RYAN WINKS WINS SCOTTISH CHAMPION CHASE WITH CHESTNUT BEN

07-02-2016

Huge congratulations to South Yorkshire’s Ryan Winks who enjoyed the biggest success of his career to date when winning the tote exacta Scottish Champion Chase today with CHESTNUT BEN for his trainer father Peter.

Got the Nac led the field at a furious gallop but as they entered the final straight his race was run and Chestnut Ben tracked The Grey Taylor.  At this crucial stage in the race Ryan grabbed the rail on the 11-year-old and kept driving the horse to the line to score by 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Yorkist.

Ryan performed a flying dismount and, when Derek Thompson learned in his post-race interview that Ryan was a professional singer, asked Ryan to give the crowd a song.!  Ryan happily obliged and give the crowd a rendition of “We Are The Champions”.  “This is a big day” said Ryan.  “It’s Scotland’s Champion Chase on Cheltenham Trials Day and we’ve won, I can’t believe it.”

Trainer Peter added “He’s in the form of his life, I knew he was.  He ran well at Doncaster the other day but was a bit out of his depth – he still had horses rated in the 130s behind him, though.  He wants a bit further than this really, but I could see there were plenty of front-runners who might set it up for him.  This win means the world to a stable like ours, it’s our biggest win by a long way.”

Many congratulations to all winning connections!