The seven-year-old gelding son of Grey Swallow came from last to win the Noelene Martin Memorial Benchmark 55 Handicap (1400m) by a half length from Onslow, with the Sue Grills-trained Fashion Stage a close third.

Dayarma was having his 61st start, and even jockey Serg Lisnyy thought he might have been too far adrift at the 800m.

However the Newcastle jockey stoked up the gelding and stuck to the rail, taking advantage of the cutaway as well to sail home.

“It was sweet,” said Lisnyy, who convinced Hodge to make the long trip up from Newcastle. Hodge added: “Serg rode him work the other morning and told me we should run him up here. He was a good judge.”

Hodge is regular at Tamworth meetings. “It made the drive up worthwhile,” he said.