De Vegas Kid hits the jackpot for Carroll at Brighton

Adopting a mob-handed approach paid dividends for Tony Carroll after De Vegas Kid completed a double for the trainer with victory in the Bombardier Brighton Mile Challenge Cup Trophy.

With four chances in the feature contest at the seaside track, the Copthorne handler gained the result he hoped for after the five-year-old bounced back to form to make it three wins from four starts this year.

Hitting the front inside the final furlong, the 9-1 chance stayed on strongly under Darragh Keenan to defeat favourite Medieval by two lengths.

Carroll said: “He is a funny shape, but that doesn’t seem to stop him. He has got good form and is a nice horse. There was good speed in the race and this horse came late and tries very hard.

“When you look at the shape of him you can’t believe what he does. Unfortunately we can’t go to Goodwood or Ascot, so we come here and enjoy it and there is good prize-money.

“He won here earlier in the season, then he ran very well and won at Goodwood and I just ran him too quick at Doncaster. He is all heart and we just freshened him up for this.”

George Downing came in for plenty of praise after getting the ball rolling for Carroll when steering Creative Talent to a first victory on turf in the Marathonbet Live Casino Handicap.

Carroll said of the 12-1 winner: “It was a terrific ride. He got him in there nicely out of the wind and dragged his way through there. George is exceptional round here.

“We freshened him up for this meeting and saved him for here so it is job done.”

It was a double celebration for owners The Wentworth Amigos after the Mick Channon-trained Bartat (100-30) swooped late to land the Visit marathonbet.co.uk by half a length.

Spokesman Mike Walsh said: “We own the mother, Pacches, and she had to retire with injury. This is the only foal she has produced so far, so it makes this a bit special.

“She has been running well against some good opposition, but has often been the bridesmaid.

Jack Mitchell has set a target of riding 80 winners by the end of the year and the Hugo Palmer-trained Hariboux (7-2) helped him move another step nearer his aim when defying a penalty to land the Download The Marathonbet App EBF Novice Stakes by a length.

Mitchell said: “It’s been a really good year. I’m quite happy going to the smaller meetings at the weekend as I have my people I ride for, but there is always the chance of picking up a good spare.

“I want to try to get 80 winners by the end of the year. I’ve got plenty of good support, so fingers crossed I can do it.”

Stefano Cherchi may have a long way to go to hit the heights of fellow Italian riders Frankie Dettori and Andrea Atzeni, but Kachumba helped add another winner to his name when securing her fifth course victory in the Marathonbet “Bigger Odds Mean Bigger Winnings” EBF Fillies’ Handicap.

Churchi said of the Rae Guest-trained 11-2 shot: “She was a bit slow jumping out of the gates. I followed the favourite, then took her out and she stayed on well.

“I’ve been in England two years and got my licence last August. I’m from Sardinia, where Frankie and Andrea are from, and one day I hope to be as good as them.”