Day of firsts for Gollings and 7lb claimer Kennedy: Market Rasen.

Byline: Reporter: Tom O'Ryan

IT WAS a first for trainer Steve Gollings, who stole the show with a 539-1 treble, and gave conditional jockey William Kennedy his first double in the process.

``I think Steve thought he had got off lightly, going to Fakenham with two runners, leaving me to come here with seven, but he'll be disappointed to have missed our first treble, which is wonderful to achieve, especially on our local course,'' said the trainer's wife Jayne Gollings, after wins by Seaniethesmuggler, Almnadia and Lanmire Tower.

The fact that Seaniethesmuggler had been pulled up on his last four outings failed to put off some backers in the beginners' chase. Supported from 16-1 to 13-2, the gelding, who seemingly has `Jekyll and Hyde' tendencies, duly obliged by nine lengths under Kennedy.

Although his task was made easier by the below-par run - and eventual fall - of the odds-on favourite Wet Lips, Seaniethesmuggler clearly remains a law unto himself.

Jayne Gollings said: ``That was a surprise. He'd lost the plot and we don't know why, and I can only assume he likes this course, as he also won here over hurdles.''

She also put the `Market Rasen factor' forward as a possible reason for Almnadia, who just got the better of recent course winner Cottam Grange in the staying handicap hurdle under a smart ride from Robert Thornton. The 11-1 shot had been pulled up at Uttoxeter and Cheltenham on her last two outings.

She explained: ``I think it's helped coming back here, where she's won before, and also going right-handed, as she seemed very uncomfortable going the other way round in her last couple of races. That might be because she had a pelvic injury last season.''

Almnadia's reward for her return to winning form was to prolong her racing career. ``That has put her days as a broodmare on hold,'' added Gollings.

Lanmire Tower, who completed the trio, and double for 7lb claimer Kennedy, who has now ridden 16 winners, got home by a length from Were Not Stoppin in the staying handicap chase.

Malton trainer Andy Turnell was on the mark in the opening maiden hurdle with Bishop's Bridge, who came right away from the final flight to beat Leopold in decisive fashion.

``He seemed to enjoy this ground,'' said Turnell, after seeing the seven-year-old bound home by ten lengths.

John Quinn sent out Hilltime to land the twoand-a-quarter-mile handicap in the colours of his wife, Sue.

Given a good ride by Dougie Costello, the fiveyear-old, who had not been out since November, scored by two and a half lengths.

R upert Abrahams gained his first win under Rules aboard Royal Snoopy, who justified favouritism in the hunter chase, while the Richard Phillips-trained Alaskan Fizz got home in the bumper under Warren Marston. Larry McGrath, rider of third-placed Cash On Friday, was found guilty of misuse of the whip and was suspended for May 26.day

At a glance

Star performance Steve Gollings, who notched his first treble, and 7lb claimer Willam Kennedy, who rode his first double Who needs to back a winner? Not the ice-cream vendor who, on a sunny afternoon, seemed to have a permanent 50-yard queue for his cornets Quote of the day ``It's easy this game, isn't it?'' - Jayne Gollings, with tongue firmly in cheek, after Lanmire Tower, the third of the stable's three winners, was being unsaddled m Results and analysis start page 69