'I enjoy it just as much' - Adam Nicol delighted as he saddles first winner

Adam Nicol, who rode star mare Lady Buttons to 12 wins, got his training career has got off to a fine start as he saddled his first winner when Wise Eagle won the seventh race on the jumpers' bumpers card.

The four-year-old defied his odds at Catterick last time when second in a juvenile hurdle at 66-1 and he went one better here, finding enough to see off the fast-finishing Dear Sire by a short head under former weighing room colleague Craig Nichol.

Nicol, who heads the family run operation and swapped the saddle for training after a run of injuries, was keen to thank Rose and Tony Dobbin, whose gallops he uses as well as several beaches close to his base in Seahouses.

Adam Nicol (left) enjoyed his first winner with Wise Eagle

"I'm delighted with that. I couldn't have asked for a better start. I've only got the three horses in at the minute," he said.

"I enjoy it just as much. I obviously don't miss the injuries but I think the feeling is right up there with riding a winner over jumps.

"I got more satisfaction out of it because I've seen how much work goes into it. When I was at Phil's [Kirby, trainer] I was quite hands on but when you've done it yourself and picked out the race, it gives you a good feeling."

Proschema back on track

Jumpers' bumpers can often throw up surprising results but Proschema, who boasted a peak Flat rating of 105 when trained by Tom Dascombe, put his class to good use to narrowly get the verdict in the fifth race.

Proschema finished third in the Northumberland Plate over the same course and distance in 2019. Now with Dan Skelton, he disappointed when pulled up in the Greatwood Hurdle last time but the return to Gosforth Park saw him regain the winning thread under Bridget Andrews.

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