TALENTED jockey David Egan won’t forget riding at Windsor on Monday in a hurry, writes Dave Wright.
He rode his first winner since losing his apprentice tag and it came on the eve of his 19th birthday.
No wonder he was beaming as he jumped off Knockabout Queen after the Sky Bet Best Odds Guaranteed Selling Stakes over six furlongs.
Trained by west Berkshire-based Mick Channon, the two-year-old dwelt coming out of the stalls, but quickly made up lost ground and Egan pushed ahead over a furlong out and the 100/30 shot drew clear to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths.
Harry Bentley is another of the country’s bright emerging stars, as he proved by winning the last two races on the Windsor card.
The first of his double came in the 10-furlong Sky Bet Fast Withdrawal Handicap on the 100/30 favourite Bajan Gold, trained by Stuart Williams, finishing four lengths clear of Vanity Vanity, ridden by Egan.
Half an hour later Bentley was back in the winner’s enclosure, this time aboard 1/4 favourite Rock Eagle following the 10-furlong novices’ stakes.
Bernie's Boy (black cap) beats Oh So Sassy (6) at Windsor.
Earlier in the evening, there had also been a win double for Sean Levey. He took the five-furlong opener on He’Zanarab from Richard Hannon’s yard.
The debut-making two-year-old was slowly into his stride, but made good progress and Levey produced a late strong run on the rails to get the 8/1 shot past Implicit, the 13/8 favourite.
He’Zanarab owners include Douglas Pryde, who was also involved with Auroras Encore, the 66/1 Grand National winner in 2013 with Levey wearing the same blue and yellow colours.
Levey also pounced late on 9/4 favourite Shadow Warrior in the one-mile Skybet Britain’s Most Popular Online Bookmaker Handicap to deny Sir Plato ridden by Jason Watson.
The apprentice handicap was won by 11/4 joint-favourite Tiar Na Nog for in-form trainer Denis Coakley, who was sending out his third successive winner.
His rider was Harry Burns and there was another ‘hot’ jockey in the winner’s enclosure when apprentice Nicola Currie snatched an impressive victory on the Phil McEntee-trained Bernie’s Boy (33/1) in the Sky Bet Best Price Promise Handicap (Windsor Sprint Series Qualifier).
This was the 49th winner of her career, leaving her one away from having her claim cut to 3lb.
Windsor stage another seven-race card next Monday, starting at 6.10pm.
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