DAKOTA Gold, one of the most popular handicappers of recent times, returned to a great ovation after winning his 16th race in great style at Redcar today.

The 10-year-old veteran, trained at Denton by in-form Michael Dods, led from the start to hold off Julie Camacho’s Winter Crown for an emotional victory in the Jacks Coaches Handicap.

It’s hard to remember a bigger cheer for a Redcar winner for a long time as the gallant gelding returned to the winner’s enclosure.

Dods, who was training his 14th winner in May, said: "He's given us so much pleasure and it's nice to get him back in the winner's enclosure. This was the right race for him, and it was lovely to hear that reception. It was like a York cheer."

The horse, owned by Doug Graham, Ian Davison, and Alan Drysdale, has now had 65 runs in a glittering career, and there’s clearly life in the old dog yet.

The feature race, The Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup, went to Newmarket, with 14-1 shot Arthur's Realm – trained by Ed Dunlop, and ridden by Oisin Orr – coming home clear of 66-1 outsider Lord Protector.

"I probably got there too early but he's a good galloper and he got through the ground well," reported Orr.

Fresh from his classic victory in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Fallen Angel for Karl Burke, Danny Tudhope landed the Racing TV Maiden Stakes with the same trainer’s Jungle Land.

“He bumped into a decent type last time, and he's a grand little horse,' said Tudhope after Jungle Land's tenacious all-the-way victory.

Reflecting on Fallen Angel's triumph, he told Racing TV: "She stays very well and I tried to be more aggressive on her. We put Newmarket behind us and she's a good filly - very strong to the line."

There were happy faces in a sun-kissed winner's enclosure from the start of the Redcar meeting after another 10-year-old, Desert Dream, comfortably landed the Redcarracing.Co.Uk Handicap for The Racing Emporium syndicate at 10-1.

The Oasis Dream gelding is trained at Malton by Seb Spencer and was ridden by Alex Jary. Harry Easterby, who runs the syndicate, said: "Everything went wrong for him last time at Ayr, and we fancied him today. It ended up as a steering job for Alex."

JM Jhingree made experience count as he landed the Join Racing TV Now EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes under Jason Hart for John and Sean Quinn.

The gelding was fifth in a Thirsk maiden 23 days ago, and the jockey told connections: "It helped that he knew his job today.”

Sean Quinn added: "He did it well and it shows the benefit of a first run where the form has worked out well. It's encouraging that the first two drew well clear."

The highly promising runner-up was debutante Education Rita, trained by Michael Dods, in the colours of Elwick Stud, and is one for the notebook.

There was consolation for owner Richard Mustill as Scoops Ahoy, trained at Upper Helmsley by David O’Meara, won the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap to give Danny Tudhope a double.

Richard is a Leeds United fan and was on his way back from Wembley, where Leeds lost to Southampton in The Championship play-offs final on Sunday, missing out on a return to the Premier League.

The trophy was collected in his absence by friend Richard Walker who quipped: "He's on a train back from London with his bottom lip hanging out, so this will cheer him up a bit!"

There was a cracking finish to the last race, the Racing Again Tomorrow On Racing TV Apprentice Handicap as Life On The Rocks, trained by Richard Fahey, at Malton, and ridden by Ryan Sexton, got up by a nose from Michael Dods’ Fifty Sent, ridden by Rhys Elliott, after a ding-dong battle.

Redcar stages another seven-race card tomorrow, with The King having a runner at the seaside track in the form of Candle Wax, trained by William Haggas.