Carlisle: Duty calls to open Etherington account.

Byline: er: Gordon Brown

TIM ETHERINGTON, who has only had a handful of runners this season, opened his account in style when Feu Duty powered home for Joe Fanning in the sprint handicap.

The Fayruz filly made all and drew clear inside the final furlong to trounce Leopard Creek by four lengths.

Malton-based Etherington said: "I haven't been happy with the weather as it's still cold round our way and some of the horses have just come to themselves. Until today I hadn't run many, but I've had three placed and, hopefully, we'll start going now."

Fresh from saddling Attraction to victory in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Mark Johnston reeled in a much smaller fish when Carte Royale made a winning debut under Stanley Chin in the two-year-old maiden. With Chin just waving his stick at him to concentrate, the winner looks sure to improve.

Johnston said: "He's very green and we only suddenly decided the other day to come here. He did his first decent piece of work just recently and is a heavy horse who isn't particularly suited to ground as fast as this."

Chin was later in trouble for his efforts on Hearthstead Dream when he tried to force his way out of a pocket and interfered with the Tony Culhane-ridden Spitting Image.

The incident that mattered occurred inside the final furlong and, as there are Group 1 races at Epsom on June 4 and 5, Chin's suspension will kick in on June 6 and 7 unless he requests the earlier dates.

The race featured Ben Swarbrick riding his first course winner on Quarry Island, trained by David Evans. Spitting Image was promoted to second with Hearthyards Pride relegated to third.

Willie Supple was in fine form, riding a double on the Ed Dunlop pair Estihlal and Sunset Mirage, his only two rides at the Cumbrian track.

Estihlal scampered away with the opening maiden, while Sunset Mirage shouldered top weight to victory on her first tilt at handicap company.

Ian McInnes, successful with Shamwari Fire and Molotov at Beverley, completed his first treble - he had never even had a double before - when Zawrak took the apprentice handicap under Natalia Gemelova.

AT A GLANCE

Star performance

Feu Duty, for fairly powering away with the sprint handicap - she's a filly who should enjoy more success

Mixed day at the office

Stanley Chin shone aboard green newcomer Carte Royale and then received a two-day careless riding ban on Hearthstead Dream

Job well done

Willie Supple and Ed Dunlop won with Estihlal and

Sunset Mirage, their only two runners on the card

mResults and analysis start page 56

CAPTION(S):

Tim Etherington First winner of the season