Archie Watson hoping to kick on after breakthrough season

Archie Watson hopes hitting the 50-winner mark in his first full season of training is a sign of things to come.

The Lambourn-based handler celebrated the milestone moment on Friday following the victory of Isstoora at Southwell.

Watson, 28, said: "It's been great and I think I've been very lucky. We've had a good team of horses that have stayed healthy and have supplied me with a steady stream of winners throughout the year.

"This time last year we thought if we had 10 winners in a year we'd have done well. We had 10, then we had 20. Every time we have reached a block of 10 we have raised our sights."

He went on: "Absolute Blast winning our first stakes race in the Magnolia at Kempton in April and winning five handicaps with Brandon Castle in the late summer would be the two highlights.

"I've had very good support from my owners and I am very grateful to my team. There is still a month to go, so hopefully we can continue to kick on. It is all now just about trying to improve the quality in our yard.

"Hopefully from our success people might sit up and take notice of it."