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Former Rugby Player Callum Pritchard Chases More Winners At Chepstow

Former Rugby Player Callum Pritchard Chases More Winners At Chepstow

Callum Pritchard. Pic: Alamy

The British trainers’ title race between Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins will be a plot line at Chepstow, where Skelton has runners, but there is also plenty of Welsh interest.

Former Welsh rugby player turned jockey Callum Pritchard will ride at Chepstow Racecourse on Easter Monday – aiming for another winner in what has been a hugely promising breakthrough season.

Pritchard – who played scrum-half for Wattstown – has five rides in a seven-race card Bank Holiday Raceday that also includes a day-long music festival.

The conditional jockey has managed 32 winners so far this season, including the last time on Impecunious at Chepstow on April 5.

Pritchard will again be on board Impecunious in a 2-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.

This time around, Impecunious, trained by Chris Down, is at the top of the weights, along with Ri Na Cuirte, ridden by another in-form Welsh jockey, Ben Jones.

Pritchard, 23, – who played rugby alongside Wales internationals Cameron Winnett and Kieron Assirratti – became a social media hit at Aintree a couple of weeks ago through an incredible act of sportsmanship and bravery.

During the Topham Chase, Pritchard was praised for his quick-thinking which saved what could have been a dangerous fall for fellow Welsh jockey, James Bowen.

As Bowen became unseated on Fantastic Lady whilst jumping the big Grand National fences, Pritchard extended an arm and managed to keep Bowen in the saddle, while also maintaining his own balance.

"I was nearly gone," Bowen admitted afterwards.

"Callum gave me a hand and I managed to drag myself back up. I don't think there were any words exchanged, no roaring and shouting anyway, but I was very grateful to him. I did appreciate it. For a split-second I thought I was gone."

Pritchard has ridden six winners in his last 21 rides and is already almost halfway towards riding out his claim.

Bowen and other Welsh jockeys, Connor Brace, James Bowen and Ben Jones also have rides at the Chepstow meeting, while there are also entries for leading Welsh trainers Sam Thomas, Evan Williams, Tim Vaughan and David Brace.

Legendary trainer Paul Nicholls will be seeking a Bank Holiday boost with a winner in the feature race.

Nicholls – a 14-time winner of the jump racing trainers’ championship – has Beau Balko running in the class 2 handicap chase at 3.30pm.

In addition to seven races at Chepstow’s Easter Monday meeting there’s a Music Festival with Abba, Queen and Coldplay tribute acts as well as a variety of street food and fairground rides.

On Friday evening, April 25th, the Dunraven Bowl is the highlight of their final Chepstow jumps card of the season.