'Hopefully, next year can be even better' - Simon Hodgson on record season

Friday: Lingfield

It has not been the year many hoped for as the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc, but on the racecourse trainer Simon Hodgson said he “couldn’t have dreamed” of a better 12 months having blown away all expectations with a personal best winners tally.

Hodgson, who has nearly 40 years of experience in the industry, quit the business in 2017 but returned in 2020 and this campaign has seen him easily surpass his previous best total of six winners, with C’Est No Mour’s victory in the 1m4f handicap under Richard Kingscote bringing up a 16th success.

The in-form trainer has saddled three winners from his last five runners and is aiming for bigger and better things in 2022.

He said: “I couldn’t have dreamed of a year like I’ve had. John Whelan supported me and as the winners came other people started coming aboard.

"What I’d like to get now is a nice apprentice or amateur rider because we’ve got 17 horses with another four or five to come back after Christmas, and we could do with a couple more staff. Hopefully, next year can be even better – long may it continue."

C’Est No Mour – about to turn nine years of age – has been the star of the show for Hodgson’s Hampshire stable and this was his fourth victory of 2021 and a 13th of his career.

"It was a fantastic performance from him, he’s a credit to the yard," Hodgson said. "He’s coming up to nine soon and he looks to be getting better and better. There’s no reason why he can’t be around for another few years because he’s a very sound and happy horse."

Not-so-fantastic Mr Fox

There was drama in the feature mile handicap as the 15-8 favourite Mobashr got up in a close finish to deny Animal Instinct – after 2-1 second favourite Fox Duty Free had refused to race at the start.

The King Power-owned runner, who won this race in 2020, stayed stubbornly still under Rob Hornby as the gates opened, leaving the way clearer for the progressive Mobashr to claim victory, a 50th of the year for trainer Marco Botti.

Mobashr flashes past the post in the mile handicap in front of a packed grandstandCredit: Edward Whitaker

Winning rider Danny Muscutt said: “He travelled super and when I gave him a squeeze a furlong and a half out he put the race to bed but just idled a bit out in front. It’s good to get a nice pot before the year restarts and that was Marco’s 50th winner – he’s left it to a photo-finish but he’s got there."

Hip hip hooray

The final day’s racing of the year also happened to be the final day in the racing career of the Tony Carroll-trained mare Rose Hip, who will be sent to stud after bowing out with an eighth career victory in the 5f handicap.

The winning trainer said: “Lady Whent the owner also bred her and it's a wonderful way for her to go out. She's been a super filly, ever so straightforward and very honest. She's turning seven now and it's just the time, I'd love to have her another year but I've had my own way for a while now.”

Gamble denied

The bookmakers had the last laugh of 2021 when the well-backed Kodi Gold, who had been punted into 11-4 favouritism (from 16) for the closing 6f handicap, finished rapidly under Jim Crowley but not quite quickly enough to catch the Roger Teal-trained Alcazan.

Results, replays and analysis

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