Review of racing from Brighton: Jim Crowley continues title march

News of the pick of the action from Brighton where title chasing rivals Jim Crowley and Silvestre de Sousa both struck.

Jim Crowley kept up what has been a magical September with victory on Onehelluvatouch at Brighton as he took another step towards becoming champion jockey for the first time.

Crowley began the day with a nine-winner lead over Silvestre de Sousa and took his tally for the month to 42 and to 126 in the Stobart-sponsored title race with victory on the 3/1 shot in division two of the Park Lane Group Handicap.

After the 15-year-old Megalala had taken the field on well into the straight, Hermosa Vaquera tried to assert but Crowley had Onehelluvatouch in the right position to pounce.

Philip Hide's three-year-old, wearing blinkers for the first time, pulled away from the furlong pole to win by five lengths from Highlife Dancer with Top Pocket third.

Crowley said: "Philip said he thought she'd go close today. The ground was a bit too firm for her last time, but she got a nice run through and did it well.

"I'd not ridden the filly before but the blinkers definitely helped."

Hide told At The Races: "She's shown plenty at home all the way through and it's just been one disappointment after another, but there were genuine excuses the last day with the ground and arguably she might not have wanted the mile and a half just yet.

"Hopefully we can keep going forward. I'd like to think there was more to come.

"She's been schooling at home since her last run so she will be going jumping at some stage, maybe not until the spring."

Crowley was denied a quick double when Open The Red found Whinging Willie (9/2) too strong in the Veolia Recycling Handicap.

Gary Moore's seven-year-old gained the upper hand in the last half-furlong to prevail by three-quarters of a length under 5lb claimer Hector Crouch.

Crowley had no luck in running when a close third to 5lb-claiming apprentice Georgia Cox on the William Haggas-trained Wrapped (100/30) in the Frosts Cars Fillies' Handicap.

De Sousa, the defending champion, tried to keep up the pressure by getting Harlequin Rose (11/4 favourite) home to take the ROA/Racing Post Owners Jackpot Nursery Handicap.

Glyder looked all over the winner but De Sousa galvanised Mick Channon's filly to score by a length.

De Sousa said: "It was a quick five and a half furlongs and she just got a bit outpaced at halfway, but when the penny dropped she ran on strongly in the last 100 yards."

The reverse happened to De Sousa in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes when his mount Akkadian Empire was collared in the dying strides by Come On Come On (9/2).

Adam Kirby delivered Clive Cox's newcomer to snatch the verdict by three-quarters of a length.

Daniel Muscutt drew Moss Street (8/1) into the lead in the final furlong and John Flint's six-year-old gamely held Purple Party by a neck.

Noel Garbutt, who partnered the runner-up, was banned for two days (October 13 and 14) for using his whip above the permitted level.

Pat Cosgrave brought Bridge Of Sighs (3/1 favourite) with a well-timed run to cut down Gannicus and land the Herbert William Hall Memorial Handicap by a neck for trainer Martin Smith.

Sylvester Kirk's Virile (4/1 favourite) came from last to first to claim the Rocs Electrical Handicap under George Baker.