Racing: TONOCO LANDS EMOTIONAL WIN

TONOCO landed an appropriate victory for trainer Sue Smith and owner Trevor Hemmings in The Last Fling Chase at Haydock Park today.

The Bet Direct-sponsored handicap was named in honour of Mrs Smith's course specialist, who carried Hemmings' famous yellow, green and white colours.

In the 1999-2000 campaign The Last Fling, who fell fatally in last season's Martell Grand National, won three of the four major chases at Haydock - the Edward Hanmer, the Bet Direct Peter Marsh and the De Vere Gold Cup - and was runner-up in the Tommy Whittle.

Tonoco jumped in the bold style reminiscent of his former stable companion and, never putting a foot wrong in the hands of Dominic Elsworth, the 5-2 favourite saw the three miles out well to dispose of Raffles Rooster by five lengths.

Hemmings, who acquired The Last Fling following the death of original owner Michael Jackson, was delighted with the outcome of today's race.

He said: "Some dreams come true."

And Mrs Smith added: "It's lovely - a great thrill.

"We had Goguenard entered, but he would have been on top weight, and this horse. Those are the two horses we've got for these chases and obviously Mr Hemmings would have liked to have a runner."

Tonoco was running over three miles for the first time and the Bingley trainer went on: "We didn't know he would get the trip but he saw it out well and he jumps well.

"He's rightly handicapped but we've had that many problems with his wind so we've had to tube him.

"We tubed him two months ago and this was his third start since."

Tonoco is set to continue being campaigned over three miles at tracks like Haydock, Aintree and Doncaster.

Mrs Smith, Hemmings and Elsworth were back in the winner's circle after Simply Supreme cruised home in the Red Square Vodka Fixed Brush Novices' Hurdle to record his third success on the bounce.

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