There is news of a return of a leading trainer from Wales as the jumps season nears. The Racing Post’s James Stevens has more on last week in Welsh racing
Carmarthenshire trainer Alison Thorpe has made a surprise return to the training ranks, saddling runners for the first time since May 2012 in the last few weeks.
Unfortunately the Thorpe-trained Prophet Squeeze and Quickbuck pulled up on their respective stable debuts at Worcester and Plumpton but the yard have an intriguing runner on Monday in Bellbridge who has made the 600-mile round-trip to appear in the bumper at Sedgefield.
Thorpe was considered one of Wales’ leading jumps trainers during her first training stint. She recorded a record tally of 35 winners in the 2009-10 season with the 11-time winner Treaty Flyer among the flagbearers. He was in prolific form that season, and provided the trainer with her biggest win when landing the Listed Prelude Hurdle at Market Rasen.
In 2006, Thorpe enjoyed a fairly incredible summer winning 14 races in July and August at an incredible strike-rate of 62 per cent while she also trained for Welsh rugby hero Andy Powell. He also cited owning horses with Thorpe as a help after his infamous golf buggy incident which led to him being arrested and dropped by the national team.
Bellbridge is a 20-1 shot with Dragonbet to get Thorpe off the mark in the second era. Welsh jockey Lorcan Williams also takes the ride.
Big screen success
There was victory on ITV for leading Welsh Flat jockey David Probert, who partnered 3-1 favourite Mustazeed to win the 1m2f handicap at Newbury.
The Harry Eustace-trained runner was slowly away but proved way too good when striding clear to win by two and three-quarter lengths. It was only his second time riding the horse but he has helped the horse produce two of his best runs so far, as he also was a close second at Ascot in July.
Probert rode two winners last week, having also won aboard 15-8 favourite Bluebells Boy in a sprint handicap at Brighton on Tuesday.
Champion race
Sean Bowen did not get a winner last week but retains top spot in his quest to become champion jockey this season going into the core part of the season.
The leader is already set for a busy week starting at Fontwell on Monday before trips to Perth on Wednesday and Worcester on Friday where he looks to have another of top chances.
His brother James also continued his good run with a winner at Newton Abbot on Friday. He scored aboard Karannelle for Pembrokeshire-based David Rees in the 2m1f handicap hurdle to raise his tally to 26 winners for the season. He occupies fourth spot while Welshman Jack Tudor is sixth in the table.
Familiar name
Oisin Murphy is set to be champion jockey on the Flat this season and his first ride for the John and Rhys Flint was rewarded with a winner.
The multiple Group 1 winner took five rides for John Flint before he added son Rhys to the licence at the Bridgend operation earlier this campaign and it started well for the jockey-trainer combination after 9-4 favourite Judge Frank won well at Windsor.
Murphy’s future rides for the Flint’s could well be worth following. Meanwhile it took the stable’s tally to eight for the season while they should remain busy over jumps in the next few months.
