MALTON-based flat jockey Phil Dennis enjoyed the unlikeliest of results last Monday when he rode a 2,948-1 four timer at Newcastle.

His only defeat came on his very first ride – Optima Petimus – who was only fifth, but Dennis proved unstoppable for the following races on the all-weather surface.

“He’s been the challenge of my life for two years. He’s a bit of a monkey,” said Dennis about his only defeat of the night.

However, his winners included a double for Scottish trainer Jim Goldie when Lord Of The Glen gallantly won the shortest race of the evening over five furlongs.

Then in a similar fashion Star Cracker held on gamely to land the final race on the card for Dennis and Goldie.

His other two victories came aboard the Mark Walford trained Clifftop Heaven and the Chris Fairhurst trained Top Attraction.

He said he had hopes for both who had good course form. “I was just hoping one of the next two would win,” said Dennis who had never previously recorded a treble in his career, let alone a four timer.

His wins during the nine race card is testament to his riding ability.

But it also proves his dedication not only to riding, but to the smaller trainers in the North.

“I don’t think it has really sunk in yet. It’s a hard game,” said Dennis.

“It’s hard enough to get one winner at the best of times, never mind four at a single meeting.”

He hopes that this magnificent four can propel him even further into the spotlight in the prospect of becoming one of the next biggest riders on the northern flat circuit.

“I ride out for a lot of the smaller yards and hopefully this shows to them, and others, that I can do the job when I’m given the chance,” added Dennis.

“You just need a bit of luck.”

The local rider enjoyed one of his biggest successes to date last season when he rode the David Griffiths trained Ornate to victory on Derby Day in the Epsom Dash.

He could be set to partner the seven-year-old gelding once again this weekend as the sprinter goes in search for his first win since last years campaign.

However, he also has a plethora of exciting rides booked for York at the weekend too, proving already he could be in high demand.

“To win four was pretty surreal – the number of people who have messaged me is crazy,” he added.

“All the lads in the weighing room were saying ‘well done’ – it was great to be the one they were congratulating.

“Hopefully a few people saw the wins and they make a little bit of difference.”

And his winning fortunes haven’t stopped there.

Dennis continued his Monday magic as he rode a double on Pontefract’s card earlier this week for West Yorkshire based trainer Richard Whitaker.

“Richard’s horses love Pontefract and I’m not even sure why as it doesn’t mirror his gallops or anything like that,” said Dennis after his wins aboard Penny Pot Lane and Dawn Breaking.

That takes the 24-year-old’s winning tally to 28 so far for the season and he could be on the brink of even more success this week at his local track York.

With the Knavesmire due to host it’s final meeting of the year this weekend, albeit behind closed the doors, the highlight is the Coral Sprint Trophy on Saturday.

A number of Ryedale horses were in flying form last weekend as they contested one of the biggest and most prestigious meetings in Europe, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Firstly it was the hot British favourite and Malton trained Fev Rover who lined up in the Group One Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac for two-year-old fillies over the mile.

The Richard Fahey trained filly met all kinds of trouble in running down the Longchamp straight and could only manage fourth place in the hands of British rider Ben Curtis.

Owned by Nick Bradley Racing, Fev Rover kept on strongly once clear but never threatened the winner.

The five furlong Prix de l’Abbaye sprint was nearly an all Yorkshire finish with Ryedale trained runners filling the second, third, fourth and fifth places.

The heroic Glass Slippers who took the contest last year and was a Group One winner on her latest start at the Curragh, went down fighting in this year’s renewal as she was beaten only a neck into second place for Sutton Bank trainer Kevin Ryan and regular rider Tom Eaves.

She came agonisingly close to becoming the first back-to-back winner of the race since Lochsong in 1994.

As well as trying to land a historical trend she also had to defy a wide draw from stall ten.

“It looked like she might get there,” said her trainer.

“She ran her heart out and we’re proud of her. Taking nothing away from the winner, she will have found it a bit difficult on the ground.

“She’s run brilliantly from where she was drawn. She just doesn’t know how to run a bad race,” added Ryan.

“We’ll take our time to decide her next target but she has an invite to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and also holds an entry in the Champions Sprint.”

Liberty Beach was only a short neck behind in third for Malton trainer John Quinn.

He also saddled the tough and tenacious Keep Busy to fill fifth spot, whilst the Karl Burke trained Lady In France finished ahead of her in fourth.

All the Ryedale fillies went down fighting in the contest, but it wasn’t enough to claw back the eventual winner, Wooded trained in France by Francis-Henri Graffard. He was carrying the Al Shaqab colours to victory and in doing so recorded another top-level success for his sire and the former Richard Fahey trained Wootton Bassett.

The Quinn trained Safe Voyage once again put up a resolute performance in the hands of regular jockey Jason Hart to finish third, beaten by only a neck and a short head in the Group One Prix de la Foret over seven furlongs.

Possibly the heavy ground on the French track was the only reason for his beating.

It was a dust up between the Andre Fabre trained Earthlight and twice winner of the race, One Master, with the evergreen Safe Voyage snapping at their heels.

The seven-year-old mud lover looks on target to contest this month’s Champions Day at Ascot and could stretch his glistening season even further with success for his Malton connections.