RYEDALE’S Richard Fahey followed up his success at the Dante Festival with another winner at York Racecourse’s first Saturday meeting of the year.

Musley Bank trainer Fahey enjoyed three winners on day one of the opening meet of the year on Knavesmire, and he followed up on ‘First Saturday’ by saddling Mr Lupton to victory in the £50,000 MansionBet Sprint Stakes – the race ending in a one-two-three for Ryedale’s racing scene.

Ridden by Tony Hamilton, 11-1 shot Mr Lupton flew home on the stands side to get up on the line to win by a head from Settrington handler John Quinn’s El Astronaute, with Final Venture, trained by Westow’s Paul Midgley in third. The 13-2 favourite, Major Jumbo, finished fourth.

There were two further North Yorkshire successes on Saturday.

I Am A Dreamer, trained by Middleham handler Mark Johnston, won the £15,000 Yorkshire Regiment British EBF Novice Median Auction Stakes, under jockey Harry Bentley.

They were always prominent and led inside the final furlong, just holding on under the challenge of Richard Hannon’s Moyassar, ridden by Danny Tudhope.

Later in the day, Mick Easterby saddled a wide-priced one-two in the concluding John Wright Electrical Handicap for male amateur riders, worth £15,000.

Magic City, under Alex Fielding, made headway two furlongs out, then chased the leaders and ran on into pole position in the closing stages for a victory at 20-1. It was Fielding’s first winner on the Flat in his maiden ride on Knavesmire.

Stablemate Imperial State, ridden by Mr J Teal, was second at 14-1.

The meet’s opening Constant Security Handicap went the way of 5-1 favourite Gilgamesh, ridden by Edward Greatrex and trained by George Scott.

Gilgamesh led going into the final furlong and just held on ahead of David O’Meara’s 12-1 shot, So Beloved.

Greatrex made it a double in the Brittains Beverages Extraordinary Spirits Handicap aboard Manjaam, who stayed on well in the closing stages to beat Richard Hannon’s 5-1 favourite Across The Stars.

Precious Ramotswe, ridden by Robert Havlin, justified 11-4 favouritism in the richest race of the day, the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Bronte Cup Fillies' Stakes, making all the running and holding on gamely under a challenge from Do Re Mi Fa Sol.

Later in the afternoon, Tudhope drove home Desert Diamond for a comfortable success in the Infinity Tyres Irish Champions Weekend Ebf Fillies' Handicap, justifying 6-4 favouritism for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

York Racecourse spokesman James Brennan, said: “It was great to see the sun shining on our first Saturday meeting and good to see North Yorkshire trained winners, with Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston both having winners,”