David Probert has wasted no time making his mark on his return to race-riding in Britain – and he even has a Classic prospect on his hands.
The Bargoed-born jockey has yet to taste success in a European classic. He has twice finished second – firstly on Tip Two Win who went off at 50-1 in the 2000 Guineas in 2018 and then on 150-1 shot Hoo Ya Mal in the Epsom Derby four years later.
But he now has a horse near the top of the market who could provide him with his best chance yet.
Probert, who spent the winter in Hong Kong, landed the Group Dubai Duty Free Stakes – better known as the Fred Darling – at Newbury on Saturday on board Sukanya for the in-form Jack Channon. She went off at 16-1, but there seemed to be no fluke about the result as she made good headway from the rear before holding off the top-class Touleen to win by three-quarters of a length.
Sukanya would need to be supplemented if she were to take her chance in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket next month, or she could take up her engagement in the Irish version at the Curragh a few weeks later.
Meanwhile, the Bowen brothers made sure their long trip to Ayr was a memorable one. James will remember the two-day Scottish National fixture as the meeting where he passed three figures for the campaign, while older brother Sean added another contender to his entry list for ride of the season.
James had reached the 99 mark in midweek when he landed a handicap chase at Hereford on popular veteran Numitor.
He didn’t have to wait long before bringing up his century, partnering the Nicky Henderson-trained Alentejo to a comfortable success in a three-mile hurdle at Scotland’s premier track.
Sean will be crowned champion jockey for the second time at Sandown on Saturday.
But he is showing no sign of easing up and delivered arguably his finest ride of the campaign at Ayr on the same afternoon.
He looked to have no chance of success in a two-mile chase when his mount, the Olly Murphy-trained Pleasington, began to struggle along the back straight and he quickly became detached at the back of the field following a series of poor jumps.
Another messy leap at the fourth-last seemed to completely end his chances, but Pleasington began to rally under Bowen’s non-stop urgings to such an extent that he made up a huge amount of ground on his rivals and a fine jump at the last fence – his best of the contest – took him to the front and he ran away to win going away by three lengths.
Callum Pritchard was also on the scoresheet as Dropmeatthestation won a two-mile maiden hurdle with ease.
Richard Patrick (photographed) has brought the curtain down on his riding career. The Pembrokeshire jockey retired from the saddle after partnering Red Rubio to finish third in a two-mile handicap hurdle at Hereford last week.
Red Rubio is trained by Clive Boultbee-Brooks, to whom Patrick will become a full-time assistant.
Patrick enjoyed a fine career in the saddle, partnering almost 200 winners in Britain. He is perhaps best known for his association with the Kerry Lee-trained Nemean Lion, who he rode to victory in seven races with their biggest successes coming in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las and the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
Ffos Las race on Tuesday evening this week (April 21) with the next meeting on Tuesday, May 5.
