HORSE RACING: Former champion and Derby winning jockey Willie Carson was among the spectators with plenty to cheer at a bumper eight-race card at Great Yarmouth on Wednesday, writes Terry Redhead.

Willie, now a BBC racing pundit, saw grandson William grab a winning double in the first two races. He won on Mrs Greeley, an 11-8 chance, holding off favourite Vizean, and supplying a success for absent trainer Eve Johnson Houghton in the opener over six furlongs. Carson senior bred the winner and still owns the filly although it is leased to Mrs Romilla Arber, currently in Italy and so absent from a first victory.

Carson junior was on Dashwood for trainer Giles Bravery in the second race and again stayed stands-side to steer home the colt, the 9-4 favourite. Dashwood veered away from the rails in the final 50 yards but still won by half-a-length for its group of owners, who included a delighted Carson senior.

Feature race of the day was the Betterbet in Norwich City Centre Fillies Handicap. The original field of eight was reduced to four by non-runners but was won cosily by Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Roger Varian-trained filly Jiwen, given an excellent ride from the front by Jack Mitchell and returned at 2-1.

The Oddschecker Handicap was split into two divisions and there was an upset in the first when Dannios, who went to post early, came back an easy winner under amateur Michael Murphy for trainer Ed Walker, to beat the Jamie Spencer-ridden favourite Scarborough Lily.

The second division produced a win for Tinkerbell Will, who improved again following a third place at Brighton almost two months ago.

Talented apprentice Adam Beschizza was at his best to win on Zaheeb in the 13-runner seven-furlong handicap while Spencer, placed in three earlier races, finally got on the scoresheet when forcing favourite Imaginary Diva home from the Carson-ridden Wreningham in the five-furlong dash.

The closing event of the day saw the 1-2 odds-on favourite Watered Silk, under Richard Mullen, win from the front.

Yarmouth results. 2.20 — 1 Mrs Greeley (W Carson) 11-8, 2 Vizean 10-11 Fav, 3 Maz 25-1. 6 ran. nk, 3�l. Eve Johnson Houghton.

2.50 — 1 Dashwood (W Carson) 9-4, 2 Satwa Laird 13-8 Fav, 3 Cornish Quest 8-1. 5 ran. �l, �l. G Bravery. Nr: Aleqa.

3.25 — 1 Dannios (M Murphy) 11-1, 2 Scarborough Lily 6-4 Fav, 3 Strike A Deal 5-1. 10 ran. 5l, �l. Ed Walker. Nr: Wings Of Apollo.

3.55 — 1 Tinkerbell Will (R Thomas) 8-1, 2 Viking Rose 4-1, 3 King Columbo 12-1. 11-4 Fav Hierarch. 9 ran.sp1�l, nk, hd. J E Long. Nr: Rileys Crane.

4.30 — 1 Zaheeb (A Beschizza) 15-2, 2 All In A Paddy 25-1, 3 Trust Me Boy 15-2. 7-2 Jt Fav Cannon Bolt. 13 ran.sp�l, 1�l. D Morris. Nr: Acclamatory, Gay Gallivanter, Thunder Gulf.

5.00 — 1 Imaginary Diva (J Spencer) 9-4 Jt Fav, 2 Wreningham 15-2, 3 Colourbearer 9-4 Jt Fav. 9 ran. 1�l, hd, 1�l. G Margarson. Nr: Brian Sprout, Luisa Tetrazzini.

5.30 — 1 Jiwen (J Mitchell) 2-1, 2 Jewelled 10-3, 3 Golden Slipper 7-4 Fav. 4 ran. 3l, 9l, 5l. R Varian. Nr: Bella Noir, Hill Tribe, Lady Chloe, Sleek Gold.

6.05 — 1 Watered Silk (R Mullen) 1-2 Fav, 2 Peira 5-2, 3 Battery Power 6-1. 4 ran. 2�l, 3l, 15l. M Tregoning. Nr: Dubawi Dancer. Placepot: �28.30.