'I'd been put back in my place' - Joe Leavy gets much-needed winner in apprentice title race

Joe Leavy picked up a much-needed winner in his quest to become Britain's champion Flat apprentice jockey when Bownder landed the mile nursery.

Leavy enjoyed a fine August, when he had a 23 per cent strike-rate, and started this month strongly. However, he was landing his first success in two weeks on the Jonathan Portman-trained juvenile, who scored by a length and a half despite drifting to the stands' rail.

It reduced Leavy's gap to apprentice title leader Sean Dylan Bowen, who was out of luck at Epsom, to six wins.

Leavy told Sky Sports Racing: "There's just under three weeks left and from August to a few weeks ago I was living the dream, but I'd been put back in my place for the last two weeks. I'm delighted to get the ball rolling again as it was needed.

"I want to keep enjoying things and if someone told me I'd have the season I've had so far I'd have laughed at them. I'm very happy where I've got to this year and I've got to keep on learning."

Long wait over

Mashadi, a 265,000gns buy, finally got off the mark at the 12th attempt in the 6f maiden.

Winning rider Billy Loughnane quickly doubled up on another odds-on shot by taking the mile handicap with Unassuming.

Off the cold list

Scott Dixon took his name off the trainers' cold list when Embarked held on narrowly in a thrilling finish to the 7f handicap.

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