Grand National hero Sam Waley-Cohen makes unexpected return in Leger Legends

Wednesday: 3.00 Doncaster
Ubettabelieveit Leger Legends Classified Stakes | 1m | 3yo+ | Sky

The Leger Legends is a race best approached tentatively as we are dealing with retired professionals whose level of readiness for the occasion we simply cannot determine.

Focusing on the horses is probably the best course of action, although if one rider has an edge it could be Megan Nicholls. She is freshest out of the saddle after retiring in August.

Nicholls partners Nurseclaire for Alice Haynes, who is 2-8 this month. Nurseclaire has been campaigned on fast ground lately but has been slipping down the ratings and the forecast rain could be in her favour. She recorded a Racing Post Rating of 81 on soft ground at Beverley last season and the highest RPR awarded to the winner of this over the last decade has been 79.

Nurseclaire is among ten of the 16 lining up who are rated either 70 or 69 and this is as trappy as it gets.

The only horse to run to an RPR of 80 this season is the David O’Meara-trained Arranmore, who recorded that figure at Beverley in May and is fitted with first-time blinkers. Arranmore has been slowly creeping back to form this summer and, if the aid has the desired effect, he could be the answer.

Temper Trap arrives in outstanding shape after four victories from his last five starts, while Shine On Brendan is three from four. However, this competitive contest will demand a little extra.

The same is true for the sole course winner in the field, Youarenotforgiven. The four-year-old scored here over a mile on the round course two starts ago, but is rated only 66 and has several pounds to find with most of these.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

'There's a bit of life in the old dog yet!'

Grand National-winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen is making an unexpected swift return to the saddle and faces a rather different test to the Aintree marathon.

Waley-Cohen retired in a blaze of glory when landing jump racing’s most famous race aboard Noble Yeats in April, and just short of five months on, he is switching to the Flat to partner the Richard Hannon-trained Sandy Paradise.

The in-form three-year-old has been in good recent form, finishing second at Salisbury last week, and Waley-Cohen is excited to get back in the saddle.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to it, it will be a bit of fun and a great day out. I wasn’t expecting to race again but Andrew Thornton gave me a call and asked if I’d be interested and I thought why not – I’m still up for it and there’s a bit of life in the old dog yet!

“I asked Richard if he had a horse who might be suitable and he thinks Sandy Paradise might just do the job. Hopefully, he looks after me.”

Seb Sanders: hoping to finish in front of his mate Kieren Fallon on his return to the saddleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bragging rights at Charlie Appleby’s yard are at stake with former champion jockeys Kieren Fallon and Seb Sanders, who ride out at the Newmarket stable, among the 16 ex-riders taking part.

Fallon, who finished fourth in the Leger Legends in 2019, partners the Jim Goldie-trained Shine On Brendan.

Fallon said: “I keep myself pretty fit riding out every morning and doing other things, but race-riding is totally different. I know one thing’s for sure, though, I’ll be a stride fitter than Seb. He only does two lots a day, I do three.

“I probably couldn’t get a better ride than Shine On Brendan. Jim texted me about him last week and must fancy him. It would be nice to win and I’ll get some stick in the yard if I don’t, and especially if Seb beats me. I’ve already booked Thursday morning off!”

Sanders is race-riding for the first time since a stint out in Qatar in 2016 and teams up with Tony Carroll. His mount Night Bear was a winner over 1m2f at Haydock in July and drops back in trip.

He said: “It’ll be fun but I won’t be taking it like fun. As long as I finish in front of Kieren I don’t care!

“Night Bear ran all right last time and the step back to a mile should suit. He has a chance in a race like this.”

Former Leger Legends winners Brian Harding, Sammy Jo Bell and Gary Bardwell, successful aboard Natural Colour last year, return in a race that has raised more than £1 million for the Injured Jockeys Fund's Jack Berry House and the National Horseracing College since its inception in 2010.

An with 34 items, ranging from top sporting memorabilia to a weekend at the Arc, is open for bidding, while donations can be made .

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