'I thought I was never good enough' - Danny Burton buzzing to be winning again

Monday: Lingfield

Conditional jockey Danny Burton hailed trainer Sam Drinkwater as the person who "relit his career" after the duo teamed up for a surprise victory with Gentle Fire in the bumper.

The 5lb claimer stepped away from professional riding in 2018 having ridden just six winners in an eight-year spell, but he returned to the weighing room once the sport resumed last summer after the first Covid-19 lockdown.

He failed to ride a winner last season, but the 35-year-old landed the fourth win of this campaign on the 16-1 outsider Gentle Fire, who showed an impressive turn of foot to score by two lengths.

"I'm based with Sam five mornings a week and he's put a lot of trust in me," said Burton. "At my age as a conditional still, he's relit my career from the time I had out.

"I dropped away and tried my hand at a new career as a gardener, but I missed racing so much.

"I got my point-to-point licence in my time away and did that for a season. When sport came back I was determined to come back as a conditional. It was the best decision I ever made."

Gentle Fire (left) scores impressively at LingfieldCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The tough times continued for Burton during his sabbatical having suffered a serious injury, which also caused him to have doubts about his own ability in the saddle.

"I broke three vertebrae in my back and had more time off; it was hard to get back from. With my history of my brother breaking his back too, it played a lot on my mind," he added.

"I've been quite a self-doubter and I thought I was never good enough, but Sam just fills my confidence. I trust every horse I ride for him."

Drinkwater enjoyed a double when Gallic Geordie landed a third course-and-distance victory with an effortless win in the two-mile handicap chase.

Moore treble

Jamie and Gary Moore enjoyed a 384-1 treble, headlined by Hudson De Grugy's game success in the feature two-mile handicap hurdle.

The father-son combination also struck with Essential Jaco in the 2m3½f maiden hurdle, while Waikiki Waves caused an 18-1 shock in the 2m7f handicap hurdle.

Results, replays and analysis

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