Jason Watson off the mark for the season in Britain after serving ban for testing positive in Bahrain
Jason Watson rode his first winner since his comeback from a ban for returning a positive test when helping Nights Over Egypt get off the mark at the 12th attempt in the second division of the 6f handicap.
Watson spent a month on the sidelines and missed the Lincoln meeting after being found in breach of the Bahrain Turf Club’s rules due to taking what he believed was a sleeping tablet to assist with insomnia during his stint in the Middle East.
The Rebecca Menzies-trained Nights Of Egypt, Watson’s first British winner of the year, is owned by the Horse Watcher syndicate run by Chris Dixon, who is also the jockey’s agent.
Dixon said: “He was out in Bahrain and everyone knows what happened there in the end. For a lot of jockeys this time of year can be frustrating. It’s slow to get going again. He’s got plenty of support but you always want to get that first winner on the board.
“When you’ve been away, they’ve got a bit of ground to make up and get started but Jason will do that. He’s come back very fit, strong and fresh and I think he’ll have a good season.”
Bailey's best
Liam Bailey surpassed his best yearly tally of seven winners when Clansman landed the 1m4f handicap under Billy Garritty to provide the trainer with his eighth success of 2024.
Warrior steps up
Atherstone Warrior was fourth in the Brockelsby and became the first juvenile to win from the opening two-year-old turf race of 2024 when justifying 7-4 favouritism in the 5f maiden.
Read these next:
Warren Greatrex and James Bowen warm up for Bill Baxter's Topham defence with a Hereford double
Subscribe to Racing Post Members' Club Ultimate Monthly and get 50% off your first three months!
Available to new subscribers purchasing Members' Club Ultimate Monthly using code MEMBERS24. First three payments will be charged at £24.98, subscription renews at full monthly price thereafter. To cancel please contact us at least seven days before subscription is due to renew
Published on inReports
Last updated
Copy- Hereford: 'He's going great guns' - another winner for in-form Freddie Gordon as Mister Upton impresses
- Hexham: 'The horses seem to run well here' - Forest Blaze bolsters Mark Walford's impressive track record
- Fontwell: 'It's the game I love and there's nothing like it' - Henrietta Knight enjoys first jumps winner since 2015
- Uttoxeter: emotional victory for connections as Jingko Blue makes perfect start to chasing career with emphatic win
- Punchestown: 'It's a great start' - Dancing City cut to 6-1 for the Brown Advisory after successful chasing debut
- Hereford: 'He's going great guns' - another winner for in-form Freddie Gordon as Mister Upton impresses
- Hexham: 'The horses seem to run well here' - Forest Blaze bolsters Mark Walford's impressive track record
- Fontwell: 'It's the game I love and there's nothing like it' - Henrietta Knight enjoys first jumps winner since 2015
- Uttoxeter: emotional victory for connections as Jingko Blue makes perfect start to chasing career with emphatic win
- Punchestown: 'It's a great start' - Dancing City cut to 6-1 for the Brown Advisory after successful chasing debut