MIDNIGHT BACK WITH A BANG

AFTER a spell in retirement Seeyouatmidnight and Ryan Mania were successfully reunited when capturing yesterday’s Unibet Veterans’ Chase at Sandown.

Weight problems forced Mania to quit the saddle a year after partnering Auroras Encore to victory in the 2013 Grand National.

Seeyouatmidnight was retired after sustaining a leg injury in the 2018 Grand National when he finished 11th behind Tiger Roll.

To add to yesterday’s memorable occasion, Mania just happens to be married to the stepdaughter of Sandy Thomson, the winning trainer, whose wife Quona now owns Seeyouatmidnight.

Thomson, a former top rugby player who represented Scotland B, confounded the vets who said Seeyouatmidnight would never race again.

“We are here today because of him,” said Thomson.

“If it wasn’t for him, where would our training career be?

“It’s such a shame he hasn’t been a sounder horse throughout his career but he has given us so many great days.

“He was officially retired and his owners, the Thompsons, gave him back to us.

“The vets did all the tests and said he wouldn’t stand training.

“But we just started riding him at home and he kept sound.”

This was an outstanding training performance from Thomson, who only has a handful of horses at his yard in the Borders.

Recently Thomson, who revealed he trains his horses on similar lines to when he was preparing himself for rugby matches, brought about the revival of fortunes for star chaser Yorkhill at Newcastle.

Thomson is hoping he can also conjure his magic with

Bellshill, like

Yorkhill was formerly t r a i n e d by

Willie Mullins.

The gelding, who has failed to get his head in front since winning the Irish Gold Cup in 2019, will now be aimed at the Grand National.

JAMIE MOORE celebrated his 800th winner in Britain following the front- running success of Hudson De Grugy in the Unibet Extra Place Races Every Day Juvenile Hurdle at Sandown.

Moore, 35, has enjoyed many highlights during his distinguished riding career to date, most notably steering the popular Sire De Grugy to several big- race victories, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and two Tingle Creeks at Sandown.

Hudson De Grugy, a relative of trainer Gary Moore’s former stable star, has some way to go to scale those heights but nevertheless looks a fine prospect judged on his gritty display in the Esher mud.

Moore said: “The horse was very genuine - he jumped well.”

COMEBACK KINGS: Seeyouatmidnight and Ryan Mania head for victory in the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase