons, the 9-1 chance moved through to lead at the second-last flight and ran on strongly to account for Crathorne by three lengths.

Beanney had shown promise on his only previous start over jumps when fifth at Pisa in November.

Von Der Recke, who is based near Cologne, said: ''When he ran in Italy it was a very decent race. He missed at the last and was only beaten three lengths, and I knew he'd come on for that run.

''I couldn't understand why he kept going out in the betting, because we weren't just over here for the trip.''

Explaining how he came to train Beanney, a useful performer on the Flat in Argentina, Von Der Recke said: ''He was on his way from Argentina to Macau and he got injured at Frankfurt Airport.

''The people in Argentina didn't want him back and the people in Macau who bought him didn't want him either.

''So Stephen Eversfield, the vet who treated him at the airport, bought him and sent him to us."

There was shock result to the Leeds Handicap Hurdle when 50-1 (almost 71-1 on the Tote) chance Ipledgeallegiance (see Janus below) held on by a neck from Welsh Dream after leading under David O'Meara on the run-in.

The victory ended a barren spell stretching back 672 days for his trainer, Spennymoor-based Norman Waggott, who said: ''We've only had him five weeks after buying him privately off David Chapman.

''He's been working well at home but when they haven't run for a long time (169 days) you never know how they'll go.''

Kids Inheritance finally came good over fences when getting up close home in W L And Hector Christie Memorial Trophy.

The Malcolm Jefferson-trained seven-year-old had failed to score in his six previous chases but finished strongly for Jim Crowley to catch 6-5 favourite Real Shady on the run-in and land the spoils in the novices' handicap by three-quarters of a length.

Conditional jockey Paul Robson, who took a crashing fall when Zanjeer came down two from home, was taken to the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton for precautionary X-rays on his thigh.

Ebinzayd, six times a winner over hurdles, opened his account over fences with a top display in the Wakefield Beginners' Chase.

Gary Berridge sent Len Lungo's 9-2 shot to the front going down the far side for the final time and he was never in any danger thereafter, coming home five lengths clear of Dix Bay.

Time To Reflect romped home by 13 lengths from Kelantan in the 'Vote To Keep Big Mac In' Handicap Chase.

Henry Oliver was always going well on Richard Guest's 12-1 chance before kicking on three out and the gelding stretched clear to score in great style.

Grand National-winning jockey Graham Lee, having his first ride since breaking his arm in a fall at Doncaster in November, was a length back in third on Lord Capitaine.

After greeting his 37th winner of the season, Guest said: ''He had his palate laser-singed and then had a little break before his last run, when he ran well. He was fresh and well and today was his Derby day."

A German double was foiled in the Huddersfield Standard NH Flat Race when Mario Hofer's raider Montecorvino was beaten one and three-quarter lengths into second place by Keith Reveley's Bayside, ridden by James Davies.

Bayside (5-1) had finished a promising seventh on his debut at Newbury in November.

Reveley said: ''AP rode him at Newbury and said he was a bit green early but he gave him a good feel, and he said he'd win an average bumper.

''He's a half-brother to Hasty Prince and hopefully he'll go on and do the job now.

''It's the first time James has ridden for mother or myself and going by that he'll be on a few more.''