Ben Jones, who recently gave up his amateur status to become a conditional jockey, rode the aptly-named Beni Light to win at Uttoxeter on Wednesday, writes Jim Beavis.
The horse was having his first outing for David Rees, after running in point-to-points for Amber Mathias; he’d won a maiden and a restricted in the spring, with Jones aboard.
Thanks to Jones’ ability to claim seven pounds off bottom weight, Beni Light carried 9st 7lbs, whereas the runner-up was carrying 37 pounds more. He was punted from 5/1 to 11/4 and overcame a bad mistake three fences out to win gamely.
If he hasn’t taken too much out of himself he will run again at Worcester on Monday.
Earlier this week, Jones was narrowly beaten on Dai Burchell’s King Alfonso in a Newton Abbot seller, where they had the misfortune to come up against one of Dr Richard Newland’s horses. That stable rarely has runners in sellers, but their record in them in the last five years is an impressive 6-14.
Evan Williams went to Fontwell on Sunday with Skewiff, whose jumping sometimes lived up to her name, but she was given a confident ride by daughter Isabel and took command after the final flight of hurdles. She also could run at Worcester on Monday.
Game Line has been in good form for Christian Williams this summer and notched his third win at Newton Abbot on Monday. Assisted by Jack Tudor being able to claim eight pounds, he stayed on well over the three-and-a-quarter mile chase course. He’s a versatile five-year-old; not so long ago he won over just two-and-a-half.
The Tudor family trained High Hatton to win a total of nine point-to-points, and moved him to Williams to try his luck under National Hunt rules. Heavily backed in his first outing at Stratford, he ran a stinker. Connections will be keen to get their money back if he reappears at Worcester next week.
Peter and James Bowen teamed up to win with Trumps Benefit at Worcester last Tuesday. It must be a candidate for ride of the month, for James did well to stay on board when the horse made a shocking mistake early in the race. He looked held in second when fluffing the last, but snatched an unlikely victory when the leader idled on the run-in.
Rebecca Curtis extended her fine summer jumping strike rate when Sunset Showdown won on the same card. It was his third triumph of the season that began at the end of April.
The trainer’s record over jumps in that period is now seven winners (and four seconds) from just 13 runners. Considering she had only 11 winners last season and nine in the one before that implies the stable has turned a corner.
Though Tim Vaughan hasn’t had a winner since Akkapenko on Thursday of last week his horses are still in good nick. Looking back over three weeks, 16 of his 19 runners have finished in the first four.
There was a Welsh success at Chepstow on Thursday. Chris Mason is having his best-ever season and his three-year-old Atty’s Edge broke his duck in the five-furlong handicap. Her most recent run, over the same course and distance, showed distinct improvement and that trend continued this time. She overcame a slow start to lead in the last few strides.
The last flat racing at Ffos Las this year is on Sunday. Admission booked in advance is £15. It consists of seven races preceded by two pony races for junior riders. Chepstow’s final flat fixture is next Tuesday.
