Racing: McEvoy turns up trumps on King

Chester's tight turns held no fears for rising star Kerrin McEvoy yesterday as the jockey made his first visit to the Roodee a winning one.

Chester's tight turns held no fears for rising star Kerrin McEvoy yesterday as the jockey made his first visit to the Roodee a winning one.

The Australian, rapidly earning a big reputation for himself as number two behind Frankie Dettori at Godolphin, impressed with victory on King Harson. He carried out his instructions from trainer James Bethell perfectly on the 11-1 shot to win the feature Chester Chronicle Rated Handicap by three lengths from Digital.

McEvoy pointed out: "A lot of the tracks around Melbourne are as tight, so I knew what to expect." Middleham handler Bethell, who had told McEvoy to make all the running, said: "This boy is going to be a seriously good jockey. King Harson thrives on this soft ground as he tends to give up under firm conditions. I now wish I had left him in the handicap tomorrow."

Claret And Amber, the 11-4 favourite, gave co-owner Jeff Ralph a double reason to celebrate after defying a 6lb penalty to win the Linpac Group Nursery. Ralph, one of four members of the Matthewman Partnership, was taking over as chairman of Halifax Town FC today and missed the success. Now the juvenile will be aimed at a nursery at Doncaster's St Leger meeting next month.

The Queen's Maclean, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, made all the running to take the Blue Square Rated Stakes under Kieren Fallon.

Before racing there had been a cloudburst over the Roodee, which had prompted travelling head lad John Corke to contact Stoute. Corke explained: "He said that as we were at the course, we may as well run." Both stable and jockey completed a 21-1 double when evens favourite Daze ran out the easy eight-length winner of the David McLean Maiden Fillies' Stakes.