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- Derby Horse Emerges For David Probert With Big Win At Chester
Welshman David Probert may have secured his Derby ride after he starred at this week's big meeting at Chester with a win on Epsom-bound Al Wasl Storm.
The three-year-old only won a maiden on Friday but it was over the Derby distance of a mile and a half and owners Green Team Racing have said Epsom is the target.
Welsh bookmaker Dragonbet make the son of Affinsea a 100-1 shot, but owner Ahmad Al Shaikh had a 150-1 shot in Hoo Ya Mal finish second with Probert aboard just three years ago.
His runner, trained in Lambourn by Owen Burrows, made all and should handle the notoriously tricky Epsom track, too.
His owner Al Shaikh told the Racing Post after the race, "For sure, 100 per cent he goes all the way to the Derby and I have Green Storm with Charlie Johnston for it too.
“This one has surprised us a little in how well he handled the trip and, if he can handle Chester, he can handle Epsom."
Probert also enjoyed a win over the Derby trip at Ascot on Saturday aboard 16-1 shot Night Breeze in a competitive handicap.
Fellow jockey Daniel Muscutt also warmed Gunship up for a potential Royal Ascot tilt as the 13-8 favourite won at Newcastle on Sunday.
It was the second leg of a double for the adopted Welshman after Soho Square was also among the winners.
READ MORE: Bowen Brothers Star At Punchestown And Achievements Have Even Got Politicians Talking
Flying Faulkner
The brilliant season for Monmouthshire trainer Tom Faulkner scaled new heights on Saturday as he trained a first winner at Ascot on one of the track's flagship Saturdays.
Success for 9-1 Northcliff in the 6f handicap keeps up the incredible start to the Flat campaign for the Devauden operation.
It was a ninth winner of the season, three times more than last year's tally, while the strike-rate has taken an extraordinary rise from 6 per cent to 20 per cent.
Perhaps most impressive is the profit you get from following the yard this season, with a £1 stake returning a whopping +£149.38 in profit.
Only Tracy Waggott, whose two winners include a 200-1 shot, has a bigger return.
Faulkner came close to his first runner at Ascot winning as 5-1 shot Golden Flame finished a good third at the track on Friday, but he needed to wait less than 24 hours to see the five-year-old make a winning stable debut.
The other big meeting on Saturday was at Lingfield where another Welsh trainer was on the scoresheet with Gwent-based Grace Harris winning the 5f handicap with So Smart.
He caused an 18-1 shock when making all under Kieran O'Neill to give Harris a fourth win of the campaign.
READ MORE: Sean Bowen . . . The Story Of The Pembrokeshire Boy Who Became A Welsh Racing Giant
New era for the Bowens
It was a historic week in the Bowen family after father Peter retired from training leaving son Mickey on the licence for the new season.
The brother to champion jockey Sean, and leading rider James, has made a flying start, too, with four winners from 12 runners.
The first of those came with Sean aboard at local track Ffos Las on Tuesday while he did not have to wait long for a first career double as Letterston Lady and Iron Heart scored at Market Rasen on Saturday.
Sean Bowen has already made a brilliant start to the season, riding nine winners to put him in with an early lead as he looks to retain the championship.
