Scudamore pays tribute to grandfather after Sizing Tennessee victory

The huge sacrifices jockeys make to fulfil a career that any ordinary person would dismiss as ludicrous thanks to the early starts, thousands of miles a year on the road and the little matter of risking life and limb everyday, was laid bare after Newbury’s signature jumps race of the year as Tom Scudamore dedicated the victory to grandfather John Kington, whose funeral he had missed just 24 hours before.

“I lost my grandad two weeks ago, it was his funeral yesterday and I wasn't able to go,” Scudamore, fighting back the tears, revealed as he pulled Ladbrokes Trophy winner Sizing Tennessee to a halt. “Those are the sacrifices you make and I'm so sorry I wasn't able to be there but he was with us today.”

Scudamore, winning the race formerly known as the Hennessy for a second time having captured the jewel in Newbury’s jumps crown with Madison Du Berlais a decade earlier, had instead ridden Kateson on Friday, trained by Tom Lacey, to a tearjerking victory.

Sizing Tennessee: gives Tom Scudamore another success in the Ladbrokes TrophyCredit: Mark Cranham

The rider continued: “My mother's father was a tremendous man and that one's for him. He would have wanted me to go and ride a nice horse here yesterday. He'd done a lot of saddlery for Tom Lacey and it's what he would have wanted. I wish he was still here to see it but that's life."

Scudamore is generally revered as one of the warmest and most-popular riders in the weighing room and little wonder as in the very next race after Sizing Tennessee's win, having been brought down at the water jump, he raced over to fellow jockey Daryl Jacob on the floor and ushered help to his stricken colleague, who eventually walked away gingerly.

From one of the sport’s great dynasties, Scudamore was matching his father Peter in victory, who also won the same race twice with Strands Of Gold (1988) and Chatam (1991) and the win meant plenty on a professional level too.

He said: “In my mind the Classics are the Mackeson, the Hennessy, King George, Gold Cup, Grand National and Whitbread – and that’s what we still call them. It’s great Ladbrokes have come on board and kept the great tradition of the race up and it’s always an honour to win a race like this.”

Reliving the ride, he added: “Suddenly down the back I was thinking where's everyone gone? He’s done it in the fashion of a real good horse – it was some thrill.”

Watch Sizing Tennessee win the Ladbrokes Trophy

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