A review of the racing from Southwell: Simply Wings wins for Kerry Lee

A review of the pick of the action from Southwell on Monday where Kerry Lee's fine start to her training career continued.

Kerry Lee's fine start to her training career continued as she sent out Simply Wings to win the feature Southwell January To December Annual Membership Handicap Chase at the Nottinghamshire track.

Jamie Moore pushed the 11-year-old into the lead from Benefit Cut at the 10th fence but his handy advantage looked threatened as the pack closed in the straight.

However, Simply Wings (9-2) kept on resolutely to beat Ladfromhighworth by a length and a half, with Benefit Cut the same distance away third.

Simply Wings was providing Lee with her fourth winner since she took over the reins from her father Richard at the family's Presteigne stables in July.

"He's an 11-year-old and that's the first time he's won after his summer break. I'm really pleased with that," said Lee.

"We've had him since he was a four-year-old. I love him to bits and ride him out. He benefits from the way we train and was really fresh.

"I'm really loving it. It's my fourth winner from about 24 runners."

Former amateur rider Harriet Bethell is in her second season with a licence and struck with Fresh By Nature (6-1) in the Royal Agricultural Institution Charity Claiming Hurdle.

Conditional jockey Harry Bannister produced the eight-year-old mare between Terminal and Touch Back to beat the former by a length.

"I was really hopeful as she ran well last time at Hexham in a really competitive race and was only beaten five lengths," said the East Yorkshire handler.

"I was pleased it rained as she loves mud and all she does is stay. She's not the easiest to win with."

Lamps, the 15-8 favourite, refused to race but was deemed a runner although Sky Bet refunded stakes as a Goodwill Gesture.

To rub salt into the wounds, his jockey Nick Scholfield was found guilty of improper riding in that he appeared to strike his mount while dismounting prior to the start. He was banned for one day (November 23).

Sean Quinlan delivered Urban Gale (8-1) with a late challenge to deny long-time leader Kilcascan by a length in the Winter Golf At Southwell Handicap Chase.

The victory was a tonic for trainer Joanne Foster as she had lost Craigdancer from her 10-strong team after being pulled up with a leg injury at Musselburgh on Thursday.

"He's very genuine, so you know he's going to give you a good run for your money, and I think he'll have a really good season this year," said the West Yorkshire trainer.

"We've got a race at Hexham in 12 days over three-mile-six. He wants a trip."

Liam Treadwell has made a flying start to November and took his tally for the month to five winners on Rosa Fleet (7-2) in the Festive Fixtures Mares' Handicap Chase.

The Grand National-winning jockey took the Venetia Williams-trained seven-year-old to the front before two out after Distracted had made the running and pulled away to score by three and a half lengths.

Treadwell said: "I've had to pinch myself. I couldn't ride a winner for ages and now that's five already this month. Venetia's horses have really hit form and it's great.

"She's not the biggest but what she lacks in height she makes up for with her heart. She got into a lovely rhythm jumping. She picked up well and ground it out to the line."

Aqua Dude (5-2) made a highly-promising debut over smaller obstacles with a smooth success under Paul Moloney in the Southwell 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle.

The five-year-old, trained by Evan Williams, breezed home by two and a half lengths from Kerisper.

Moloney said: "A good gallop helped me and I'll be looking forward to him going chasing."

Kim Bailey's Abbreviate (4-1) stepped up on his second place on his jumps debut by romping home 19 lengths clear under David Bass in the Nottinghamshire Federation Of Young Farmers Club Novices' Hurdle.

"He's got a lot to learn and there's a lot of improvement there," said Bass.

Derek Shaw's Polarbrook (12-1) ploughed through the mud to hold Carlo Rocks by a length in the Southwell Beer Festival Weekend 12th December Handicap Hurdle under James Davies.

"I didn't think he'd be far away if he handled the ground, that was my only worry," said Shaw.

"He got badly hampered at the third-last at Sedgefield. It cost him 10 lengths and he stayed on nicely to finish fourth."