The East strengthened its position at the top of Racing League with a remarkable five-timer at Wolverhampton.
Chris Hughes’ side led narrowly heading into night two following three winners at Great Yarmouth but now find themselves 101.5 points clear with an overall total of 365. Wales & The West has moved into second with 263.5, with Ireland third on 249.
The East’s five-timer included Sir Michael Stoute’s Royal runner Reaching High, who led home a one-two as he turned the 14-furlong handicap into a procession under Luke Morris.
Willem Twee produced a fine weight-carrying performance to defy a rating of 106 in the feature £75,000 handicap. James Fanshawe’s sprinter was a Listed winner at Lingfield Park in November and G3-placed at Newcastle on his previous start.
The East was also on the scoresheet with Terry Kent’s Habooba, Glam Squad, trained by assistant team manager Charlie Fellowes, and Kevin Philippart de Foy’s Bint Al Daar.
Hughes said: “I have had a glass of champagne! It is almost like ‘pinch me’. It was the same at Yarmouth, but we have come into both meetings confident. We have had brilliant support from our trainers and keep marching on.
“We have a nice blend of horses across the weights and it is working out nicely for us so far. We’re not here to people please and our philosophy is to put the best horses in each race. We are over 100 points clear now but the next meeting at Chepstow was always going to be tough for us.
“I was keen to be part of Racing League. I watched it all last year, and I like franchise sport. I like things that are fun and get people involved. The other thing to add is that Racing League prize money gives you good horses. Trainers want to support this.”
Tom Fanshawe, assistant to his father, said of Willem Twee: “He has always been a horse we have regarded very highly. His best form is on the all-weather but there are not many opportunities during the summer, so it’s great we have Racing League with valuable races like this to aim at.”
The East was not the only team to take maximum points in a race, with Jamie Osborne’s Thunder Blue heading a one-two for Wales & The West in the six-furlong handicap for three-year-olds.
Osborne, who is also team manager, said: “This is some game, isn’t it? I looked like a complete idiot in the first race and then you half look like you know what you’re doing. Hierarchy did not face the kickback in the first, whereas Thunder Blue has done what we hoped he would.”
Yorkshire recorded its first success of the competition with the Michael Wigham-trained Longlai, who has now won three of his six starts since joining the yard from Richard Hannon.
Wigham said: “Longlai is quite a talented horse on these all-weather tracks. He seems to be improving with age and I would expect him to go on from this. The plan was to run here and then go to Kempton for the London Series Mile Final in September – that’s what we’ve mapped out for him.”
Ireland, London & The South, Scotland and The North failed to register a winner on the night, while The East and Ireland both played jokers unsuccessfully.
It remains tight at the top of the leading rider standings, with Billy Loughnane on 138 points, David Probert on 127 points and Saffie Osborne on 97 points.
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