Racing: Devil's ridden out for victory

FORMER jockey Richard Rowe landed his first double as a trainer at Folkestone yesterday, with Thuhool and Devil's Valley, even though things did not go according to plan.

Having won the opener with Thuhool, Rowe instructed conditional jockey Luke Dace to hold up Devil's Valley in the early stages of the Shaddoxhurst Handicap Chase.

But Dace promptly made all the running, pushing hard until Devil's Valley was clear of his rivals. Although the gelding tired on the run-in, he still had six lengths in hand of Secret Rite at the line to complete the 48-1 double.

Another trainer to achieve dual success was John Upson, whose Letterfore jumped well to beat Duo Drom two lengths in the Tattersalls Mares Only Novice Chase, and looks a live hope for the final of the series at Uttoxeter next March. Upson's double was completed when May-Day-Baby was a surprise 20-1 winner of the Dover National Hunt Novice Hurdle.

(Photograph omitted)