David Probert is back on Welsh turf with five rides at Thursday’s flat meeting at Chepstow.
The Welsh jockey will arrive in excellent form, having picked up a hat-trick of wins at Chester
last week.
The Bargoed Bullet has been earning rave reviews for his riding skills recently, gaining praise for his mastery of the new whip rules that have proved awkward for some rivals.
His first winner at Chester was on the Andrew Balding-trained two-year-old Loaded Gun. Soft going was no hindrance and then half an hour later Probert rode the Charlie Hills filly Divine Libra to victory.
Dvine Libra has now won over six and seven furlongs, on soft and heavy going. The treble was completed by Holguin, another for the Balding yard. Since winning on his debut last year Holguin had finished second five times in eight races.
As one Probert admirer put it: “In each race Probert used every part of the straight for his finishing efforts and demonstrated his mastery of the new whip rules, using the stick sparingly and urging his mounts on to great effect with hands and heels.”
At Chepstow, Probert’s best bet looks to be on Bama Lama in the 3.35pm handicap over six furlongs.
Bama Lama was a winner last time out, also at Chepstow earlier this month, with Hollie Doyle on board.
Proberets also rides Chorus Line (3.00), Deacs Delight in the 4.05, Queensland Boy in the 4.40pm and finishes with City Escape in the 5.10pm.
Meanwhile, Pyledriver is fully on course for the defence of his crown in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday week following a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Wednesday morning.
Trained by William Muir and Chris Grassick, the six-year-old Welsh-owned horse has won eight of his 19 starts, but has been blighted by injury setbacks which have kept him on the sidelines at key moments of his career.
He conquered German raider Torquator Tasso to land Ascot’s mid-summer showpiece 12 months ago, but was then not seen for 336 days before making a victorious return in the Hardwicke Stakes.
Training well since that Royal Ascot triumph, he came through one of the final pieces of his King George preparations with flying colours at Newbury, with the countdown now on for the July 29 Group One.
“He just did want we wanted and we were delighted with him,” said Muir. “It was not a serious, hard gallop, it was just a day out really. He goes to Newbury, has a warm-up little canter and then covers the distance, that’s all. He did great.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed and we’re in good shape. Fingers crossed we’ll be there at Ascot.
