THERE was a nailbiting climax to The Northern Echo Handicap at Redcar on Sunday when Time To Remember won in thrilling fashion.

Locally trained at Great Habton by Tim Easterby, the winning distance was the minimum possible - a short-head, but that won't worry loyal followers of Janus, rewarded with the handsome odds of 25-1.

But it could have all been so different without jockey Robert Winston, who thrilled the packed stands with a brilliant ride to repel the last-gasp challenge by General Hawk.

Time To Remember's co-owner, breeder Jim McGrath, a director of Timeform and member of Channel 4's racing team, said: "We thought he was going to be very useful after scoring at Pontefract last August, however he's shown nothing until now." He reckons Time To Remember might be even more effective over a mile in time.

In a nip-and-tuck finale to the end of the contest sponsored by The Northern Echo's sister newspaper, The Clarion Handicap, was won by Nouf, who came out best on the day.

The hot-favourite What-A-Dancer seemed to have matters well in hand as he hit the front over a furlong from home, only to be swamped in the shadow of the winning post by Nouf's withering late charge.

Mark Birch, representing his boss, the Hambleton-based trainer Kevin Ryan, said: "The rain came just in time for the mare as she prefers some give in the ground."

Jockey Kieren Fallon is now on course to regain the championship title he last won two years ago. But he knows it won't be an easy task