SALISBURY Racecourse's 2008 campaign got under way yesterday with a thrilling eight-race card in front of a packed Netherhampton crowd.

Last season's top trainer at the course, Richard Hannon picked up where he left off, taking the first race of the day - Division One of the toteplacepot Maiden Stakes with Fifty (9/2), steered home by Pat Dobbs ahead of 2/1 favourite Palace Moon - a half-brother to Sakhee's Secret.

Whitsbury trainer Ralph Beckett, second to Hannon at Salisbury last year, was soon back on his coat tails - the impressive Divine Power winning Division Two of the race with last season's joint champion jockey Seb Sanders at the helm, registering the first of a double.

The day's feature race, televised by Channel 4 Racing, was the Bet at totepool at totesport.com Handicap Stakes which was won by Victorian Bounty and Micky Fenton. The Stef Liddiard horse going off at 8/1.

Sanders' double was completed when he delivered the Luca Cumani-trained Wing Express home in the day's penultimate race.

Full report and pictures from the opening day in Thursday's Salisbury Journal.

Next meeting at Salisbury Racecourse is on Thursday, May 15 (1.55pm).

10:15am Monday 5th May 2008

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