A TRAINER in optimistic mood boded well for the Paxford Optimists when Zeloso lined up at Hereford last Wednesday.

The four-year-old, trained by Milton Harris in the Cotswolds village, won a handicap hurdle over two miles three furlongs by almost two lengths to return to the winners' enclosure more than two years since winning a seven furlong flat race at Wolverhampton.

Zeloso was trained by John Dunlop on that occasion but it was Harris celebrating, if that was possible on Cantor Fitzgerald UK Memorial Day as racing paid its respects to the thousands killed in the terrorist attacks on America twelve months ago.

Zeloso took full advantage of his low mark to see off the well-backed Egypt, six pounds worse off after a win at Fontwell Park.

"His mind isn't always on the job and he has let us down once or twice but we did fancy him to go well, " said a delighted trainer.

One of Zeloso's disappointing runs was at Stratford a couple of moths ago when Tony McCoy was assigned to ride him. And it was champion jockey who again took the starring role at Hereford last week.

The record-breaking jump jockey, who is sponsored by Cantor Sport, completed a four-timer and was also first past the post in the celebrity Flat race.

McCoy later donated his riding fees and prize money to the Cantor Fitgerald UK Charitable Relief Fund set up to support families of the employees of the parent company who lost their lives on the attack on the World Trade Centre.