MISERABLY wet and windy weather at Sedgefield couldn't dampen the spirits of trainer Keith Reveley, sending out his first winner at the course via Ungaro in the Betfred Poker Handicap Hurdle.

"We won the final of the series with Rambling Minster at Newcastle last year so I was keen to qualify Ungaro, although he's won so easily here the handicapper might put us out of the picture," said Reveley.

"The way Ungaro is progessing he'll be able to go down south for a big-money handicap, and as a second season novice that type of race is going to be ideal for him."

The Lingdale handler completed an across-the-card double when Into The Shadows also struck at Huntingdon.

Another trainer enjoying an inaugural success at the track was David Thomson, from Bolam, near Darlington, with Charlie Tango, the runaway victor in division two of the John Smith's Extra Smooth Novices Hurdle.

David was on a buying trip to Ascot Sales, but his wife, Helen, was on hand to greet Charlie Tango home. "We claimed him out of Nigel Tinkler's stable at Redcar six weeks ago. It's amazing how David improves horses from other yards and we've got room for plenty more," said Helen.

In-form Ferdy Murphy made it six winners in the last 15 days when Dead Mans Dante routed his eight rivals to claim the Arthur Stephenson Memorial Trophy.

Arthur loved a real old-fashioned stamp of a chaser and he would have been thrilled at the performance of Dead Mans Dante, who pinged the majority of his fences under a typically patient ride from Keith Mercer

"Originally I thought he was a two-miler, but the way the horse has settled he will probably stay every inch of three miles," said Murphy in forthright fashion.

Andrew Thornton, born within hailing distance of the track, demonstrated the value of local knowledge by shrewdly steering the pace-setting Sheer Guts around the wide outside in the John Wade Selling Hurdle.

Thornton's tactic of seeking the better ground was handsomely rewarded because even though Sheer Guts was overhauled at the second last flight, he courageously fought back to regain the advantage from George Moore's Alpha Juliet on the run-in.

A massive gamble from 5's to 15-8 favouritism on John Quinn's newcomer, Character Builder, was foiled in the finale when the grey gelding could only finish third to Custom Design.

Backers involved in the market plunge probably felt on good terms with themselves as Character Builder was still in cruise gear three furlongs from the line.

Unfortunately, the five-year-old didn't respond when asked the question by jockey Russ Garritty, allowing Custom Design to forge away in the closing stages of the Betfred-sponsored National Hunt Flat Race.

* Kevin Darley and Robert Winston are the joint winners of The Cocked Hat 'Cock O' The North' competition for the leading northern-based rider during the Flat season, after they both secured 98 winners during the 2005 campaign.

Winston, who was 'Cock O' The North' for the first time last year, has been out of action since early August, when he broke his jaw when riding at Ayr. Darley has been the northern champion on several occasions and was the British Champion Jockey five years ago.

With 39 winners during the turf season, Philip Makin, who is with Maunby, near Thirsk trainer, David Barron, is the north's leading apprentice rider.

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