Lane reigns after closing clash

MARTIN Lane endured a nervous wait before he could savour the biggest moment of his career as Wigmore Hall survived a long stewards' inquiry into the 51st John Smith's Cup at York.

Lane's mount had clashed with Jamie Spencer and Kings Gambit in the closing stages of the 150,000 handicap and only a short-head split the pair at the post.

The 24-year-old jockey believes he still has around 26 winners to go before losing his 3lb claim and while hardly a household name, he has not been unnoticed as a promising apprentice while toiling away at the lower end of the racing spectrum.

Lane jumped at the opportunity to combine with Newmarket trainer Michael Bell for the first time here aboard a clearly smart individual competing right at the bottom of the weights as the only three-year-old in the race.

Wigmore Hall had been beaten at short prices in several small field events but had produced a fine show at Royal Ascot when third in the Hampton Court Stakes.

Lane was deliberately slow from the stalls in order to get cover for the 5-1 shot but once exposed at the furlong marker, he found his mount drifting right with the pair all out to repel Kings Gambit.

Lane said: "I found out I'd got the ride on Monday and just to get the call was a great day, nearly as good as today.

"It's my biggest win by a long way, I'd won a handicap on Derby day before but that was about it, and to win on my first ride for someone like Mr Bell in a race like this is just great.

"I sat on him on Friday and the only problem with him is that he doesn't like small fields, but in a big field like this he's a different horse.

"If it had been a nose it (the stewards' inquiry] might have gone the other way as mine lost his action 75 yards from the line and gave Jamie a bump, but luckily we got home by a short head."