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Team to follow: Thomson and Mania continue in hot form with double

Ryan Mania (left) and Sandy Thomson (right): a formidable team
Ryan Mania (left) and Sandy Thomson (right): a formidable teamCredit: John Grossick

Monday: Ayr

Sandy Thomson has made an electric start to 2023 and won with both horses sent to the Ayrshire track when Donna's Double and Storm Nelson won under Ryan Mania.

The trainer has won with three of the four horses he has run since the new year and is hopeful there is more to come from the duo, while Mania has won on his last eight completed rides.

Unstoppable: Ryan Mania gets a clean leap from Storm Nelson at the final hurdle, giving him an eighth winner in five days
Unstoppable: Ryan Mania gets a clean leap from Storm Nelson at the final hurdle, giving him an eighth winner in five daysCredit: John Grossick

"We know the horses are well but to come out and do what they've done, you can't believe it's going to happen," Thomson said.

"I've always loved Donna's Double, who is quite inexperienced. He's won a bumper, a hurdle and over fences now and he did it well. We did his wind and we're just touching the surface with him.

"We've tried to school Storm Nelson over fences but it hasn't gone brilliantly, so we'll probably try a Pertemps qualifier somewhere now, but he stays all day and loves that ground."

Thomson could aim to win a second Veterans' Final at Sandown on Saturday with Dingo Dollar, who also has options at Warwick next week.

He added: "He's going to have 12 stone and we wouldn't want too much rain, so it's a big ask for him, but obviously the horses are in great form."

Top team

Daryl Jacob, Stuart Crawford and owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede also notched a double courtesy of Gold Cup Bailly and L Anamour, who won the 3m handicap chase and 2m maiden hurdle.

Replays, results and analysis


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Maddy PlayleDigital journalist

Published on 2 January 2023inReports

Last updated 17:07, 2 January 2023

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