Trainer Tim Vaughan loses three stone to ride in 350th Newmarket Town Plate

Jumps trainer Tim Vaughan has shed the best part of three stone and turned the clock back 12 years in a bid to impress his horse-mad children before it's too late.

The former international showjumper and dual Wales point-to-point champion has a landmark birthday looming and is taking to the saddle competitively once again in Saturday's 350th running of the Newmarket Town Plate, the 3m¾f event that Charles II decreed must be run 'forever' after he won the first running in 1666.

Vaughan, who will partner 14-time winning ten-year-old Dovils Date said: "It’s my 40th birthday on Sunday and when Anna Metekohy, who used to work for me, mentioned the Town Plate to me after Christmas I thought that it would be the ideal excuse to get back in shape, lose some weight, and show my kids, the two eldest of whom are both riding mad, what I could do before I was too old! It was just meant to be.

"My weight had crept up to 14st 7lb, and it was just the focus I needed, especially with it coinciding with my 40th. I've been eating healthier and riding out, and an owner of mine called Dai Watkins is a personal trainer, and he put me through hell in order to pass the fitness test. I'm 11st 10lb now."

Vaughan, whose biggest win came when Beshabar won the Coral Scottish Grand National in 2011, added: "Ed, my eldest, is 11 years old and has won 70 pony races, and this month he became the youngest child either to take part in or win the famous Dingle Derby in the west of Ireland. Grace is a year younger and this year has qualified four different ponies for the Horse of the Year Show.

"It's such a historic race that it's a privilege to be involved."

A field of 12 runners, partnered by jockeys of varying age and experience, will contest the historic event, which will take place following the completion of a seven-race card of regular races.

The Town Plate is sponsored by two long-standing Newmarket businesses and in addition to a perpetual plate and an engraved silver photo frame the prizes for the winning rider include a voucher from the Newmarket clothes shop Golding and a box of Powters Celebrated Newmarket Sausages.

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