Wales’ leading Flat jockey David Probert is gearing up for the core season in the coming weeks and he has hit form right on time with an impressive start to April.
The Bargoed-born rider kicked off the month with an Easter Monday double at Wolverhampton. He scored aboard Port Noir for Penhow trainer Robert Stephens before Powdering proved too good in the other division of the 7f handicap.
Probert’s talents have not gone unnoticed and he picked up a ride in the Godolphin blue on Wednesday, defeating the owner’s two better-fancied rivals to win the fillies’ maiden at Kempton on Sahara Snow. She is a half-sister to the outstanding Wuheida and that could be the start of a big future.
It was back to Wolverhampton on Thursday and another double, this time with Casa Luna and Aces Wild before he somehow lunged ahead to win on Diamond Dreamer at Lingfield on Friday. A winner at Kempton on Saturday and Bath on Sunday completed an excellent week.
With 32 winners chalked up already, Probert is well on track to toppling his record tally of 169 but he revealed he had bigger ambitions for the season for a first Group 1 victory.
Quoted in the Racing Post, he said: “It’d be the dream. We take it one week at a time and hopefully I can try and find one. It is always the elusive first Group 1, fingers crossed it comes this year.
“Everyone has to be consistent in this game. It’s about getting on a roll and I’ve done that this season so hopefully there’s many more to come.”
The man who has already won over 1,000 races came closest to the breakthrough aboard 50-1 shot Tip Two Win in the 2,000 Guineas in 2018 and with the Classics coming soon, perhaps he can go one better.
Will 2024 finally be the year for David Probert? DragonBet are going 25-1 for him to ride a first Group 1 winner this season.
It is Grand National week and there will be two chances of a Welsh-trained winner of the world’s most famous steeplechase.
Dragonbet make Kitty’s Light – trained by Christian Williams on the Glamorgan coast – a 14-1 chance. Last season’s Scottish Grand National hero is expected to make the final field of 34 this week.
Mac Tottie has definitely got a place in the race and can be backed at 66-1 with Dragonbet. He runs for Pembrokeshire-based Peter Bowen who has a tremendous record with his horses around the Grand National course. Mac Tottie is among those previous course winners having won the Topham in 2022.
Those looking to watch the action unfold at Aintree could look to cheer on Kitty’s Light and Mac Tottie at Chepstow, for its Saturday National-themed raceday.
Sean Bowen is continuing to battle for the jump jockeys’ championship but time is running out in his quest to catch Harry Cobden.
It has been another good week for the talented Welshman but he trails leading Harry Cobden by 14 winners with just under three weeks of the season left.
It was a difficult week to close the gap with heavy rain forcing a number of abandonments across the country yet Bowen was still able to build on his tally, enjoying winners at Market Rasen, Huntingdon and Southwell.
We’ve got him a 20-1 chance to be crowned champion jockey for the 2023-24 season but he will need a huge week to make it possible.
