MARKET leader Harlov triumphed in the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick on Saturday, sparking a 22-1 treble for in-form jockey Richard McGrath.

Under strict instructions to ride a waiting race, McGrath sat as quiet as a church mouse on the first couple of circuits of the 3-mile contest.

At one stage it looked as if Richard had overdone the tactics on the 11-4 favourite, who still had four lengths to make up turning for home. But that was when he kicked in the turbo to collar the long-time leader Celioso after jumping the 23rd and final fence.

"Our horse must be held up until the last minute and Richard rode a peach of a race," said winning trainer, Andrew Parker.

"The long-term plan is to take in the Scottish Borders' National at Kelso and we might run him in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in the meantime," he added.

McGrath's big pay-day was completed by two other wins courtesy of Sound Of Cheers and Giocomo.

Giocomo's silky-smooth eight-length victory in the Richmond Novices' Chase prompted successful trainer Richard Fahey to reveal that he had made an entry for his horse in the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

"Giocomo has a lot to find before he takes his chance at Cheltenham, but he was once favourite for the Triumph Hurdle so that has got to give us hope," said Fahey.

Sound Of Cheers not only completed McGrath's three-timer, but also made it a double on the afternoon for Fred Kirby, who had produced the shock of the day by winning the opening selling hurdle with 66-1 shot Magic Bengie.

"That's my first ever double and the main thing is that it was here at my local track," beamed Kirby, who trains a total of just four horses three miles as the crow flies from the course at High Whinholme Farm, Danby Wiske.

The most valuable hurdle on the card, the £10,000 skybetvegas.com, went to Baby Gee under a strong drive from Paddy Aspell.

"All the family - that is Gospel Song, Palacegate King and Baby Gee - are owned by my father Chas, and they have won a total of 22 races between them now," explained the successful handler, Donald Whillans.

Proceedings ended on a sour note for the connections of the six-year-old gelding Upswing, banned from racing for 30 days after finishing third in the Ian Hutchinson Memorial Challenge Cup.

Upswing, who was allowed by jockey Kenny Johnson to lob round in last place for the majority of the two-mile contest, finished like the proverbial express train, overtaking several of his rivals on the short run-in.

The Stewards were neither happy with the explanation of Upswing's Newcastle-based trainer, Bob Johnson, nor his son Kenny, who rode his mount out with hands-and-heels only, rather than using his whip after the last fence.

Bob was hit with a £1,600 fine, while Kenny was found in breach of rule 158 - failing to obtain the best possible placing - and banned under for eight days (Feb 4-11).

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