Brian Lee, Cardiff born and bred, launches his horse racing and point-to-point column

Amateur rider Charlie Price, based at Tim Vaughan’s Aberthin yard in the Vale of Glamorgan, is making a bold bid for the Arabian Horse Racing Jockeys’ Championship title. 

Charlie, a 20-year-old who is also a successful point-to-point rider, has ridden nine winners compared to the eight won by 10-times champion Simon Walker, who last took the title in 2016.

That was also the year Charlie won the novice riders’ championship.

At the recent Chelmsford City Arabian horse race meeting, Charlie, riding Delyth Thomas’ 16-year-old Noble Athlete, won the Totesport Supports UK Arabian final after making all the running under top weight of 10st 7lbs to score by two lengths from Johara.

Princess Anne jokes with Brian Lee at the Golden Valley Point-To-Point in 2009. Also in the picture are Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Phillips and winning rider Tom David.

Charlie has ridden the legendary Noble Athlete to five of his 18 victories and on the day he was also was placed third on stable companions Paramer Angel and Callymay.

Delyth. from Aberkenfig, used to ride successfully at unlicenced (flapping) meetings and bought Noble Athlete at the Ascot Sales for 3,200 guineas when he was a three-year-old.

Noble Athlete used to have bad tendons, but Delyth, who has also trained winners under rules and between-the-flags, gave him plenty of tender love and care which has paid off handsomely over the years.

Athlete proved a popular winner, recording his 18th victory and adding to his 2016 Silver Final win over the same course and distance, for the same jockey. 

http://https://youtu.be/ALw_FLZbZpk

Owner-trainer Delyth described her horse as ‘a legend’. He won on his 94th appearance and hopes that he will continue next season to reach the 100 race mark, a feat previously achieved by Notid at Huntingdon in 2014.

In my book, Racing Rogues – The Scams, Scandals and Gambles of Horse Racing in Wales (St David’s Press) – I tell how Delyth was the centre of attention after a controversial betting coup when her horse Am I Blue ran out an easy winner of a hurdle race at Hereford races in 2010.

She was completely cleared of any wrong doing by the British Horse Racing Authority and told me later that she only had a few pounds for luck on her horse on the tote.

Cowbridge jockey Dean Coleman was originally down to ride the former Tim Vaughan horse Am I Blue, but was replaced by champion jockey Richard Johnson.

Vale of Glamorgan National Hunt trainer Evan Williams sent two horses to Warwick on Tuesday and they were winners. Stable jockey Adam Wedge was in the saddle on both occasions and the double was initiated when five-year-old Railroad Junkie, a 25-1 chance, came home six lengths in front of By Rail in the Smarkets Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Evan Williams. Pic: Getty Images.

Adam had to work harder on So Risk Free in the Smarkets Handicap Chase. Riding the 9-2 chance Jonagold he just managed to get his mount home by a neck from Mariners Moon with Heurtevent a further neck away in third place.

The last full UK Arabian racing fixture of the 2018 season was held, although there are still three single races remaining before all the championship titles can be confirmed.

In what was a busy weekend for Arabian racing in Europe, Rodess Du Loup took the President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby) and Yazeed won the Qatar Cup (Prix Dragon) at Longchamp. Both winning horses and those placed are expected to be heading for the Qatar Arabian World Cup at Longchamp on Sunday, October 7.

View the Qatar Arabian World Cup entries HERE

The ARO season finale returned for a second time to Chelmsford with two extra finals added to the card. As he did at Huntingdon last season, James Owen sent out the winners of four races. This time, however, it will not be enough to secure him a third ARO trainers title, as that honour now passes to fellow Newmarket handler, Phil Collington.

Owen was quick off the mark, winning the opening race with Farhaa. The daughter of Al Saoudi had caught the eye on her debut at the Essex track last month when second and readily went one better, drawing eight lengths clear of the field. 

It was a highly professional performance and as a full sister to Najlaa, a narrow margin second in the 2014 UK Arabian Derby, hopes are sure to be high for next season.

James said: “It’s been a good day. Farhaa is a lovely filly. I was delighted with her first run, she’s progressed well and we’re now excited for next year. 

“She’s a rangy filly, the dam has done so well, producing winners from different stallions and the Al Saoudi’s all have good minds.”

The newly instated Copper Final saw Mulan and Kaitlen Robinson win by half a length from Paulownia. This was the pair’s second win at the track. 

Mulan is owned by Kaitlen’s parents, with her step-father Gavin Kelly training the mare. 

He praised the opportunities provided by Arabian racing to help young jockeys get started, saying: “I would recommend it to anyone wanting to get on. Kaitlen started off in Arabian racing on Sue Connolly’s horses. 

“We’re only a small set up in Cumbria and we train Mulan on the beach.”

Watch MULAN (Sambist x Olivphaya) win the Careers at RaceTech at www.racetech.co.uk Copper Final (0-40) Handicap Stakes over 1m5f at at Chelmsford City on September 16

The Forta Stud Mares and Fillies Stakes produced a one-two for the Owen team and also the sire No Risk Al Maury, with course winner Naishaan collared in the final furlong by her stablemate, Mazyoonah. 

Following her earlier victory on Farhaa, this gave jockey Joanna Mason a double, leaving her three wins clear of Ellie Mackenzie in the lady riders championship.

James said: “Mazyoonah ran well in her two previous starts. She is not the biggest, but looks a stayer is a real trier.”

The Owen team were back in the winners enclosure in the Silver Final, run over the reduced trip of a mile for 2018. This time it as a victory for multiple ARO champion jockey Simon Walker and another HH Sheikh Hamdan homebred in Muhaajer, who travelled strongly throughout and won eased down to win by over three lengths.

“Nice to win with Muhaajer,” said Owen. “He’s been knocking on the door in maidens and probably just got into his grade and won.”

It was a quick turn-around for Owen and Walker as Delishess ran out a ready winner in the Gold Final and was value for more than the length and three quarters that separated her from Thamaraat in second.