Nothing amateur about him! John Flint stayer lands West Wales National

Jumping is the name of the game and some intensive schooling and trips to Henrietta Knight’s operation paid off as Amateur struck for Bridgend trainer John Flint in the West Wales National.

Amateur landed the Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury off 10st in December and built on his Devon National fourth – in which he lacked fluency – to strike off bottomweight by seven lengths under Jamie Bargary.

Flint said: “He just didn’t jump at Exeter, but some intensive schooling and taking him to Henrietta Knight’s has proved more than worthwhile.

“He’s always had the ability and he needs the trip of these marathon races. We’d have liked to have got him in the Scottish National, but that could be one for next year hopefully – we’ll have plenty of fun with him.”

First for One

Oneupmanship finished in the first four without winning on his first seven starts but gained a deserved success in division two of the 2m6f maiden hurdle.

The Jack Barber-trained six-year-old, owned by Charlie Walker and Phil Fry, finished second to Metier and Sizable Sam among placed efforts this term and scored by a length under Nick Scholfield.

Barber said: “He’s been a bit unlucky with the horses he’s bumped into, not just in novice hurdles but also bumpers. He’s a big horse and should make a nice chaser.”

Good news

There will be a step in the right direction in Wales next week with authorities permitting Chepstow to host two owners per horse at Monday’s jumps meeting.

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