JIM JAMOUNEAU’S Kristinor won the big one in yesterday’s flat race meeting at L’Ancresse – The Collins Stewart (CI) Limited Handicap. The horse earned its owner, who is vice-president of the Guernsey Race Club and a well known figure locally, £3,800 in prize money.

In the wind and rain blowing in off Ladies’ Bay, which made life difficult for the horses and jockeys all afternoon, Kristinor, a 7-2 shot, finished a head and two lengths clear of second-placed Over To You Bert. Third was Cronkyvoddy followed by Savoy Chapel.

‘I thought he was going to get caught,’ said Jamouneau afterwards in the winner’s enclosure.

‘I’m over the moon because he’s the only horse I’ve got. I did send him to Jersey for four weeks because we were having some problems at home with him.

‘He is quite temperamental. He’s quick but he needs looking after.

‘I was going to have a bet on him but when I saw him playing up I did not put a penny on him.’

Kristinor’s temperamental character came to light just before the race as he twice threw off his jockey David Cuthbert before settling down on the start line.

Jersey-based Cuthbert, who is a pilot by trade, was the starter on the first two races before he stepped in to ride Jamouneau’s horse in the big third race.

A couple of French jockeys were held up by the weather and could not make the meeting.

‘It was great and it was a bit exciting going down to the start,’ said Cuthbert.

‘Once the race started, everything went well. The course rode nicely and full marks to the clerk of the course.’

The other Guernsey horse to win at the annual meeting, which returned to L’Ancresse in 2005 after a 13-year absence, was Trevor Gallienne’s Crossways in the second race, The Aurigny.com Handicap.

In a two-horse affair, the 2004 Jersey derby winner was up against Rosa Sainte over one mile and six furlongs in the longest race of the day.

Ridden by jockey James White from Somerset, Crossways made mincemeat of its French opponent.

‘It was easy. The horse just galloped round,’ said White.

‘He didn’t have to try too hard. The course is slippery and fast and now it’s getting a bit of rain it could be dangerous but, if you race sensibly, it’s all right.’

The victory earned Gallienne £2,700 in prize money.

‘It’s a fantastic result and I’m really pleased that he won,’ he said.

‘As he gets older he takes a bit longer to get ready and he is a big horse.

‘Alison Malzard [the trainer] has done a fantastic job in getting him fit.’

The meeting got off a cracking start as Saintly Place took the first race – The Bob Froome Memorial Handicap.

It was a ding-dong battle between the Mattie Bachelor-ridden horse, favourite Highland Flight, and Madrasse, who was leading by a length and half coming into the final turn.

But Saintly Place produced the goods at the end to win by a head and a neck from Highland Flight and Madrasse.

‘He’s done it well,’ said Bachelor.

‘I think Highland Flight found six furlongs too long. I was always confident that we were going to get it.’

It was the first time the Brighton jockey had ridden on the tight L’Ancresse course. ‘I was frightened to be honest,’ he said.

‘It’s an experience. You’ve got to ride it like you’re driving a racing car and race the apex of the bends.’

Flashing Floozie took the Cable & Wireless Handicap before the last race of the day, the R.W. Randall Limited Handicap, which boasted the largest field of the meeting with six runners.

It was Silver Silence, ridden by Tony Proctor, that came up trumps

‘He’s a nice horse and happy days as they say,’ said Proctor.

‘He was travelling all the way round. He picked up when I asked him to. There didn’t have to be too much assistance from the saddle.’