Racing: Williamson taken to 50 by Rule

Norman Williamson's season, which began with a break up with the Kim Bailey stable but which has produced a sackful of big-race successes, reached anoter high point when the Irishman recorded his 50th winner of the term at Hereford yesterday on Cardinal Rule.

"At the beginning of the season, 50 winners was my target," Williamson, now a freelance, said. "Everything's going superbly well at the moment and all those miles I clocked up on the motorways at the start of the season have paid off and I'm very pleased.

"With Cheltenham and Aintree and all the big races still to come hopefully the winners have not stopped flowing yet."

Williamson's winners this season have included Jodami in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock and Master Tribe in The Ladbroke at Leopardstown.

Alex Harvey, 26, assistant to Oliver Sherwood for five years, sent out his first winner as a trainer when High Learie made all at Plumpton.