PORTADOWN’s Daire McConville rode his third winner in Britain, and his third for his boss Kerry Lee, when landing the near three-mile handicap chase at Newbury on Wednesday on the 11/1 shot, Storm Control.

When interviewed by Nick Luck on Racing TV, Lee was fulsome in her praise of the jockey, referencing his talent, work ethic and his 10lbs claim which, she admitted, she “had been minding”.

Wednesday’s winner had been due to carry top-weight of 12st 3lbs but, with his partner’s allowance, that burden was reduced to 11st 7lbs.

McConville, whose previous successes for the Herefordshire trainer had been on Orchard Grove, was having his first ride in public on Storm Control for whom this was a fifth victory over fences.

The nine-year-old September Storm gelding was bred by John Kidd out of the unraced 2003 Double Eclipse mare Double Dream and is thus a full-brother to the seven-time winner Atlantic Storm and a half-sister to the King’s Theatre mare Tagrita whose seven wins included a listed mares’ novice hurdle.

From the family of Grey Abbey, Calgary Bay and The Grey Monk, Double Dream didn’t have a foal last year but is due at the end of March to Jukebox Jury, while her seven-year-old unraced daughter September Dream (another by September Storm) is due to Success Days.

Hazzard bred

On the same Newbury card, the extended two-mile handicap hurdle was won by the Ben Pauling-trained favourite Fine Casting. This was a third win in eight starts for the six-year-old Shantou gelding who had won his maiden last time out at Ffos Las in mid-December. The bay was bred by the late Hugh Hazzard out of the unraced Bob Back mare Fine Fortune.

On Monday at Fakenham, the Lucy Wadham-trained Somekindofstar also recorded his third career success, though from 16 outings on the track, when landing the extended two-mile handicap chase as market-leader.

This nine-year-old Getaway gelding was bred by Michael Millar out of the unraced Alderbrook mare Katty Barry.

On the flat at Newcastle last Thursday week, the Micky Hammond-trained Dragons Will Rise made it win number seven in the 10-furlong handicap. The six-year-old Dragon Pulse gelding was bred by Ivan and Eileen Heanen out of another unraced mare, Jaldini (by Darshaan), dam also of the nine-time-winning Danehill Dancer mare Jalmira.