A brand new chasing star was born at Sedgefield yesterday when Grattan Lodge swept his rivals aside to record a hugely impressive debut over fences.

"I love this horse to bits, he's so laid back and is a trainer's dream," reported the delighted winning handler, Crook-based Howard Johnson.

"My jockey Graham Lee says there's a big handicap in this fellow and he could go the same route as another very decent horse I had some years ago, Ushers Island, who won at the Cheltenham Festival as well as the Whitbread Gold Cup."

Grattan Lodge, who rounded off last season with a magnificent four-timer over hurdles, took to the bigger obstacles like a duck to water, clearing right away from his opponents in the home straight.

"He'll probably go to Carlisle next and the softer the ground the better," summed up the successful trainer.

George Moore heaped praise on winning jockey Russ Garritty after the ever-popular rider had produced a never-say-die performance to steer Sylviesbuck to victory in the Racecourse Video Handicap Chase.

"That one's down to the jockey," declared Moore, after Garritty had galvanised Sylviesbuck back into action after the gelding swerved badly right-handed on the run-in.

"They virtually have to push Russ round the weighing room in a wheelchair these days, but when he comes outside he can still produce the goods," remarked George, who blamed the winner's antics on inexperience. "Sylviesbuck did the same in a novice chase last season, he's just a big baby."

Unfortunately Garritty's urgings from the saddle incurred the displeasure of the Stewards, who found him guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency and banned Russ for four days from the 24th of this month.

There was similar drama to the climax of the Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle when the eventual 33-1 winner, Bonnie Parker, tried to make a premature exit from the course with less than 100 yards to travel before crossing the winning line.

"Bonnie Parker is a bit of a quirky mare and she showed it here, it was a good job our jockey Davy Russell got her straightened up in the nick of time," explained Paul Murphy, representing his father Ferdy.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.