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Desert Law wins the Symphony Group Handicap
Image: Desert Law wins the Symphony Group Handicap

Desert Law claimed his second win inside a week with a clear-cut success in the Symphony Group Handicap.

After striking at Doncaster just four days ago, the Paul Midgley-trained nine-year-old showed he is in good heart when backing that success up in the extended five-and-a-half-furlong event.

In a race few got into, the 14-1 shot tracked the early pace cut out by the fast-starting Thesme, before forging on under Luke Morris deep inside the final furlong and holding the late rally from favourite Edward Lewis by a length and a quarter.

Midgley said: "Fair play to Andy (Taylor, owner). I was a bit reluctant to run him, but Andy was positive we were running.

"He did it well on Saturday (at Doncaster) and has done it again there.

"He's been absolutely fantastic for us. He does not owe us one penny. He's won the (Epsom) Dash and all he's done is earn us money and he's a nice person as well.

"We'll enjoy today and worry about everything else for him after."

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He added: "He travelled nicely, got a good tow into the race and never looked as though he was going to get beat."

Wells Farhh Go maintained his unbeaten record when getting up on the line to prevail in a pulsating finish to the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes.

Needing every inch of the seven-furlong trip, the Tim Easterby-trained 10-1 chance, who made a winning debut over course and distance last month, wore down James Garfield in the dying strides to gain the day by a nose.

Lansky was a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third, but favourite Dee Ex Bee - like the winner a son of Farhh - was a major disappointment.

There was early drama in the race, with the Richard Fahey-trained Chief Justice unshipping Paul Hanagan soon after exiting the stalls.

Easterby said: "I thought he hadn't quite got there and that I should have run him over a mile.

"He's in the Royal Lodge and the Group One race at Chantilly (Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere). Whether we run him or not, I'm not sure. He's a big horse and needs a bit of time.

"I think he might be another Bollin Eric (the 2002 St Leger winner), he's not far off. He's just a very good horse in the making. One day he will be a proper horse. He's had a hard race there and I wouldn't be rushing to run him quickly."

Easterby is based locally to the track at Great Habton and relishes a York winner more than most.

He said: "It's fantastic. If they are entered here we don't walk the course, they run usually.

"I had a lot of offers for him since his last run and I resisted. I bought him at Tatts Sales as a yearling. He was just a big nice horse. He showed me a nice bit if speed early on so we waited a bit with him and gave him a chance.

"Next year will be his year and he will be an even better four-year-old. I didn't put him in the Racing Post Trophy He's out of a Galileo mare, he's got a great temperament and has got it all before him. He's very exciting."

George Scott said of James Garfield: "We've lots to look forward to with him. He probably just got a bit lonely out in front. I also think he has been beaten by a very good horse who was only having his second start.

"Even still, it is very frustrating. I was upset this morning when the rain came and I am sure he would have preferred faster ground.

"We've got plenty of options going forward. We won't make any snap decisions."

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