Delighted Ed Bethell fires in a notable winner with Artistic Rifles

Artistic Rifles gave Ed Bethell the perfect start to his new career with a battling victory in the Unibet Spring Mile.

But success would have been painful watching for Andrea Atzeni, who was due to ride the 8-1 shot until receiving a NHS notification on the eve of the new turf season that forced him in to isolation.

It was PJ McDonald who forced the five-year-old to a narrow win in the £45,000 Lincoln consolation, to the joy of Bethell who has just taken over from his father James in charge of Thorngill House Stables in Middleham.

"That's huge," the trainer said. "This is what we're all here for, winning a nice race like this. He battled and battled and he's a legend of a horse. Days like today are what it's all about."

But Bethell was quick to share the adulation after Artistic Rifles' success and said: "Liam Reeves, who rides him every day, should take the credit. He does a phenomenal job because the horse is not easy, he battles with him every morning on the gallops – he's very keen and is a very strong, forward-going horse. Liam had him cherry ripe for the day. He said he would run well."

Bethell, who had his first runner in January, said of his new position: "The owners have all been really supportive and the team at home have been fantastic. It's not been an easy winter but days like today are what we're all in it for.

"Sadly Andrea couldn't ride in the race but I've no doubt he'll win a few big ones this year anyway."

Ed Bethell: 'Days like today are what it's all about'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Top-class effort

Top Rank could be poised to live up to his name this year after earning a possible crack at the Lockinge Stakes with a smooth comeback win in the Doncaster Mile.

A previous Group 3 success earned him a 5lb penalty in this Listed event yet he shrugged the burden off in style, quickening smartly under McDonald to score by a comfortable length.

James Tate certainly felt the five-year-old had put up a career-best performance in landing his sixth win in just eight starts and is now eyeing lofty spring targets – Group 2 events at Sandown or Saint-Cloud and the Group 1 Lockinge.

"In his work this year he's looked bigger and better," the trainer said. "He hasn't had galloping companions, he's only had lead horses. It's nice to see him go and prove that on the track.

"A 5lb penalty against those lot wouldn't have been that easy. He quickened up and was away – we're used to seeing that but not beating that calibre of horse.

"We might think about the Lockinge, I don't love the idea of Sandown for him and going to France has its difficulties."

Top Rank: 'In his work this year he's looked bigger and better'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

'Everything comes easily to him'

Eve Johnson Houghton was breathing a sigh of relief after Chipotle lived up to expectations in the Brocklesby Stakes.

Though her colt had been going well at home, the trainer had never had a runner in the first two-year-old race of the season and wondered how her juveniles might match up.

"My only worry was that if he wasn't any good and he fell out the back of the telly then the rest of them were rubbish!" she said. "Luckily I can breathe now, he's done it really nicely.

"He's always worked nicely at home. He is the most forward of mine by a long way. The rest are all going nicely but nothing has come to hand like him.

"He's my first ever runner in the Brocklesby, mine normally aren't out for a good month yet. It's pretty exciting. He does it really easily, he's not been drilled, everything comes easily to him."

Chipotle: 'He's always worked nicely at home'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

First win for a while

Royal Commando ended a losing run stretching back to July 2019 when taking the Cammidge Trophy under Kieran Shoemark.

"Charlie Hills and the team have freshened him up," the jockey said. "He seems a happy horse at the moment.

"He hit a flat spot from the four to the three but he came good for me two furlongs out."

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