No win on comeback ride but Tony Williams blown away by support

It may not have been a winning return to race riding after a 36-year break but Goffs UK managing director Tony 'Tubba' Williams was more than happy after completing the course safely at the Friars Haugh point-to-point in Kelso on Sunday.

Williams lost weight and went to the Doncaster Racing School to pass the physical and riding assessment in order to gain a category A licence for an unlikely return to the saddle at the age of 58.

He ultimately finished down the field between the flags on his mount Fly Du Charmil, formerly a dual winner under rules for Warren Greatrex, but he said after the race: “We jumped around safely and it was a great thrill – the horse made it easy. He's so brave, he gave his all to get me home.”

Williams intends to persevere with riding competitively, although it may have to be on a different horse.

“We'll have to see how Fly Du Charmil pulls up out of the race, he might have a little niggle but hopefully he'll be fine,” he said. “I'd still dearly love to ride in a hunter chase so might need another horse to push on to that goal.”

Colleagues at Goffs UK and the company's clients can rest assured that they are not losing Williams' expertise to the weighing room.

“It's not a career move,” he laughed. “It's really to experience National Hunt racing in the UK, and it's been a great experience.”

On a serious note, he added: “I've had a lot of support from everyone in the office and in the wider industry. It's been truly humbling, and I'm not being tongue-in-cheek at all; that's fact.”

Williams first rode in his native Australia in the late 1970s, winning four of his 19 starts as an apprentice, and later landed five races on the Australian point-to-point circuit in 1982 and '83.

"I was too heavy afterwards even to ride out in Australia," Williams told the Racing Post earlier this week. "But over here you can hop on a National Hunt horse and go for a ride.

"I really quite enjoy National Hunt racing and just decided to have a go."

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