'It's been a real old slog' - victorious Vinnie ends Gail Haywood's 738-day wait

Friday: Newton Abbot

Gail Haywood ended a two-year drought when Vinnie The Hoddie toughed it out to take the 2m½f handicap chase.

The Devonshire-based trainer, who last struck on St Patrick's Day 2020, said: "I was desperate for a winner. I walked the track three times with my stick – we were lucky that it dried for us thank God.

"He's had a bit of an asthma problem, so our vet told us to turn him out in November, so he's been training off the field since, which isn't easy but it's worked wonders for him."

Of the 16-1 winner, Haywood added: "I was sitting there looking at all the form going 'I think we're in with a squeak here!'

"It means the world as we've only got six horses. It's day in day out through the winter and it's been a real old slog, especially when things haven't been going right and the horses haven't been running well.

"I'm just so chuffed for the owners, who have been so marvellous to buy the horse and then trust me with him. A few more days like this would be great!"

Happy Harry

Bryan Carver needs just one more winner to ride out his claim after the conditional steered How's The Cricket to a winning stable debut for Harry Fry, kickstarting an 89-1 treble for the Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer in the process.

Sean Bowen did the honours aboard Whisky Express in the 2m5½f mares' maiden hurdle and then guided Hymac to a winning start under rules in the closing bumper to complete a good day's work for Fry.

Results, replays and analysis

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