GARY Hanmer, who trains a small team at Nantwich in Cheshire, pulled off the biggest win of his career so far when Allbarnone swooped to land the £20,000 Oakmere Homes Handicap Hurdle at Cartmel on Monday.

It had looked a most unlikely victory three hurdles from home where Allbarnone was off the bridle and having to be rousted along to keep in touch. And from a mark 3lbs out of the handicap, it would have taken a brave man to have called him the winner at that point.

Up front, Sean Bowen had the favourite Souriyan going well with The Tourard Man on his heels and the pair seemed to have it between them coming to the final flight. It was then Ross Chapman got Allbarnone into top gear to lead in the last 100 yards and win going away.

The Tourard Man was a rare Cartmel runner for top trainer Alan King, who sent a three-horse team on Monday, but though all ran well, he didn’t manage a winner.

Crushed was third in the opening novice hurdle and Miss Crick found Cartmel specialist Alderbrook Lad too good in the Totepool Cashback Club at totesport.com Handicap Chase.

Alderbrook Lad, who is trained by Micky Hammond at Middleham, has now won four races over Cartmel’s two mile five furlong course.

Although only third with Souriyan in the big race, the father and son team of trainer Peter Bowen and jockey Sean Bowen made their raid from South Wales pay with a couple of winners on the first two days of action.

Despite a couple of dodgy jumps on the far side of the track, odds on favourite Jeannot de Nanont was way too good for the opposition in the Boyzone@ Cartmel Races Beginners Chase on Saturday’s opening day.

And, the partnership returned on Monday to strike again with Buachaill Alainn in the Priory Hotel Grand Veterans Handicap Chase.

It was a disappointing first two days for Cartmel-based trainer James Moffatt. From the 15 horses he ran on the first two days of the Whit meeting, only The Steward was placed when finishing second under top jockey Brian Hughes in the Marten Julian’s Awesome Foursome Novice Hurdle on Monday.