sk ▁in ▁September ▁and ▁third ▁at ▁Y arm outh ▁in ▁October . ▁ ▁The ▁col t ▁began ▁his ▁second ▁campaign ▁by ▁coming ▁home ▁tw elf th ▁in ▁a ▁minor ▁hand ic ap ▁race ▁at ▁New market ▁Race course ▁in ▁May ▁and ▁was ▁geld ed ▁shortly ▁afterwards . ▁After ▁recover ing ▁from ▁the ▁operation ▁In ver mark ▁returned ▁in ▁a ▁ma iden ▁over ▁eleven ▁and ▁a ▁half ▁f url ongs ▁at ▁Y arm outh ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁July ▁and ▁started ▁at ▁odd s ▁of ▁ 8 / 1 ▁in ▁an ▁eight - runner ▁field . ▁R idden ▁by ▁Michael ▁Hills ▁he ▁recorded ▁his ▁first ▁success ▁as ▁he ▁took ▁the ▁lead ▁three ▁f url ongs ▁out ▁and ▁pre va iled ▁in ▁a ▁tight ▁finish ▁by ▁a ▁head ▁from ▁the ▁Henry ▁Cec il - tra ined ▁favour ite ▁Aw esome ▁Well s . ▁He ▁then ▁returned ▁to ▁hand ic ap ▁races , ▁finishing ▁fifth ▁at ▁New market ▁in ▁August ▁and ▁second ▁at ▁Hay d ock ▁Park ▁in ▁September . ▁On ▁his ▁final ▁run ▁of ▁the ▁year ▁he ▁came ▁home ▁fourth ▁behind ▁Sab ad illa ▁in ▁the ▁November ▁Hand ic ap ▁at ▁Don c aster . ▁▁ 1 9 9 8 : ▁four - year - old ▁season ▁On ▁his ▁first ▁two ▁appearances ▁of ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁In ver mark ▁came ▁home ▁sixth ▁in ▁hand ic aps ▁at ▁New market ▁and ▁Sand own ▁Park ▁in ▁April . ▁He ▁produced ▁a ▁better ▁effort ▁when ▁finishing ▁runner - up ▁at ▁Don c aster ▁in ▁June ▁and