MIDDLEHAM trainer Charlie Johnston will be hoping a trip down memory lane pays dividends as Redcar again honours the memory of legendary stayer Double Trigger on Monday.

Double Trigger, trained by Charlie’s record-breaking father, Mark, broke the track record for a juvenile when making a winning debut at Redcar in 1993 before going on to land 12 Group races.

And, with Charlie now holding the reins of the Johnston operation, he may have the answer to the EBF ‘Double Trigger’ Novice Stakes in the form of Novelista.

Charlie, who won the race with Trojan Horse in 2021, had multiple entries in this year’s renewal but relies on Novelista and newcomer Spirit Of Jura.

The former, a son of Lope De Vega, showed plenty of promise, despite being no match for winner, when second at Pontefract last time, having been third at Goodwood on his debut. Billy Loughnane rode the horse in both those races and keeps the ride.

Intriguingly, Spirit of Jura, a chestnut daughter of Derby winner Masar, runs in the colours of Ron Huggins, who owned Double Trigger, as well as Trojan Horse, who won this race in 2021. Mr Huggins is planning to be at Redcar to see his horse run.

Kieran Shoemark is a high-profile visitor to Redcar, with three rides, notably Java Raja, a 125,000 guineas yearling by legendary sire Galileo, making his debut in the Empentis – Supporting Equine Staff Novice Stakes.

The market will be the best guide to stable confidence and he appears to have most to fear from Roger Varian’s No Retreat, a short-head second on his last run at Windsor.

Redcar also welcomes Sean Dylan Bowen, fresh from being crowned champion apprentice, and he looks to have his best chance on course and distance winner Oso Rapido in the Start Your RacingTV Free Trial Now Apprentice Handicap.

Roger Fell’s gelding won his last race off a mark of 82 this time last year, has dropped to a dangerous looking 65, and will get plenty of assistance from the saddle.

The danger could be the Michael Dods-trained Deputy who bounced back from a disappointing run of form to be an eye-catching third at the last Redcar fixture.

The seven-race card gets underway at 12.55pm with just three horses lining up for the Jumps Free Trial At racingtv.com/freetrial Maiden Stakes. The race appears to be at the mercy of John and Sean Quinn’s Phoenix of Dreams, ridden by Jason Hart. The gelding has by far the best form, having been placed in four of his six starts.

Middleham handler Jedd O’Keeffe has had a quiet season, with seven winners so far, but his Dandy Man colt, Dan Tucker, was considered smart enough to run in Redcar’s richest race, the listed William Hill Two-Year-Old-Trophy last time.

He was 13th of 19 that day but had previously shown plenty of promise when a close second on only his second start at Thirsk in September. The racingtv.com/freetrial EBF Novice Stakes is a significant drop in class from his last run, with Harrison Shaw riding.

Big southern yards continue to be attracted to the services of Callum Rodriguez, and Newmarket handler George Scott has booked the in-form rider for Two B Tanned in the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap.

The Saddlers Rock filly was nearest at the finish when third over six furlongs at Windsor last time and takes a big step up to a mile and a quarter.

Thunder Roar, trained by Tony Coyle and Kaine Wood, was a good second at Doncaster this weekend and is a leading ante-post fancy for the Jumps Season Free Trial On RacingTV Handicap at Redcar. The gelding has been knocking on the door, having been beaten a nose at York on his penultimate start, and it will be interesting to see if he goes to post on Monday.

If he doesn’t, it could be worth siding with Debora’s Dream, who is clearly in good heart. Back-to-back wins at Nottingham and Sandown were followed by a third at Ripon last time, and the colt has since switched yards from Roger Varian to Jennie Candlish.

  • Picture: Double Trigger lookalike Trojan Horse winning the EBF ‘Double Trigger’ Novice Stakes for the Johnston team ​in 2021