A DOUBLE for joint-champion jockey Seb Sanders, an immediate return to the winners' enclosure of last season's top two trainers at the course - Richard Hannon and Ralph Beckett - and an eye-catching performance by a Luca Cumani-trained horse were among the highlights of the opening meeting of Salisbury Racecourse's season.

Even the weather was kind as the curtains went up on what promises to be an enthralling 2008 campaign at the popular track.

There were a few light showers which had racegoers scuttling for cover, but the deluge that had previously been predicted stayed away to ensure a crowd of just over 6,500 enjoyed a thrilling Bank Holiday Sunday meeting.

Hannon chalked up eight winners at the Netherhampton venue last summer to take its top trainer accolade and he wasted no time in staking a claim for this year's prize.

Fifty (9/2), without a victory in its five previous outings, finally came good for Hannon in the day's opener, Division One of the toteplacepot Maiden Stakes under jockey Pat Dobbs.

However, well-backed 2/1 favourite Palace Moon, a half-brother to star sprinter Sakhee's Secret, might well have registered a winning debut had it not run as green as the lush Salisbury surface, which jockeys agreed warranted its good' billing.

The second division of the race also produced an exciting finale.

Whitsbury-based Ralph Beckett, whose Billy Hot Rocks had finished fourth in the opener, scored with Divine Power (2/1 favourite) at the expense of Hannon's Orange Pip - Seb Sanders' mount getting the better of Dane O'Neill's by a length.

A gutsy performance from Victorian Beauty and Micky Fenton upset the applecart somewhat in the Bet totepool at totesport.com Handicap - the day's £20,000 feature race, which tempted the cameras from Channel 4 Racing away from their coverage of the Guineas meeting at Newmarket.

Setting off at 8/1, Victorian Beauty led for most of six furlong contest and still had enough in the tank to resist the challenge of Fathsta (9/2), C'Mon You Irons (33/1) and May Day Queen in what proved another lively finish.

However, Dane O'Neill, who replaced Alan Munro aboard Fathsta, was handed a one day ban following the Steward's Enquiry into possible interference.

Another trainer with strong Salisbury connections picked up the fourth race of the afternoon.

Andrew Balding's unfancied Foundation Room (25/1) with Neil Chalmers in the saddle didn't have to do too much to land the totequadpot Fillies' Conditions Stakes more than two lengths ahead of April Pride, who held a similar lead over Calypso Girl in third.

Andrew's father Ian, a director at the course, collected the prize afterwards.

After pausing to witness the success of Natagora in the 1,000 Guineas on the big screen, race five at Salisbury brought a first win for Charles Egerton's Dr Livingstone, though one presumes there weren't too many punters taking the 14/1 offered beforehand.

Hannon's Higgy's Boy was beaten into second place by a head, with Summer Winds and Dane O'Neill just behind.

Hannon was also unlucky in the next contest - the Bet totepool on all UK Racing Maiden Stakes, which saw his Special Reserve just pipped when it mattered most by Henry Candy's Killcara Boy.

Killcara Boy and O'Neill, found a little extra in the final furlong after Special Reserve looked set to deliver.

Mick Channon's Dolly Penrose, who had parted company with jockey Edward Creighton prior to the start, was the best of the others, though was five lengths behind the front two.

The penultimate contest of the day produced possibly the performance of the day when Wing Express (2/1 favourite) completed a double for Seb Sanders.

Luca Cumani's horse won the mile and six furlong contest impressively and showed it might well stay further in the future.

The first in this season's Bathwick Tyres Lady Riders' Series completed the eight-race card and was won by Miss V. Cartmel on Hughie Morrison's Glencal (7/1).

Clerk of the course Jeremy Martin was pleased with the venue's seasonal opener.

"We had a good, solid crowd of 6,520 attended, not including an estimated 1,200 children.

"This is just down on the 6,761 adults who attended last year.

"In the circumstances I am very pleased.

"The weather was a little drizzly at times but it was warm enough and the heavy rains that were predicted just 24 hours earlier did not materialise, which was great news.

"The racing was good and it was no surprise that the two top trainers from last year, Richard Hannon and Ralph Beckett, both had a winner each."

Racing continues at Salisbury in a week's time (Thursday, May 15. First race 1.55pm).

1:46pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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