'He looked as pleased as punch with himself' - A Pint Of Bear thrills Scott Dixon after scoring for the fourth time since cheating death

Pint Of Bear: six-year-old won a 7f handicap on Friday night at 16-1

Pint Of Bear: "He’s been a wonderful horse for us.”

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A Pint Of Bear has proved to be the gift that keeps on giving for trainer Scott Dixon, who almost lost his yard favourite to a potentially fatal injury four years ago.

At the Ebor meeting at York in 2021, the then three-year-old suffered a severed near-hind tendon when he was struck by another horse from behind. However, while the injury looked fatal, Dixon was determined to save him.

“We wanted to get him to a veterinary hospital to see if there was anything they could do," said Dixon about the incident. "They said they could staple it [severed tendons] back together, but it was very much a Hail Mary and the best-case scenario was that he might live out in the field. He owed us nothing but we loved him to death and would spend whatever it took.”

After surgery and nearly two years off the track, A Pint Of Bear returned to racing and picked up his fourth win since the injury when landing the 7f amateur handicap at 12-1 under Simon Walker.

The trainer said: “He’s not the world’s best racehorse, but he wants to be a racehorse. He loves it, and he tries his heart out. If he’s ever in a position where he’s telling us he’s had enough we’ll call it quits, but it was nice to see him win.

“Some horses know they’ve won more than others, and he looked as pleased as punch with himself in the winner’s enclosure.

“My four-year-old daughter was with me a few days ago feeding him carrots, and I was telling her how he’s one of my favourites."

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