The charity KIDS Superheroes Family Extravaganza at Market Rasen Racecourse became a royal occasion as The Queen enjoyed a winner. 

Her Majesty’s horses are more famous for winning in Flat racing, but 3-1 chance Comely became her second ever winner at Market Rasen when taking first place in the Cranswick Country Foods Handicap Hurdle for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Jeremiah McGrath.

The Queen’s only previous winner from a total of eight runners at the Lincolnshire racecourse was Sunshade, trained by Nicky Henderson as well, last December.

 

Also celebrating on Sunday was leading northern jockey Brian Hughes who landed a double. His afternoon got off to the best possible start when the 5-4 favourite Breakfast won his first race over jumps in the KIDS Strut Juvenile Hurdle for trainer Donald McCain. Less well fancied was Hughes’ second triumph, on board Lucky Robin - a 10-1 chance – in the first division of the Tican Chilled Handicap Hurdle.

 

Both of Britain’s top jump jockeys were on track and shared a winner apiece.

 

Richard Johnson rode 5-4 market leader Call To Order to victory in the Branston Handicap Chase, while Harry Skelton rounded off the day with first place on odds-on 2-11 favourite Longhouse Sale in the KIDS Anniversary Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

That meant that Skelton maintained his 26-winner lead in the 2018/19 jump jockeys’ championship over Johnson, though it was a largely disappointing day for trainer Dan Skelton – the jockey’s brother – as six of their seven runners were sent off favourite, and five were defeated.

 

Other winners during the afternoon were Fields Of Fortune at 11-4 in the Doing It For KIDS Maiden Hurdle, Red Giant at 7-1 in the Fishingadviser Events Handicap Chase and Helf at 10-1 in the second division of the Tican Chilled Handicap Hurdle.

Yorkshire trainer Mick Easterby will face a British Horseracing Authority inquiry after the wrong horse was presented in the Branston Handicap Chase. Banny’s Lad was supposed to run, but another horse arrived at the racecourse stables.

Market Rasen Racecourse ambassador Sean Bowen had a day to remember at the last meeting when he won the Listed 188BET Summer Plate on More Buck’s. On Sunday, however, he picked up a four-day suspension for his use of the whip.