Great to see the underdog still has a place in racing - so who could be next?
Many would have been frustrated by the result of Sandown's Veterans' Chase Series Final, won by 50-1 shot Wishing And Hoping last Saturday. It capped a week of woe for punters, who also had to tolerate winners at 125-1 and 100-1 at Newcastle, but there were plenty of reasons to welcome the result.
It was a terrific success for trainer Mel Rowley, and on that same televised Sandown card there were also victories for other small yards run by Lydia Richards, Nigel Hawke and Pam Sly.
Six days earlier, Yorkshire-based Patrick Neville won the Grade 2 Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham with The Real Whacker, while over Christmas Somerset trainer Nicky Martin plundered the Welsh National with The Two Amigos. Where have all the big yards gone?
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- Comment: It is all change at the Jockey Club and its next chief executive will have to hit the ground running
- Unsavoury shunning of Callum Shepherd makes no sense whatsoever, he deserved his shot at Derby glory
- The whole shape of the Irish Flat season is being defined by one man only - and even his main targets lie elsewhere
- Analysis: Flutter and 888 have enjoyed contrasting fortunes but they still have things in common
- Only a baby step but an important one if racing is to keep some of its David v Goliath moments