RASHER BRINGS HOME BACON Trophy triumph delights Andrew
A BLIND man and a rising star stole the show at Newbury where De Rasher Counter brought home the bacon in the Ladbrokes Trophy.
The iconic name of race – formerly the Hennessy – may have changed but yesterday’s contest lived up to past glories.
Run at a pace that took no prisoners, De Rasher Counter and Ben Jones set sail for home with four fences to jump and they proved too strong for The Conditional.
Elegant Escape finished late to snatch third place.
His stable companion, West Approach, sent off the 13-2 favourite but lost his rider Robbie Power after jumping the seventh fence.
Jones, 20, very much a future champion, belied his tender years both in and out of the saddle.
“Jumping the second-last fence, I thought I had it,” he said.
“But to be honest, I thought we had another second-circuit to go! It’s massive to ride a winner like that. This is a day to remember.
“If somebody had said what I have done now I would not have believed them.”
Victory made it a momentous 24 hours for Andrew Gemmell, part of the winning owner syndicate, as he had celebrated with Paisley Park at Newbury on Friday.
Gemmell (right) might have been born blind but it did not prevent him from enjoying the moment.
“It doesn’t get much better than this, does it,” he said.
“I backed the horse in July at 50-1. I’ll celebrate with half a shandy!”
Successful trainer Emma Lavelle, also responsible for Paisley Park, said: “There were a few sore heads after yesterday. I can’t imagine what it will be like after today.
Someone said to me if Carlsberg did weekends then this is what it would be like. “Best-laid plans and all that and it so rarely comes off. What a ride Ben has given him - it was magical to watch.
“I’m so proud of everybody, I really am, that we have been able to get these horses right for the big day this weekend.
“It’s close to home and is so special for everybody.
Jones for many rode the perfect race, but his father Dai, a former amateur rider known as the ‘Welshman with the tash,’ had some words to say.
“My father was the first one to come down and say well done and also what I had done wrong,” said Jones.
“He picks up on anything, like, I was not smiling coming over the final fence, but I certainly was.
“This horse is so game. He loved it.”