John Smith's Cup
Heritage Handicap, York 15:25
£150,000 added,
3yo plus,
1m 2f 88y, Class 2  
Saturday 11th July 2015

Horses 468x60 Jpg

1 Master Carpenter 14/1
2 Kelinni 25/1
3 Mount Logan 7/1
4 Forgotten Hero 25/1
NR: Collaboration, Homage (IRE), Tres Coronas (IRE)
17 ran Distances: nk, 1½l, ½l
TIME 2m 8.28s (slow by 1.08s)

Master Carpenter came out on top in a thrilling finish to the 56th John Smith's Cup at York.

Master Carpenter
© Racehorse Photos
Master Carpenter

Kelinni took the field along for much of the journey, still leading as the runners came down the middle of the home straight, with the exception of Educate who raced in isolation on the far side.

Phillip Makin had never been too far off the pace on the Rod Millman-trained winner (14-1) and joined issue with Kelinni two furlongs out.

A tremendous battle ensued from there, with just a neck separating them at the line.

Mount Logan was third, with Forgotten Hero fourth.

The win capped a day to remember for Makin, who was recording a treble after two earlier victories on the card.

The winning trainer was represented by his son and assistant, James.

The former jockey, who is now studying law at Leeds University, said: "This is a great result, we're having a quiet season. We've only had four winners and we'd normally be well into double figures by now.

"Phil gave him a great ride, he kicked and just had enough left to hold on.

"I said to him he can be a bit lazy out of the gate and to sit positive. Luckily nothing came from behind and it was a cracking ride.

"This is our star horse. He won a Group Three for us in France last year, which was a great result at the time, but because of that he's obviously been very high in the handicap and it's been tough for him.

"He started off this year in the Lockinge Stakes as there weren't many opportunities with his Group Three penalty, the ground was too quick for him and he's obviously not quite up to Group One level.

"He was unlucky not to win at Ayr a couple of starts back and ran a cracking race to finish third at Sandown last week.

"On quick ground like this, stepping up to a mile and a quarter has helped him and he's a classy horse.

"This obviously brings back memories of Sergeant Cecil and to win a big Saturday race like this is great for everyone in the yard.

"The Cambridgeshire might be a possibility for him, but we'll have to see what the handicapper does."

BetZone

56th John Smith's Cup (Heritage Handicap)
£150,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 88y, Class 2
17 ran
Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)

  Dr Dist Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st (1) Master Carpenter (IRE) 14/1 P Makin
9-4
B R Millman 4
2nd (2) nk Kelinni (IRE) 25/1 S A Gray (3)
8-11
K A Ryan 7
3rd (12) Mount Logan (IRE) 7/1 Kevin Stott (3)
9-0
L M Cumani 4
4th (7) ½ Forgotten Hero (IRE) 25/1 P McDonald
8-10
C Hills 6
5th (14) nse Ajman Bridge 5/1f A Kirby
9-0
L M Cumani 5
6th (4) Fire Fighting (IRE) 9/1 P Mulrennan
9-10
M Johnston 4
7th (13) Arab Dawn (ex5) 6/1 G Baker
9-1
H Morrison 4
8th (5) nse Sennockian Star 10/1 F Norton
8-12
M Johnston 5
9th (8) ½ Loving Spirit 25/1 T Hamilton
8-13
R A Fahey 7
10th (11) 2 Battalion (IRE) 16/1 G Lee
9-6
W J Haggas 5
11th (6) ½ Lanceur (FR) 40/1 Martin Lane
8-12
Mrs L Wadham 6
12th (16) Master Of Finance (IRE) 11/1 S De Sousa
8-12
M Johnston 4
13th (9) ½ Educate 12/1 Tim Clark (3)
9-5
I Mohammed 6
14th (20) nse First Flight (IRE) 8/1 James McDonald
9-2
S bin Suroor 4
15th (21) 5 Voice of A Leader (IRE) 12/1 L Morris
8-11
P W Chapple-Hyam 4
16th (15) 7 Balty Boys (IRE) 16/1 C O'Donoghue
9-8
B Ellison 6
17th (18) 19 Odeon 50/1 T Eaves
8-12
J G Given 4
NR (19) Collaboration 14/1 David Probert
9-2
A M Balding 4
NR (17) Tres Coronas (IRE) 20/1 Graham Gibbons
8-13
T D Barron 8
NR (10) Homage (IRE) 16/1 P J Dobbs
8-12
W J Haggas 5

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