Racing: Double for Balding

The trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Francis Norton teamed up to good effect at Haydock yesterday, notching a 31-1 double with Generosia and Banknote.

The former kicked off the double when obliging at 4-1 in the opening fillies' handicap. Norton went to the front with two furlongs to run and Generosia looked to have the race in safekeeping only for Patxaran to get a second wind. Generosia dug deep to prevail by a head.

The decision to re-route Banknote from Sandown paid off when he claimed the one-mile handicap for a second successive year. Balding had considered waiting for the weekend with the Queen's colt but opted to head north again and it looked a good move when Banknote took it up over a furlong out. He stayed on to beat Mutawaffer by one and a half lengths.