Donovan pops up - Larry needs just one more!

It's taken the thick end of a decade to get there, with a couple of spells as a pro, one as an amateur, and the requisite number of injuries along the way, but Larry McGrath is now only one ride away from riding out his claim following his victory on DONOVAN in the novices' handicap chase at Towcester yesterday. It was a tad streaky, as Donovan - raised 4lb for finishing third at Bangor previously - looked to be losing the argument with his nearest pursuer Lord on the Run before that one demolished the second last fence and lost all momentum. A win is a win, however, and Larry now stands at a career tally of 79 wins and could easily get that landmark 80th with a likely large complement of rides at Carlisle this coming Sunday.

This is already the fourth winner for Richard Guest at this singularly steep Northamptonshire track this season, having landed a treble with FLINTOFF, POLISHED and PEQUENITA at a May meeting. Donovan's first chase win takes his tally of wins for Guest to five, and his career prizemoney to date in to the £30,000 bracket. That was the sum total of wins for Guest at Towcester this time around, however, as Racing Club newcomer TANMEYA pulled like stink before falling halfway round in the mares' novices' hurdle, and READY TO RUMBLE ran no sort of race under Tommy Malone - his first ride for Guest - before pulling up a long way out in the 2m 3.5f handicap chase.