Thunder Rock wins Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle

It was Irish raider Mahler Mission that took the four runners along for most of the two and a half miles contest with seven-year-old Thunder Rock, who was ridden by Sean Bowen for the first time, settled in third.

Thunder Rock, the 11/8 favourite, made a slight mistake three fences from home but that did not stop his smooth progress.

After taking the lead at the last, he stayed on well to come home three and a half lengths to the good over Mahler Mission, with Bill Baxter a further ten lengths away in third.

Winning trainer Olly Murphy said: "He's a horse with a big engine. I came here thinking that if he didn't win he would probably go back over hurdles.

“He is not the most robust horse in the world but he's got a big heart and he wants it – and when a horse wants it you're three-quarters of the way there.

“It's very early to be talking about the Ryanair (Chase, at The Cheltenham Festival) but this is the first step up the ladder and he'll keep chasing for the time being. He's a gritty horse and I'd love to have another 10 like him because he has a fantastic attitude."

Sean Bowen, the winning rider, added: “I missed three out but on the whole his jumping was very good and the minute I gave him a squeeze from the back of three out, I was back on it. I never really had a moment's worry.

“He jumped really well and straight off. He winged the first and we were straight into a rhythm. I wouldn't see any issue with fences and that is definitely his trip for now.”

Thunder Rock's jockey Sean Bowen, third let, receives the trophy at Carlisle (Image: Grossick Racing Photography/Jockey Club)

Thunder Rock won in the familiar colours of Max McNeill, who owns the son of Shirocco in partnership with Ian Dale.

McNeill said: “It was a bit of a Cup Final for him today in terms of where do we go.

“You’re standing at the station; could we go left or right. Could we stick over hurdles if he didn’t run well today or were we going to keep over fences.

“He missed the third last a bit, but I think on that performance he’s going to have to stay over fences. He’s an exciting prospect, he really is.”

Houston Texas, meanwhile, continued his love affair with Carlisle as he recorded his fourth success in as many starts at the Durdar venue when successful for the second year running in the £40,000 Cumberland Handicap Chase.

Always travelling well just in behind the leaders, the nine-year-old Dylan Thomas gelding – the 9/2 joint favourite – took the lead at the last and ran on well to come home three and a quarter lengths to the good over Wasdell Dundalk.

Successful trainer Nicky Richards said: “He loves it round here, it's ideal for him. Our place is all about hills and he loves them.

"He's a grand, big, old-fashioned staying chaser. I don't know if we have any fancy plans but that's a lovely prize to win.

"He had a racecourse gallop about three weeks ago and he went lovely. We thought we had him about right.

“He got into a good rhythm there, he got jumping grand and Sean gave him a lovely ride. We thought that he was fit enough for the day and clearly he was, so it was lovely.

“This horse has started the season well – onwards and upwards. We’ve not really got any plans. We’ll just work away race to race and not doubt he’ll be running in one or two nice races.”

Houston Texas won the Cumberland Handicap Chase (Image: Grossick Racing Photography / Jockey Club)

Winning rider Sean Quinlan said: “This fella is a great horse and is four from four here now.

“I said to Nicky he is probably 10lbs better here than at any other course in the country. He just comes alive when he comes here and for Nicky to have him ready first time out is a great training performance.

“The track suits him as you can ride a patient race and he is a horse who doesn’t want to get there too soon. It has got to be heavy ground for him too.

“I don’t think he really stayed in the Eider last year so I would think we’ll look at three-mile chases on soft/heavy ground and plan our way around them.”

The other £40,000 handicap on Sunday’s card was the Castletown Handicap Hurdle which went the way of Fingal's Hill (9/1).

Successful on three of his four starts last year, there was a lot to like about the seven-year old’s victory as he won going away under Craig Nichol by half a length from 5/2 favourite Shallow River.

Winning owner-trainer Peter Atkinson said: “He’s a tryer. We only have two horses and we do them all ourselves.

“He just keeps trying. We’ll just enjoy it while it lasts and take it one race at a time. As long as he’s sound tomorrow, that’s the main thing.”