Rising star Davies rides first treble but has Ed Sheeran to thank for one winner

Friday: Chepstow

Harry Davies demonstrated why he is in contention to be champion apprentice this season with a maiden treble, but the unlikely figure of Ed Sheeran played a part in his first winner Fossos, who struck in the Class 6 5f handicap.

The success, a first on the Flat for trainer Deborah Faulkner, meant the rising star's claim was reduced to 5lb, but fortune was on his side.

"George Rooke was meant to ride, but Ed Sheeran is playing in Cardiff tonight and people are filtering down on the M4 and George got caught in the traffic," Faulkner's son and assistant Tom said.

"We were claiming with George and I didn't want to go back to a professional and be 3lb worse off. Harry was tight on the weight, but did it, so we've Ed Sheeran to thank I suppose!"

Davies, 17, also won on Son And Sannie and Commonsensical and said: "I was lucky. When I heard George was stuck in traffic I was keen to ride. Hopefully the support keeps coming with the 5lb claim and I feel I've learned plenty during my 7lb.

"I can't thank everyone enough. Things are happening quickly, but I'm loving it and it's exciting."

Harry Davies: rode out his 7lb claim with a treble at ChepstowCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Great win

Greg The Great came late and fast under Georgia Dobie to nab Attache by a nose in the mile handicap and deliver a thrilling yet poignant victory.

The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained runner carries the colours of breeder Zara Campbell-Harris, who died in the spring.

"She'd been an owner with me forever and Greg The Great's dam Fantasy Queen, who was also bred by Zara, won a race here in exactly the same way," said the trainer.

"It means so much. Zara was a huge part of my life. I used to stay with her when I was young and my parents were off in the States buying horses. We had the memorial service on Tuesday, so it's quite fitting – she was looking down on us."

Greg The Great, with little form to his name, returned at 14-1 and Johnson Houghton added: "We just wanted some hope to keep going because he was murdered at Bath last time and I thought Georgia gave him the most beautiful ride."

The late owner's daughter and grandson Clare and Mungo Spencer were on hand at Chepstow to enjoy the victory.

"It's an absolute thrill," Clare Spencer said. "I think Mum had her first two-year-old with Eve's father Fulke in 1975, but her father was a great racing man before that."

Hot stuff: Kieran Shoemark in fine form with eight winners this weekCredit: Edward Whitaker

Shoemark success

Kieran Shoemark rode his eighth winner of a productive week when White Umbrella upset 1-3 hotpot Tarrabb in the 7f novice.

"It's been good hasn't it?" Shoemark said.

"When you're having days like I've had recently, you wake up with a spring in your step and look forward to going racing. When you've had a week or ten days without a winner it's less enjoyable and hard to see the light, but that's racing."

Results, replays and analysis

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