Silver lining for David Richards from two siblings at Newbury

For most National Hunt owner-breeders, getting a runner to appear on the track is an achievement in itself.

David Richards fairly exceeded that at Newbury on Saturday, not only delivering a winner from the only broodmare remaining at his Welsh farm but being in with a shout of a book-ending double.

A permit holder on-and-off since the 1970s, Richards trained Silver Kate himself around the turn of the decade and the daughter of Insan proved more than useful as a six-times winner over hurdles and fences who achieved a Grade 2 placing.

Her second foal, Fair Kate, was off the mark at the sixth attempt for Tom Lacey in the Betway Mares' Handicap Hurdle but unfortunately her first, Kateson, could only manage fifth as a leading fancy for the concluding handicap chase following some eyecatching bumper and novice hurdle form.

View full result and watch the replay here

Richards was quick to explain that this was not a long lined up coup.

"It's funny, Kateson finished third to Champ on this day last year in the Challow Hurdle, but it's just the way it worked out," he said.

"Silver Kate would probably have been the best I had - she was rated 145," explained Richards, who describes the location of his Monmouthshire farm by racecourses, being "between Chepstow and Hereford".

"I had two broodmares, I had (Silver Kate’s half-sister) Another Kate as well, but sadly we lost her a couple of months ago.

"Silver Kate’s the only one left around the place but we’ve got the two-year-old, yearling and foal from Another Kate. They were both out of a mare called Cracking Kate.

"Silver Kate had Kateson and Fair Kate and she’s got a three, almost four-year-old by Midnight Legend, who’s a super horse called Midnight Henry. He’ll be going into training soon.

"She lost a foal by Blue Bresil later on but she's back in foal to Scorpion and she's doing well."

Richards hung up his licence again about four years ago, but remains an active racegoer and owner.

He said: "My wife says I’m getting too old for the breeding, but I enjoy it. Thankfully I’ve got Tom to do the training for me now."

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