Catterick review Thursday 14 January Sue Smith Danny Cook

A review of Thursday's card at Catterick where Danny Cook produced a magnificent ride to win the feature race aboard Lackamon.

Danny Cook conjured up one of the rides of the season on Lackamon (12/1) to win the Watt Fences North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick and give trainer Sue Smith her 1,000th career winner in the process.

The 11-year-old, who had been without a win since April 2013, was under pressure almost from the drop of the flag - but Cook refused to accept defeat.

Harry Hogarth's Alto Des Mottes had travelled smoothly through the race and looked sure to defy a 13lb rise for a recent Newcastle win, yet despite jumping the last five lengths to the good, his stride was beginning to shorten.

Cook, who looks sure to record a seasonal best this season, kept working at his mount and Lackamon responded to eventually win by half a length.

Once rated as high as 140 when he ran in the 2014 Scottish National, he was racing off a mark of 125.

"That was hard work," said Cook, who to his credit was barely blowing.

"All this horse does is stay, it's no secret that he has endless stamina.

"He just kept on galloping and in this ground I always thought I had a chance."

There was a welcome change in fortune for Donald McCain as his William Of Orange (9/2) was a beneficiary of the final-flight fall of the Cook-ridden Always Resolute in the Racing UK-sponsored Novices' Hurdle.

Brian Ellison's Always Resolute was 13 lengths clear and due to defy a penalty, looking impressive in the process, when he stepped at the last which left the former Sir Mark Prescott inmate infront.

"He'll be a grand horse and he's learning all the time," said McCain.

"He'll keep on improving and what he really wants is better ground and a longer trip, but I'd have been pleased with him even if he was second so to win is a bonus."

Ellison gained some compensation when his Tomngerry (8/13 favourite) followed up a bumper win at Sedgefield in the closing Racing Again 27th January Standard National Hunt Flat Race (Conditionals/Amateurs) under Megan Carberry.

There was no strength in depth but it takes a decent type to win two bumpers.

McCain had earlier been on the mark with Cloudy Joker in the W.L. And Hector Christie Memorial Trophy Handicap Chase.

A winner last time out from Uno Valeroso, the same horse chased him home again, beaten three-quarters of a length.

Henry Brooke sent the 6/1 chance into the lead at halfway and with his jumping putting the rest under pressure, he registered a third course win.

"He's a grand little horse, Henry said he was just idling a bit at the finish," said McCain.

"There's another race here in a couple of weeks - he likes it here - and that might qualify him for the final of the series at Haydock, which might be something to aim at.

"Jumping is his strong suit, he got them at it a long way out."

Wayne Hutchinson rode William Of Orange and had earlier won on Pemba (1/2 favourite) - Alan King's first ever winner at the track - in the racinguk.com Fillies' Juvenile Hurdle.

Hutchinson had not had a winner at Catterick since 2003, when he won on Robert Cowell's Rock 'n Cold.

"It's been a long time since I've been here," said Hutchinson.

"I actually rode a winner here for Robert Cowell when I was an apprentice.

"She's got a bright future, that ground is hard for juveniles but she got through it.

"She'll jump a fence in time and might be better as she gets older."

John Quinn, who not long ago was winning at the Cheltenham Festival, saddled what is now a rare jumping winner through Quinto (9/4) in the BHEST Racing To School Novices' Hurdle in the hands of Tom O'Brien.

"I've only got a dozen in, down from normally about 20. I've got a few that will be doing it next year, though," said Quinn, who has flourished on the Flat.

"He's a grand horse, he'd had two good runs and he needed three miles."