Perfect start for rookie Drake on Catterick bow

The former rider, who has taken over the management of her father Richard’s stables at Guiseley, was only told on Tuesday that the British Horseracing Authority had approved her licence.

Star Presenter was a popular winner of the Scorton Handicap Chase – the horse runs in the colours of the 28-year-old trainer’s parents Richard and Janet while Drake’s fiancée Jonathan England, one of the best young riders in the North, was in the saddle.

Even though Drake was slightly surprised to see Star Presenter blazing a trail, the horse clung on by a neck in a pulsating finish. “I’m stoked. It feels like an eternity to get this far,” said Drake, who plans to saddle Bourbon Prince at Doncaster tomorrow before stable stalwart Distime lines up in Saturday’s Sky bet Chase.

“I can’t believe it, to be honest. He won here last time but he doesn’t really like this tacky ground and was up in grade. Johnny bought the horse for £1,250 and that’s two he’s won now, so maybe he can be a bloodstock agent when he gives up the riding! We bought him as a summer horse really, with his preference for better ground, so we’ll see what we can find for him.”

Previously assistant to her father, Drake says she always wanted to be a trainer and that it had taken the best part of two years to satisfy the BHA’s requirements. “I suppose it is all downhill from here,” she added.

There was no fairytale success for popular Middleham trainer George Moore who retires on Saturday. In a race named after him, Egmont was pulled up with the spoils going to Tomkevi.

It was the horse’s second win since joining the flood-hit Brandsby yard of trainer Rebecca Menzies, who said: “He won over fences in France and when we bought him we thought it would be all about next year, but that’s two he’s won over hurdles now and he’s looking a really good buy.

“He’s a nice horse and I’m tempted to run him again, but I’ll probably put him away for the season now as he’d had plenty of racing before we got him.”

Middleham trainer Micky Hammond and Sheffield-born jockey Joe Colliver combined with Auldthunder in the handicap chase while Out Sam is set to be part of Warren Greatrex’s Cheltenham Festival squad after getting off the mark over fences with a facile 80-length win.

Greatrex, who broke his Festival duck with Ladbrokes World Hurdle hero Cole Harden last March, was making his first ever visit to Catterick while it was a 50th winner of the season for winning rider Gavin Sheehan – trainer and jockey are a formidable combination.

The £150,000 purchase out of Nicky Henderson’s yard will have multiple Cheltenham entries.

“This was the plan – to give him a nice, clear run and it’s nice to see him get his head in front,” said Greatrex. “When you’re a 1-4 favourite it’s not ideal and he had to make the running, which doesn’t really suit him either. He’ll be a better horse on better ground in a better race and he’s a really good jumper. Today will do him the world of good and hopefully he’ll go on to bigger and better things.”