Latest Easterby opens his account at Hamilton

The Easterby family added another member to their racing dynasty at Hamilton when Tim’s son William partnered his first winner on Ryedane from just his second ride as an amateur.

With veteran trainer Mick still churning out the winners and Tim, son of trainer Peter, enjoying one of his best ever seasons, there is barely a meeting that goes by north of Watford without an Easterby runner. Having made his debut at Carlisle last week, Mr William Easterby, as he appears on racecards, appears to be a chip off the old block.

Riding in the Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Amateur Riders’ Handicap, Ryedane was sent off at 14-1 having shown little in recent weeks but arrived late on the scene to win going away by two lengths from Ivestar.

Just 16 years of age, the younger Easterby is obviously also blessed with his family’s famous dry wit as when he was asked if he thought he was always going to win, he replied: “I don’t know, it was only my second ride so I don’t know anything yet! I’m still at school and will be going back to do my A-levels next term. I’d like to ride over hurdles in the winter. I’ve schooled over them and also fences, and my biggest ambition is to win the Aintree Fox Hunters’. In time, I see myself more as a trainer than a jockey. I’ve ridden Ryedane at home before but as a nine-year-old he certainly knows more about the game than me.”

Champion jockey Paul Hanagan stretched his lead at the head of affairs in defence of his title with a short-priced double, on Kimbali (8-13 favourite) for his boss Richard Fahey in the claimer, and on William Haggas’s 1-9 shot Quails Hollow in the maiden.

Ian Semple’s Here Now And Why (8-1) took advantage of a plummeting handicap rating in the Isle of Skye 8-Y-O Blended Scotch Whisky Handicap. Rated as high as 88 as a two-year-old, he won off a mark of 48 beating Sharp Shoes by half a length for Duran Fentiman. Things have been slow to pick up for Semple since he started training again – apart from the exploits of Blues Jazz who has won five. “That’s a relief,” said Semple. “I’ve been getting called a one-horse trainer as that’s only my sixth winner and all my others have been Blues Jazz! I’m delighted for the owners [Kenman Properties] as it’s their first winner.”