'I'm driven to succeed' - Dascombe rejuvenated following breakthrough winner

Tom Dascombe sifted through more than 250 supportive WhatsApp messages following a first winner since his split with Michael Owen's Manor House Stables on Thursday and while touched by the support, he is eager to re-establish himself as one of Britain's top trainers.

Felix Natalis provided the trainer with his first success since moving from Cheshire to Lambourn in April, when he began leasing Uplands Stables, which were made famous by legendary trainer Fred Winter.

It took 48 runners for Dascombe to get off the mark and the trainer was left stunned by the response to his success, with an outpouring of support coming from as far as the US, South Africa and Australia.

His departure from Manor House Stables came as a "complete shock" to Dascombe, who trained Group 1 and Royal Ascot winners, and he is determined to once again compete in Britain's biggest contests.

"This year is a write-off but it's just the start of the next process to get back," he said. "We're back to basics. It's always about the next winner. Then the goal is to go to the Arqana sales and buy a yearling, then Goffs and then Doncaster and build for next season.

"I'm driven to succeed, 100 per cent. It's not if it will happen, it's when. There's no doubt about that and it's the same with the team that have come with me. We'll make this work."

The trainer spent much of Thursday night and Friday morning replying to messages and he admits he was surprised by the level of support, which was more than he experienced following some of his career highlights, which include a double at Royal Ascot in 2011.

Dascombe said: "It's just astonishing and if there's a message to get out it's incredible how many people want to see me do well – I just wish they could all afford to buy a horse. It's just been fabulous.

"I'm more than touched. It feels like I'm in a boxing ring where the whole crowd is supporting you, or how it must feel for Andy Murray at Wimbledon when everybody's cheering for him. The volume of support has been mind-blowing.

"I didn't know what to expect. My view in life is keep your head down and keep working, that's all I know. People are rooting for me and I just want to say thank you very much."

The victory was the 849th for Dascombe in Britain. He trained in Lambourn before moving to Cheshire in 2009. Hugo Palmer has since replaced him at Manor Farm.

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