Barnes ends best season with double

Maurice Barnes rounded off his best season in style when he won with his last two runner, John Naman and Beaucadeau, at Cartmel yesterday.

The Penrith trainer has eclipsed his previous best score of seven with 19 winners, while Tony Dobbin, who rode both horses, was taking his total to 45.

Barnes started the season with his 16-box yard full of plans to build two more during the summer after taking a short busman's holiday in Ireland.

Dobbin, who has yet to finalise his arrangements for next season, got John Naman home by a length and a half in the Michael C L Hodgson Selling Handicap Hurdle.

Beaucadeau, who was beaten a neck by Clever Folly in a great race here last Wednesday, had a much easier time in the Victoria Trading Fruit Importers Ltd Novices' Chase.

The 4-5 shot had just headed the front-running No Word going to the second last when his rival fell, leaving Beacadeau to come in his own time 12 lengths ahead of Master's Crown.

The winner was gaining his third success since being put back over fences. He started the season by rattling off a four-timer over hurdles as his handicap rating soared 32lb to 134.

That handicap mark will rule out Beaucadeau from adding to his three hurdle wins next season - the ceiling for handicap hurdles at Cartmel is 125 - so he is likely to be kept to fences.