Dylan Whelan rides first British winner as seven of eight favourites oblige

Sunday: Market Rasen

Trainer Ben Pauling hailed Market Rasen's initiative for inexperienced jockeys as Dylan Whelan made a winning introduction to British racing aboard Pencreek, who was one of seven winning favourites on the eight-race card.

Whelan, 22, joined Pauling's yard only a month ago and made the most of his first ride in Britain, guiding the odds-on favourite to a comfortable victory in the 2m3f handicap chase.

Only jockeys that rode 20 or fewer winners in the previous season were eligible to take part at the meeting.

“It’s a great initiative and it’s the only one that I know of at a British course – I wish there were more of them as we need to give our young jockeys more opportunities,” said Pauling.

“I’m delighted for Dylan – he joined us only a month ago – as this horse is not the easiest of rides. Dylan knows there is plenty of hard work ahead if he's to get more rides as we have plenty of jockeys here.”

Bookmakers were breathing a sigh of relief when 10-1 chance Lady Stanwix won the final race, with favourite Tomona back in second.

In an innovation aimed at those living with sight and hearing loss, for the third and fifth races a sign language interpreter was featured on the big screen and on Racing TV as part of the commentary.

Seb Vance of Racecourse Media Group, said: “The ‘sensory’ raceday experience has been a great initiative from Deafblind UK and Market Rasen.

“We were delighted to be a part of it and we think it was a first for horseracing in terms of those watching at home. Many congratulations to interpreter Tuula Scott-Smith, who kept up with Malcolm Tomlinson’s commentaries – it can’t have been easy.”

Scott-Smith told RTV: “It was exciting and I hope that came across in my interpreting. The commentator was good to interpret for and he did slow it down for me.”

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