FERDY MURPHY'S day of joy at Fairyhouse with Irish Grand National hero, Granit d'Estruval, didn't end there as his stable-companion, Looking Forward, swooped to overhaul Dream On Willie and capture the feature event at Sedgefield yesterday, the £7,000 Cantor Handicap Chase.

"He showed guts and determination to make up all of that lost ground after getting in a lot of trouble on the back straight," revealed Ferdy's son, Paul, who saddled Looking Forward in his father's absence.

A bumper crowd turned out for the brand new Bank Holiday fixture, but backers of the favourite in the first race, Tor Head, were out of the luck when the market leader pulled up lame at the half-way stage of the Paul Hunter Beginners' Chase.

With the favourite's fate sealed, it was left to promising conditional jockey Paul Robson to boot home his first winner for over two-and-half-months aboard Just Sooty.

Robson and Just Sooty always seemed to have matters well under control, streaking clear on the testing uphill run-in to score by five lengths.

"I broke my shoulder last year and more recently have been having weight problems so had to take a break," said Paul, who at 5ft 11inches is one of the tallest riders in the weighing room.

"This is only my second day back and I would like to thank the boss as well as my agent, Richard Hale, for sticking with me."

Although it was a 61st career success for Robson, Just Sooty was notching a belated inaugural win comparatively late in life at nine-years of age.

"We've had a catalogue of disasters with the horse and all credit to his Cheshire-based owner, David Wesley Yates, for being so patient," reported triumphant trainer, Nicky Richards.

There was a dramatic climax to the Mathew Stevens Novices' Hurdle when Sir Night produced a whirlwind finish to collar Beau Artiste in the shadow of the post.

Sir Night appeared to be well held in third spot jumping the final flight, however Alan Dempsey had other ideas, cajoling a dazzling turbo-charged burst from his mount to snatch the spoils on the line.

Teme Valley, a standing dish at the course nowadays, rounded off proceedings by recording a third successive track and trip win in the closing two-mile-and-one-furlong Handicap Hurdle.

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