Stan Sheppard bids to cap memorable 48 hours in Challow Hurdle

There will be no time for Stan Sheppard to rest on his laurels as the jockey attempts to complete a remarkable 48 hours in the saddle with victory in the MansionBet Challow Novices' Hurdle (3.05) at Newbury.

The 24-year-old recorded the biggest success of his career when landing the Welsh National aboard Iwilldoit on Monday and will bid for his first top-level success when he teams up with Lossiemouth, on whom he won the Grade 2 Winter Novices' Hurdle last time.

This represents another big step up for the six-year-old, who could hardly have been more impressive when winning by 14 lengths at Sandown, but Sheppard is relishing the challenge and is keen to repay the faith of trainer Tom Lacey, whom he joined as a 3lb claimer.

"It's exciting to be riding a horse who should have a very good chance," said Sheppard, who is on track to beat his career-best return of 29 winners having already recorded 23 this season.

"His Sandown win was my first Grade 2 and it was only my second winner on ITV so it was a pretty big day. Winning the Welsh National was massive for me too and my career is going well at the moment.

"If I could win the Challow it would be Tom's first Grade 1. I joined him as a 3lb claimer. He gave me a few chances in the first year, a few more in the second and now I get more, which I'm grateful for."

Iwilldoit: scored at Chepstow on MondayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Lossiemouth has similarly risen through the ranks. He has won five of his ten starts and taken his form to a new level this season, winning three times and climbing from a mark of 117 to 144.

That means he is the the top-rated horse in a competitive seven-runner field and there is little to split him and Stage Star, who bids to emulate stablemate Bravemansgame, at the head of the market.

Sheppard added: "I think he's just behind Stage Star in the betting so he goes there with a competitive chance and hopefully he can do it again. He seems to have got his act together now. He won two bumpers and then the wheels fell off a bit but he seems well in himself again."

It could be another memorable day for Sheppard, who also has chances aboard Pounding Poet (2.00) and Fern Hill (3.35) in handicaps, which are among five races at Newbury live on ITV4.

The remaining televised British action comes from Doncaster, which stages the Listed Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares' Chase (3.20).

The market is headed by Zambella, who beat last year's winner Annie Mc at Aintree this month for Nigel Twiston-Davies and is available at around 16-1 for the mares' chase at the festival.

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