'We've got a really nice bunch' - James Evans relishing moment in the spotlight

Wednesday: Lingfield

Freezing conditions may have caused a spate of cancellations over jumps but it has given some lower-profile yards a chance to steal the limelight and James Evans has grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

The Worcestershire-based trainer is operating at a 33 per cent strike-rate thanks to two winners from his last six runners, including a last-gasp success for Justcallmepete in the 6f handicap.

The three-year-old still had plenty to do with a furlong to go but rattled down the outside of the field under Dougie Costello to lead at the post in a four-way finish.

Evans said: “We overfaced him a bit when he won in the spring after his first handicap. He’s now coming back and finding his confidence.

"We felt, off a mark of 70, that he was good enough to win if he got a decent run. The problem today was that he was taken wide and he had to do it the hard way!”

On his recent success, Evans added: “It’s been great. We’re a small yard and we’ve only got a few owners. I have my battles with all of them but they’ve been brilliant. The horses have been running great and we’ve got a really nice bunch.”

Buick bouncing

William Buick may have swapped the glamorous surrounds of Sha Tin for a cold Lingfield but he embraced the freezing temperatures to land a double.

The champion jockey steered Maso Bastie to victory for James Fanshawe in the mile novice, before adding a second when guiding the Charlie and Mark Johnston-trained Capital Theory to a second victory in two weeks.

Results, replays and analysis

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