Sandy Thomson in dreamland after fairytale win for 'immense' Seeyouatmidnight

For the second time this season Sandy Thomson worked his wizardry with a horse whose best days looked to have been and gone as old favourite Seeyouatmidnight, at the age of 13, landed another compelling Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase.

On his second start for Thomson, former Cheltenham Festival winner Yorkhill scored a soul-stirring success at 66-1 in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November but victory for Seeyouatmidnight, a horse that has done more than any to raise Thomson's profile over the past seven years, meant every bit as much to the yard.

A dual Grade 2 winner in his prime, Seeyouatmidnight has come out on top against the likes of Bristol De Mai, Blaklion and Regal Encore in the past but after returning injured when a leading fancy for the 2018 Grand National, he was retired with suspensory ligament damage.

His then owners, David and Patricia Thompson, gifted Seeyouatmidnight back to the trainer and his wife Quona, who have nurtured his career since 2013.

With no pressure or time constraints, Seeyouatmidnight has been painstakingly nursed back to full health by Thomson's team in the Scottish Borders and completed the fairytale in a race worth double the £35,000 on offer for the Grade 1 Tolworth on the same card and which warms the heart like few other contests in the racing calendar.

3.00 Sandown: full result and race replay

"There's been a couple of nights that I've been into his box and thought it's all over," revealed the trainer after watching the veteran fend off plucky runner-up Crosspark for a length success at 10-1.

"But we've given him an easy time and here we are. The Thompsons, after seeing the vet's report, said they weren't going to go on with him and very kindly said we could have him back and do with him what we wish.

Sandy Thomson celebrates Seeyouatmidnight's success in the deserted Sandown standsCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Because he's ours there was no case of an owner paying training fees and we could ride him when we wanted and just play around with him, and it's taught me a huge amount about how to handle horses like Yorkhill and Bellshill."

Seeyouatmidnight officially returned to action at Kelso in February before winning at Carlisle in March but this victory, worth more than £40,000 to the winner and off the back of a disappointing run at Haydock last month, meant the world to Thomson.

"We're lucky to have these horses and have great staff who ride them well and look after them," he said. "This win gives us immense pleasure but any race he's run has given us great pleasure because he's always had to go in with the big boys.

"We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for him. He set us on the road and we're up to 45 to 50 horses now, which was never our intention. He's taken us to where you could never dream of."

Capping a remarkable story was winning rider Ryan Mania, having his first ever ride at Sandown and, who like Seeyouatmidnight, has returned from retirement revitalised and riding at the top of his game.

"This horse is an absolute legend," said Mania. "He's been a real flagship for Sandy over the years and to come here and do that is very emotional and very nice.

"I love being back and stupidly retired when he was just about to have his novice chase campaign so missed him a little bit. Then he came out of retirement just as I did and it's been nice to have two really nice wins out of him."

Seeyouatmidnight leads over the final fence on the way to providing an emotional victory for jockey Ryan ManiaCredit: Edward Whitaker

With a tear in his eye, he added: "I can't thank the owners and trainers enough for giving me the opportunities. This horse really gets us and has done such a great job of raising the profile of the yard.

"To come back here at 13 years old and do this is just unreal."

Having pulled off the unthinkable with Yorkhill and Seeyouatmidnight, Thomson tantalisingly revealed a third plan is being hatched with talented 11-year-old Bellshill working towards the Grand National in April after a wind operation.

Now that would be pure magic but based on recent results, not necessarily beyond him.

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