Tom ends drought to spark Thorpe double; UTTOXETER.

Byline: Will O'Hanlon

ELLERSLIE TOM ended a losing run stretching back to September 2006 when making all in the featured 2m handicap hurdle, his win sparking a 43-1 double for trainer Alison Thorpe, who also took the bumper with Flexi Time.

Ellerslie Tom looked in trouble when Oceana Gold closed ominously on him two out, but Daryl Jacob's mount answered every call to repel the challenge of Emma Lavelle's runner, who did not find as much as hoped for off the bridle.

"He's very gutsy and it's great to see him back winning again," said Thorpe of her winner.

"The ground was right for him tonight, and he'd also come down the weights as a result of run of defeats. Now the ground has dried up, we'll definitely be keeping going with him." The Carmarthen trainer completed her double with Flexi Time in the finale. The newcomer was backed from 14-1 to 7-1 but looked booked for second until Basford Bob jinked left 150 yards from the line, losing his momentum and giving Charlie Poste the chance to get Flexi Time up close home by a neck.

Gloucester, who has been highly tried this spring at the big Cheltenham and Aintree fixtures, appreciated the drop in class in the 2m novice hurdle and hacked up under Tom Scudamore.

Trained by Tom's brother Michael, Gloucester was the clear form pick in the race and, backed from a morning price of 4-5 to 2-5 at the off, the son of Montjeu travelled well throughout and won by an unchallenged 21 lengths from Massams Lane.

Michael Scudamore was represented by his mother Marilyn, who said of the winner: "He's had some tough races recently, so a win like this will have done his confidence a lot of good.

"He likes fast ground, so this is his time of year, and while he's in good form he'll be kept going as long as there are races for him." Hold Em, another horse who tried his luck at Cheltenham, outclassed his three rivals in the 3m novice chase, the 1-5 shot jumping well throughout in the hands of Tony McCoy and pulling away in the home straight to score by 27 lengths from Badger.

Hold Em is trained in Kilgetty, south Wales by Keith Goldsworthy, and will now be aimed at a valuable 3m chase at Ffos Las in August.

"He likes summer ground and the Ffos Las race is the target," said Goldsworthy. "He ran in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham but got left at the start and, because they went at such a pace, he could never get into the race." Major Euro showed there is still plenty of life left in him at the age of 12 as he helped force the pace throughout under Andrew Thornton in the 2m6f handicap chase and battled all the way to the line to see off Alfadora.

"He's been a great horse for us over the years," said Banbury trainer Simon Gilmore of his winner.

"That's six races he's won for us, which is tremendous for a small stable such as ours.

"I got the tactics wrong at Chepstow last time when he was held up. He's better up with the pace, and Andrew - who has been such a help to me over the years - gave him a great ride." Red Jester, all at sea in the mud on his last two starts, was another to benefit from the change to fast going as he landed the 2m handicap chase under Andrew Glassonbury, the Laura Youngtrained 7-1 shot getting home by a length from Jack's Lad..

Star performance Daryl Jacob rode a cracking race on Ellerslie Tom in the feature