What mid-life crisis? Amateur Maxwell revels in beating the professionals

There was no sign of the holiday blues for David Maxwell.

Just 24 hours after jetting back from Colombo, Sri Lanka, there is nowhere the 39-year-old amateur rider would have rather been than standing in the Sandown winner's enclosure.

"I just can't believe that you're allowed to come and ride against professionals in a sport that matters," beamed Maxwell after driving Chef D'Equipe – who he also owns – to a narrow success in the 2m4f handicap chase, in the process registering a first winner at Sandown and beating stars of the weighing room such as Nico de Boinville and Harry Skelton.