Dash to Doncaster pays off for Crowley

JIM Crowley’s dash to Doncaster after a successful whirlwind trip to Abu Dhabi paid off when he took the riding honours with a 181-1 treble on the last day of the turf season.

The 2016 champion jockey only landed at Heathrow airport at 7am from the Middle East, where he won the world’s most lucrative race for pure Arabian horses on Muraaqib for his boss Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum following a stewards’ inquiry.

Crowley enjoyed a terrific trio on Tallow (100-30), Dream Of Dreams (5-1) and Saunter (6-1).

The latter was the highlight as it came in the Betfred November Handicap and was the second leg of an across-the-card double for trainer Ian Williams. He had been successful 15 minutes earlier with London Prize in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. “It’s been great,” said Crowley. “Michael Watts (Saunter’s owner) was a supporter of mine when I was jumping. They went quick and I wasn’t worried about being caught three wide with the ground chopped up on the inside.

“He loved the ground and he’s a nice horse. Ian’s done a great job with him.”

Williams said: “I think he’s beaten quite a quality field. I thought he had a lot to do two furlongs out, but Jim has given him a great ride.”

Dream Of Dreams, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, quickened up in good style to lift the Betfred Mobile Wentworth Stakes by a length from Perfect Pasture.

“He’s had niggly problems but has got over them now,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.

“He’s going to have to step up into Group company, but he needs soft ground.”

Crowley’s spree began on Tallow for trainer William Haggas as she claimed division two of the Betfred Mobile Cock O’The North EBF Maiden Stakes.

Division One went to David Simcock’s newcomer Raid (9-2), who landed a cosy success under Oisin Murphy. “He was bought here at the breeze-ups and was ready to go in April, but it didn’t work out like that. He had sore shins and one thing and another. It was just nice to get a run into him,” said Simcock.