TRAINER John Quinn was ill at home with flu but he received a timely tonic when Leslingtaylor landed the feature Betfred Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock yesterday.

The 16-1 shot came late and fast in a dash to the line, after the final flight was omitted, to take the �42,765 first prize.

What the five-year-old lacked in experience over obstacles he more than made up for in guts as he led close home in a bunch finish to see off French Saulaie by a length and a half.

Orpen Wide was a short head away in third with The Duke's Speech another short head back in fourth.

Winning rider Dougie Costello, who needs just one more success to lose his 3lb claim, said: "I knew Charlie Swan's horse (Emmpat) was in front of me and he'd won his last two races but had gone up 21lb since he beat my horse at Fairyhouse when nothing went right for us.

"I felt if I could just track him and stay with him up to the long run-in, I thought he would have a chance and the loose horse helped him too."

The last hurdle was omitted as Wayne Kavanagh was receiving attention after a crashing fall from Kawagino on the first circuit.

Tom Greenway also took a terrible tumble on Sunday City at the fifth flight.

National Hunt rider Noel Fehily took the honours with victory on the Tim Easterby-trained Harvest Warrior in the Betfredcasino Flat v Jump Jockeys Handicap.

Fehily brought the 9-1 shot, whose only other win in 25 previous starts had come on this track, through on the outside to score by a length and three-quarters from Azreme. Pab Special was a further half-length away in third.

In the opening race of the mixed card, Abragante just pipped Chilling Place as jumps fans were treated to a thrilling finish.

There was little to choose between them over the final flight but David Pipe's 7-1 chance, ridden by Timmy Murphy, got his head in front where it mattered to win the Betfredcasino Long Distance Handicap Hurdle by a neck.

The winner's stablemate Tamarinbleu was two-anda-half lengths away in third with Two Miles West fourth and a third Pipe runner, Penny Pictures, a close fifth.

"It was a good performance and the blinkers have helped him again, " Pipe said afterwards. "It probably wasn't the greatest race he won last time but he was put up 15lb and this race was better than that."