Callum Bewley is on course for his best season after a double at Musselburgh yesterday.
Jim Goldie had not run Sir Chauvelin over jumps for 632 days, although he had won on the Flat at Newcastle last month, and Bewley got his timing just right in the totepool Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle.
Bewley knew that he had to bide his time and he did exactly that. He was three lengths off the leader, Silver Concorde, at the last but switched right on the run-in and Sir Chauvelin won by one and a quarter lengths.
Bewley has now ridden 14 winners this season and will hope to beat his best total of 21.
Olly Murphy, who started training last summer having been assistant to Irish trainer Gordon Elliott, won with his first runner at Musselburgh with Knockgraffon in the totequadpot "Auld Reekie" Handicap Chase.
Murphy booked an experienced jockey in Brian Hughes, who has a 28% strike-rate at Musselburgh, and had little trouble adding to that statistic despite Knockgraffon jinking right on the run-in.
Alan King passed the milestone of his 1500th winner when Yanworth won the BetBright Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham and it was also a good day for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
He reached 50 winners for the season with a double led by Wholestone’s victory in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle and there was an explanation for why stable star Bristol de Mai ran below expectations in the King George VI Chase at Kempton last week.
Part-owner Simon Munir said: "Bristol De Mai had a full MOT on Friday at hospital and we got the report from the hospital yesterday and he had ulcers, which we're now treating."
Everyone was left confused, including the judge, after Report To Base finished first past the post in the beginners' chase at Exeter.
He was announced as the winner, but the 4-7 favourite was disqualified because he had incorrectly bypassed the third-last fence.
Adam Wedge, the jockey, offered no excuses – although a number of fences were omitted due to a combination of low sun and waterlogging – and was banned for 21 days.
Those who started the New Year regretting their celebrations of the night before might have sympathy for Tom Bellamy. The jockey failed a breath test at Cheltenham and was stood down by the racecourse stewards.
Bellamy was referred to the British Horseracing Authority which will no doubt be a sobering experience.
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