WHEN the floodwaters finally subside, and the ground gets a little harder, make a note of Lawaaheb.

The former Flat horse showed a talent for the National Hunt discipline when bolting home by 13 lengths in the New Bramham Hall for Conferences and Banqueting Chase at Wetherby in October.

When the ground is good, or good to firm, it's likely we can expect more from the six-year-old son of top class Alhaarth.

All good news for Gary Penrose.

Penrose, who runs the Cueball Snooker Club, in York's James Street, owns Lawaaheb as part of the Penrose Jones Partnership.

After being involved in racing syndicates for two decades, Penrose decided ownership was the next step in cementing his life-long love of horse racing.

And Lawaaheb's win at Wetherby, where Penrose is an annual member, was the zenith of a hobby which has had its fair share of highlights.

Penrose famously put £100 down on outsider Saint Alebe to win the 2003 Ebor Handicap at Yorkshire Racecourse after bumping into ex-Ryedale trainer Jeannie Brown trotting the horse before the race.

His Flat racer Up In Flames finished second on Knavesmire in October 2003, pleasing everyone who had put some hard-earned down at 100-1, while the Cheltenham Festival is an annual pilgrimage for Penrose and his pals.

Last month, Penrose celebrated his 40th birthday by sponsoring a race on the second day of Wetherby's Christmas Meeting card and, while the ground was too soft for Lawaaheb to make any impression, the cueman deems the event as yet another winner.

"I have been involved in syndicate ownership for 20 years," Penrose said. "I have always followed racing through my father and grandfather and I first got involved with a syndicate with Middleham's Micky Hammond.

"The horse was called Pepitist. We had some wins and that got things going. We backed Saint Alebe on the tote, for the 2003 Ebor, for nearly 50-1 and I really love the buzz of racing. There are not many racecourses I haven't been to.

"I regard Wetherby as our Cheltenham. In this part of the world, if you want a winner on the Flat you want it at York and if you want a winner over sticks you want it at Wetherby."

Penrose, who cites Jodami's 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup win for North Yorkshire trainer Peter Beaumont as one of his favourite highlights, has his star horse with Norfolk's Matt Gingell.

"We decided to put some money in a kitty and look for a horse to claim," he added. "We had a shortlist and we claimed Lawaaheb for £8,000. We've had him two years now."

The Penrose stable also extends to five-year-old jumper Entrelechambre, whose appearances have been restricted because of injury.

"He's had a year out. He has had three or four runs but we need to bring him back and see what is what," he said.

So what next for Lawaaheb?

"He must go left-handed," Penrose said. "He suits a Flat, galloping track. We upped him in trip for Wetherby. He had been running at two-and-a-half miles, but the jockeys kept telling us he wanted three miles.

"When we put him over that he won by 13 lengths. He needs good ground, but summer jumping events are so few and far between. He has been bred for the Flat, so he needs the top of the ground."

Whatever happens, it is likely to be quite a ride.