BARGAIN buy Platinum clinched his fourth and most lucrative victory of the campaign with a brilliant display in the Betfred Old Borough Cup at Haydock last Saturday.

Snapped up for just £2,000 by trainer Phil Kirby last summer, the six-year-old has proved a revelation, with a couple of staying wins at Musselburgh and a Catterick success to his credit.

Despite his excellent form he was a 10-1 shot for this fiercely competitive contest, but finished strongly under a jubilant Russ Kennemore to take the near £40,000 first prize by a length and a quarter from Clowance Estate.

Kirby said: “I couldn’t find an owner for him, so I gave him to Pippa [his wife] as a Christmas present.

“He was a cheap buy but has always had ability. It has just taken him a while to find his feet.

“If you look back through the quotes, they’ve said he’s been hard to train, but we’ve never had a minute’s problem since he arrived.

“He’s always been for sale, but he’s a bit dearer now!

He’s in the Cesarewitch and he’ll probably take his chance.

“He was bought to go hurdling, so he’ll be doing that at some stage.”

Kennemore said: “It’s great to ride a winner at a big meeting like this. He’s versatile ground-wise, but in better races he might want the ground even slower than this.”

Last Thursday, also at Haydock, proved a red letter day for Philip Dennis as he rode his first career success on the Edwin Tuer trained Ailsa Craig.

The teenager, son of former jump jockey Chris Dennis, looked very polished in the saddle and it will be no surprise to see him get more rides in the coming months.

Thirsk raced last Saturday and Mark Johnston and Adrian Nicholls teamed up for a double on the day with Storm Moon and Fire Fighting both coming home in front.

Michael Dods and his very useful apprentice Connor Beasley landed the fillies’ handicap with Aeronwyn Bryn who has enjoyed a fine season.

Beverley raced on Tuesday evening, and once again Mark Johnston was on the mark, this time with My History who landed the maiden under ate Fanning.

Alan Swinbank also has his horses in good nick and he took the concluding handicap at Beverley with Moral Issue under Robert Winston.

Still unexposed with Swinbank, the five-year-old strikes as the type to win again.

Doncaster racegoers were able to shout home a Yorkshire- trained winner in the first race of the 2013 Ladbrokes St Leger meeting as James Bethell’s Braidley produced a most impressive display.

With a Catterick maiden win sandwiched by two fine placed efforts, the Dylan Thomas colt was a 9/1 shot for the Arena Group Nursery and moved into contention ominously in the hands of Ted Durcan.

Once popped the question, Braidley swiftly left his rivals trailing in his wake and galloped all the way to the line to score by three and a quarter lengths.

Master Carpenter and Jazz were second and third respectively.

Middleham-based Bethell said: “He ran a bit keen over a mile at Newcastle last time when he was second to Mark Johnston’s horse (Stars Over The Sea), which is why we brought him back to seven furlongs.

“Ted said he’ll stay a mile standing on his head and I actually think he’d prefer faster ground than this as he’s a nice-moving horse.

“Hopefully we’ll go onwards and upwards from here. We’ll wait for the big offer to come in!”

Times Up and High Jinx, the first two home in the Doncaster Cup 12 months ago, are among a field of eight declared for the Speedy Services- sponsored stayers’ prize at the Town Moor track this afternoon.

Times Up gave John Dunlop a final big-race success before his retirement last September and the seven-yearold is now trained by his son, Ed and showed signs of a return to form when third in the Lonsdale Cup at York last month.

High Jinx was second in the Group One Prix du Cadran at Longchamp after his Doncaster effort and has had just the one run so far this season.

That came in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown in May when he was fourth to Gloomy Sunday.

Repeater, who was fourth in this race in 2012 when trained by Sir Mark Prescott, will be having his first race for David O’Meara.

Last year’s Ascot Gold Cup hero Colour Vision will try to improve on his seventh place in this race 12 months ago.

Biographer, Chiberta King, Desert Recluse and Mutual Regard complete the line-up.

Tomorrow the Ladbrokes St Leger takes centre stage at Doncaster and Excess Knowledge has a fine chance of keeping of the excellent record of John Gosden in the race.