Family affair for the Hamiltons as Into Overdrive lands Meyrick Handicap Chase

Monday: Wetherby

Family is everything at Christmas time and few will have enjoyed the festivities more than the Hamiltons, who landed a memorable triumph in the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

Michael Hamilton, a clerk of the scales, and his wife Wendy are owner/breeders of the fast-improving Into Overdrive, who scored his fifth in six starts in a traditional highlight of the Boxing day programme.

The £50,000 success was made even more special by the fact the winner was ridden by their son Jamie, who sent the seven-year-old clear turning for home and had enough left to hold off the similarly progressive Sounds Russian by half a length.

Into Overdrive's winning run had begun off a BHA rating of just 112 at Carlisle in March and Wendy Hamilton said: "We bred the horse and we bred the jockey, it's amazing. If you'd told us this time last year we'd be standing here winning the Rowland Meyrick I'd have said 'don't be so silly!'"

Michael Hamilton (second left) and Wendy Hamilton (second right) are presented with the trophyCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Into Overdrive's only defeat this season came at the hands of L'Homme Presse in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and he has improved so much that he is now rated too high for his original target.

"We were thinking of the Kim Muir but he may be out of that now," said trainer Mark Walford. "We may look at the Ultima at Cheltenham and the Sky Bet Chase is a possibility at Doncaster before that.

"We've talked about the Grand National but I'd like him to have had a run over those fences so possibly it could be next year."

Asked what winning the feature - in front of a crowd of 10,000 - meant to a local yard, Walford said: "This is what it's all about. This is great for everyone at home.

"Will Milburn, who led him up, does all the work with him at home and rides him out every day. He's done a superb job with him. I'm delighted for them all, and for the Hamiltons."

The 5-2 favourite Shan Blue was reported never to be travelling by Sean Quinlan, who pulled him before the 11th fence.

Blue Christmas for Ben

Amateur rider Ben Sutton scored his first winner under rules on Santos Blue, owned by his father Nick, in the novice handicap hurdle but was made to sweat for the victory.

It was only after a lengthy inquiry into interference on the run-in that the stewards allowed the result to stand, although Sutton said: "I was surprised there was an inquiry, I didn't use my stick and I just put my hands back on the reins and straightened him up - it felt like he was just idling a bit in front."

Sutton, 23 and a former novice point-to-point champion added: "It's brilliant and I'm very grateful to dad for giving me the opportunities. The horse being a home-bred makes it even more special."

Ben Sutton: Rode his first winner under rulesCredit: David Carr

Jumping to it

Tim Easterby may be a multiple Group 1-scoring Flat trainer nowadays, but he has been coming to Wetherby on Boxing Day since before he can remember and was delighted to strike for the second year in a row.

Having landed the novice handicap chase in 2021, he went one better this time with a one-two in the same race.

Beat The Edge (11-1) looked set to win well under Jamie Hamilton until losing momentum by sprawling on landing after two out and was overhauled on the run-in by the trainer's son William aboard stablemate Court At Slip (10-1).

"It's great to have a winner here on Boxing Day," Tim Easterby said. "I've been coming here on this day since I was tiny - it's that long ago I can't remember, I've been coming here forever!"

Court At Slip was a first National Hunt winner of 2022-23 for the yard but Easterby is hoping for further success and said: "We've got some very nice three and four-year-olds to go jumping, nice horses."

The Wetherby crowd of 10,000 was the biggest on Boxing Day since 2016Credit: David Carr

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