Racing: Venture sends Woods off to York on a high

GENTLEMAN VENTURE won the Classic Boxes Maiden Stakes at Redcar yesterday after some hefty bets forced his odds down to 1-2.

The winner is trained by Sean Woods, whose travelling head lad Andy Shaw, commented: "Our horses are in good order and our three-year-olds are running well. We expect big runs from Canta Ke Brave and Knockholt at York tomorrow."

Amron, who gained his first success way back in April 1989, is still going strong and put his younger rivals in their place at Redcar in the Faithful and Gould Handicap.

Paul Bradley, the 12-year-old's apprentice rider, sent the remarkable veteran into the lead two furlongs out and he skipped clear in the mud to pass the post with five lengths to spare over Sand Hawk.

Trainer Jack Berry was represented by his son Alan who said: "We will just keep him going, we have no option really because he gets miserable if we turn him out and really enjoys being in training."

At Southwell, Robert Cowell landed the first double of his training career when Turtle Surprise and Quintrell Downs both both won. Cowell is in his second season with a licence and is based at Six Mile Bottom near Newmarket.