Dixon clears the run way

It is something of a mystery why Mark Dixon does not get more support because he is a more than capable horseman given the right stock. I suppose that goes for all but he was in the winner's circle twice on Friday night starting with Cleartherunway in the card opener followed by Captain's Christy in the seventh.

- ANDREW HARRISON

Cleartherunway showed marked improvement on his modest debut to sweep all aside in the first. Tristan Godden pressed for home early along with favourite Light The Fire but while the latter was treading water, Cleartherunway was in full cry and won comfortably. First timer Eric's Legacy was slow out of the gate and trailed for most of the race but finished with a flourish and a clear second and could pay to follow. Open Maiden's with most entries on the limited side of the scale and not always reliable are seldom easy to decipher.

The Alyson Wright-trained Chimes At Midnight upstaged more fancied Priory Terrace in the second but it was not the stable companion and favourite that pressed to the line, but Champagne Problems who came from the back end of the field. Priory Terrace was always up with the pace set by Smart Star but failed to kick on when it mattered as Chimes Of Freedom kicked clear with the Champagne Problems closing from behind but the 4kg difference and a better draw proved decisive.