'My lucky track' - Daryl Jacob rides first winner since injury at familiar venue

Monday: Wincanton

Wincanton is a special place for Daryl Jacob and he enjoyed another moment to remember at the track with success on Torpillo his first since recovering from a fractured hip.

He sustained the injury when kicked by a horse shortly after falling at Ascot in December and only returned to race-riding this month.

Jacob could not deliver a fairytale comeback win in his two rides at the Cheltenham Festival, instead it would come at the place he has ridden more victories than anywhere else.

Five of those came in one day in January 2021, six recorded in the Elite Hurdle and two in the Badger Beer, but the 84th was special too with Torpillo making all to land the 1m7½f handicap chase.

"It's been a while I suppose," he said after breaking a 96-day drought from ten rides. "It's nice to get the first one back and over the line. It's not been ideal, I've been knocking on the door so it's nice to get that winner.

"This is a wonderful track, it was was my local one when I lived down here for eight or nine years. It's been a lucky course for me and it's come good for me again."

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies completed a double with Lord Of Cheshire staying on best to land the 1m7f handicap hurdle under Finn Lambert.

Record season

A fortuitous victory for Forget You Not ensured this season would be the best yet for Jackie du Plessis.

The seven-year-old picked up the pieces in the 1m7½f novice handicap chase as Eros and Folly Gate came down late on to record the Cornwall trainer's sixth winner of the campaign. Last season she was without a success from 51 runners.

Forget You Not was scoring for a second time since joining the stable and rewarding the patience of owner Richard Dodson, who named the horse after his late wife Barbara.

"I've always had faith in this horse," he explained. "I had him in a four-way partnership but the other three pulled out as he wasn't winning. I bought them out, moved him to Jackie and since then he's won two from four."

Decent prospect

Oscar Elite placed at the Cheltenham Festival for a second time last week and Name In Lights emerged as another bright talent for owner Mary-Ann Middleton.

The Colin Tizzard-trained six-year-old powered clear of favourite Petrossian to strike by nine and a half lengths in the 1m7f novice hurdle under Brendan Powell.

"He's run quite well for most of his life but just bumped into one or two," said Tizzard. "He's a beautiful-looking horse and I'd say this is just the start before he goes chasing. He could be anything."

Old favourites

The 3m1f veterans' handicap chase served up the best finish with 12-year-old Keltus denying Smuggler's Blues and Max Dynamo in a tight call. The win continued a good spell for amateur Charlie O'Shea following on from his success in the Grand Military Gold Cup this month.

Results, replays and analysis

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