Ben Jones (photographed) is likely to spend most of the next month hoping his dream Christmas present arrives a day late.
The Welsh jockey will ride The Jukebox Man – one of the market leaders for the prestigious King George VI Chase at Kempton Park – on Boxing Day. And the pair warmed up for the festive highlight with a fine comeback win at the weekend.
The Jukebox Man had been off the track since picking up Grade 1 honours in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton last Christmas. But he and Jones were reunited at Haydock on Saturday, picking up where they left off by taking a graduation chase style in fine style.
The horse – who is trained by Ben Pauling and owned by Premier League legend Harry Redknapp – led all the way in the 2m5f contest and only had to be pushed out to land an authoritative win over the classy Iroko.
But Jones and fellow Welsh rider Sean Bowen were out of luck in the big race on the card, the Betfair Chase, as Grey Dawning eased to victory. Jones was fourth on board Handstands, while Bowen’s partner, the Rebecca Curtis-trained Irish Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs, made a series of mistakes at the back of the field and was eventually pulled up.
Bowen will be hoping for better big-race luck this weekend when he partners ante-post favourite Resplendent Grey in the valuable Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.
Sam Thomas also has a contender for top honours on his hands in Celtic Dino. The winner of the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his previous start, Celtic Dino stepped up again on that effort when finishing second in the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle on Saturday.
He was giving seven pounds to the winner Wodhooh, who was winning her eighth race out of nine, and who ran current Champion Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth close at Aintree back in April.
It was the second weekend in a row that a Thomas horse carrying the colours of owner Dai Walters had finished second in a big race, with Vincenzo occupying the runners-up spot in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
Before Haydock, most of last week went according to the script for jockeys’ title leader Bowen. He was on the mark at Lingfield on odds-on chance Scorpio Rising, before returning to West Wales, where he landed a treble at Ffos Las. That was triggered by victory on There Runs Mary, sent off at 1-33, which made her the shortest-priced favourite in the track’s 16-year history.
He followed that up with wins on Sparkling Duke and Esperti, the latter for Pembrokeshire trainer Dai Rees, who was saddling his second winner of the campaign.
Our next meeting at Ffos Las is on Tuesday, December 2, when we stage our Christmas Jumpers Raceday. There are two great value offers for tickets and hospitality. You can purchase an advance ticket for £15, and it includes a free drink, and in the restaurant it is just £59 for admission, a two-course meal and a race day programme.
