MARCUS Tregonning landed a handicap double at Newbury on Wednesday, but infuriatingly only saw one of them win.
The Whitsbury trainer had been attending the Darley stallion parade, a sideshow to the opening day of Newmarket's celebrated three day July meeting and thought he had more than enough time to make Newbury's third race.
However, he was badly held up by severe congestion on Chris Rea's road to hell, the M25, and the M4.
"It was an absolute nightmare," he confessed.
The delays also cost Dane O'Neil a winning ride on Shaakis with Louis Steward a last minute substitute on the 5/4 favourite who may next run in a valuable one mile handicap at Glorious Goodwood in three weeks time.
There were fears that Castle Combe might find the 13 furlong handicap stretching his suspect stamina but belied those fears in stretching away in the final furlong to win comfortably .
"That was a really good performance," Tregonning reflected. "He saw the trip out well and has a good turn of foot. Pat Dobbs rode him beautifully. I have always felt he has the best hands in the business."
Tregonning however has no plan in mind for him.
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