'There's no thrill like it' - Sammy Jo Bell makes Leger Legends history

Wednesday: Doncaster

Sammy Jo Bell said there is no thrill like a winner after becoming the first rider to win the Leger Legends Stakes twice.

There was a big sense of history repeating itself when Bell scored comfortably on Absolute Dream, as her first victory three years ago also came for trainer Richard Fahey and owners Steven and Glenda Clayton.

That success on Dubai Acclaim was achieved just a year and a half following her retirement from the saddle, and although it has been a long time since, the winning feeling was every bit as strong for Bell.

"There's no thrill like it," she said. "You miss that, but it's fantastic to get the chance to take part. My riding skills probably weren't that fantastic and it was a bit easier then [winning first time] than it is all these years on."

Bell, who is now 31, retired at the age of 28 in 2018 after partnering 82 winners. She looked on the verge of becoming a force when winning the Silver Saddle at the 2015 Shergar Cup as a claimer, but her progress was halted when she fractured a pelvis in an accident at Carlisle.

Those experiences added greater significance to the historic success in a race which has raised more than £1 million for the Injured Jockeys Fund's Jack Berry House and the National Horseracing College since its inception in 2010.

"It's good to be able to give something back to the IJF, who were so good to me throughout my career," said Bell. "The idea couldn't be better as I spent a good year or more in their rehab and couldn't have returned to race fitness without them. Thanks also to Richard for supporting me with the ride, which he's done throughout my career."

Fahey said: "It's brilliant for Sammy – she's had two rides for me over the last three years and won on both of them. It's also fantastic for the owners, who are from Doncaster and have been with me for many years."

This year's Grand National-winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen came out of retirement for the ride on Sandy Paradise, who finished tenth.

"It was good fun – he came out of the stalls well and ran well but just didn't have much of a kick at the end," he said. "It's a great charity for a great cause."

High hopes for Manaccan

Trainer John Ryan was on crutches following a knee op, but improving sprinter Manaccan put a spring in his step with victory in the Listed Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes.

Ryan described the speedy three-year-old as a serious talent and he is looking forward to targeting the bigger races next season.

Manaccan is all speed as he strikes in the Listed Scarbrough StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

With faster ground a prerequisite for Manaccan, the trainer is hoping the weather holds out for a crack at Group 3 level this month.

"I think a lot of him, we always have, and he's the best one I've had for a while," said Ryan.

"If the ground stays okay we'll go to Newbury on September 17 for the International Trophy. His ideal trip is five as he's got a high-cruising speed and a turn of foot, and I think he's going to be a better horse next year."

Manaccan made an instant impression on his new syndicate owners, who include Tottenham and Argentina legend Ossie Ardiles.

Blues bounces back

Bounce The Blues claimed a belated first success for Andrew Balding when digging deep to land the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes.

The five-year-old moved to Balding from Ireland after winning a Listed race in 2020, and despite some solid efforts since, she had found winning hard to come by.

However, on her 12th start in Britain, she provided her trainer with his third Sceptre victory in five years, after which she was cut to 33-1 (from 50) for next month's Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes.

Winning jockey William Buick said: "She has run well in good races, including in this race two years ago, and everything was ideal for her. She was really tough, when I got upsides I always thought she would prevail."

New Cambridgeshire favourite

Mujtaba was made 4-1 favourite (from 10) for the bet365 Cambridgeshire on September 24 by Paddy Power after cruising home in the closing 1m2f handicap.

Jockey Jim Crowley said: "Everything set up nicely and he was always going well. It's nice to get him back on track. He loves to get his toe in and picked up really well."

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