Racing resumes at Great Yarmouth

Dual champion jockey Paul Hanagan was among those to pay tribute to the newly-laid track at Yarmouth after racing took place for the first time in almost a year at the Norfolk circuit.

The racecourse has been out of action since September last year after a decision was taken by owners Arena Racing Company in conjunction with the British Horseracing Authority to level the home straight and eliminate ridges that had developed over a number of years.

Course officials had originally hoped the seaside course would be back in action earlier this summer following the £300,000 upgrade, but the reopening was delayed as the team strived to ensure the surface was safe for racing.

The fixture got under way with the Bet totejackpot British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes and Hanagan delighted odds-on backers by steering Ed Dunlop's 8/11 favourite Alqubbah to a narrow victory over Fourth Way.

"She's very nice and has come on with every run," said Hanagan.

"It's riding pretty slow. It's going to take time to bed in. They've just been unlucky with the weather they've had with a lot of rain.

"There's a massive difference from last year. It's so level and so equal now. It rode very nice."

The jockey completed a double on the Roger Varian-trained Mujassam (11/4 favourite) in the feature Get Social With totepool On Facebook Handicap.

Varian said: "That was pleasing, I couldn't explain Newbury last time, he was never going. He's a bit of a funny charcter but on a going day he's quite good. We put the visor on just to switch things up.

"We'll see what the handicapper does, but he'll run in a nice race before the end of the year.

"(I have) no complaints about the track. It's a new track and will take time to properly bed in, but it looks flatter to the naked eye. It's good to be back racing here."

Honcho was a 12/1 winner of the totepools Racing's Biggest Supporter Handicap for jockey Stevie Donohoe and trainer John Ryan.

Donohoe said: "It's soft ground, but I'm happy with it. I think they've done a good job."

Ryan told At The Races: "They've had to come back sooner than they'd have liked, but they've done everything they can to get racing on.

"The surface is perfectly safe, it is on the easy side, but they can't help the weather.

"Horses are coming back in one piece, which is the main thing."

Tom Queally, rider of the mighty Frankel, also gave the track the thumbs up after winning the Bet totequadpot Handicap aboard James Fanshawe's 5/2 favourite Up In The Lights.

Queally said: "It's grand. It's a bit narrow and it's riding a bit on the slow side, but it's a nice surface.

"It's an improvement and anything that's an improvement is a good thing."

Jockey George Baker was one of some horsemen, however, to express a note of caution.

"They've done a brilliant job but I just hope they don't abuse the surface now," he said. "I've walked it and the grass is rooted properly but if they race too much on it on testing conditions, it could ruin things for next year - it's just going to need time to bed in properly now."