Cape Merino is back in great style

CAPE MERINO defied a 563-day absence from racecourse action to turn the Corston Condition Stakes into a one-horse show at Bath yesterday.

The mare catapulted out of the stalls for Brent Thomson before totally eclipsing her eight rivals when leading everywhere for a three and a half length call over Wavian.

"It's tremendous and lovely to see her back," said winning trainer David Chappell of the mare who landed the 1994 Bovis Handicap and the Tote Two-Year-Old Trophy at Red car the year before.

Explaining the long lay off he continued: "Most of my horses were ill last year and she had a temperature for four months. I was tempted to run her but didn't want to muck her about.

"There's a five furlong Listed race at Kempton at the beginning of June and that will be her target as we would like to get some black type by her name," he added.

Shock 40 to 1 winner Meg's Memory provided trainer John Berry with an emotional moment after landing the Racing Channel Handicap.

"She's named after my stepmother who died 18 months ago from cancer and is owned by a syndicate of four including my father and close friends so obviously that's very emotional for us," explained the Newmarket handler.

After the filly, partnered by Neil Varley, had got up to foil the gamble on Trojan Risk in the dying strides, Berry admitted the result was a bit of a turn up.

"You can tell from her price how much we had on her! I thought she would run well and finish mid-field but that's a big surprise," he reported.

Jack Berry (no relation) made the long haul from his Lancashire base to witness top weight Ansellman spring another surprise in the Tripleprint Handicap.

Coming with a determined late challenge under John Carroll, the grey pounced inside the distance to beat Jucea by a length and a half.

Richard Hannon's juveniles are Just beginning to take off and Pelham, ridden by Dane O'Neill kept up the good work with a clear cut victory in the Pensford Maiden Auction.