Love in air for O'Keeffe at Beverley

JEDD O'Keeffe was able to breathe a sigh of relief as the well supported Highland Love came good at Beverley to ensure his name would finally be removed from the list of cold trainers.

Prior to this success the Middleham handler had failed to secure a single winner in 2010, his last visit to the winner's enclosure coming some 252 days ago.

Highland Love himself was on a long losing streak but a course and distance victory in 2008, notably coming off a 16lb higher rating than his current mark, was enough to tempt punters.

Sent off at 7-1 for the New Fixture Next Thursday Evening Handicap having been available at double those odds earlier in the day, the five-year-old travelled strongly in the hands of Tony Culhane and kicked clear on the turn for home. The Beverley straight must have seemed a mile long for connections but to O'Keeffe's relief, his charge managed to maintain his advantage and pass the post with a length and a half in hand.

Polish World gained his first win in over three years when leading his rivals a merry dance in the Watch Football Here 2/3 July Handicap.

Paul Midgley's 10-1 chance bounced out of the stalls in the hands of Paul Pickard and made every yard of the running to score by two and a half lengths.

Midgley paid 800 for the horse in May of last year, just a snip of the 550,000 he was bought for as a yearling.

Classic Descent passed the post in fourth but was disqualified as jockey James Sullivan forgot to weigh-in after the race. Sullivan will be suspended on June 23, 24 and 25 for his mistake. Tim Easterby's Ryedane (4-1 favourite) proved much too good for his rivals in the Lucky In Love Night Next Thursday Handicap, coming home three and a quarter lengths ahead of Azygous. Nellie Ellis made the most a drop in class to record her first win in the Celebrate Your Birthday Here Claiming Stakes, the first leg of a double on the card for jockey Silvestre De Sousa.

Sent off the 15-8 favourite having hinted at ability in three maidens, Kevin Ryan's youngster was never far from the pace and had a length in hand of Madam Markievicz where it mattered. De Sousa went on to complete a short-priced brace on Mark Johnston's 11-10 jolly Rule Breaker who came home six lengths clear in the Racing UK Maiden Stakes. Sullivan may have been in hot water with the stewards earlier but he ended the day on a good note by guiding Pat Eddery's Captain John Nixon to victory in the closing TurfTv Betting Shop Service Handicap.

Sent off at 9-2 with an official rating of just 39, the three-year-old stayed on to beat off Dubawi King by a length and a half.