Blaklion rolls back the years in Haydock Veterans' Chase

Blaklion (3-1) rolled back the years to seal a valiant three and three-quarter length victory in the feature on the card, the Jewson Altrincham Veterans' Handicap Chase (3m 1.5f) for the Dan Skelton team.

The 12 year old was the first British-trained horse home when sixth in last season’s Randox Grand National at Aintree and he showed plenty of resilience to hold off a strong field which included the likes of Aso and Lake View Lad here, holding on in the straight to seal what was virtually a pillar-to-post success under Harry Skelton.

And Skelton’s assistant Tom Messenger was delighted to see the gelding earn a deserved victory. He said: “I’m chuffed to bits, he’s deserved that. It’s the first time that we’ve run him in one of these veterans’ races and I think it was a lot more suited to him in terms of the pace of the race. He’s had some hard races over the years and a few injuries, so it’s nice to see him win.

“He did amazingly well at Aintree and he was a little bit ring rusty at Bangor last time. He got his eye back in there and he seemed happy from the off here – after jumping a couple Harry was quite comfortable really.

“He loves the game, so we’ll see how he is coming out of this. This programme of veterans’ races is excellent and we may look at more of these – it’s really good prize money and he deserves to be in races that he can win.”

Winning owner Darren Yates added: "He was great today. I knew after two fences, as when he travels like that he's very hard to pass. We had half an eye on the Grand National again this season, but they dropped him quite a bit, so he'd have to win again to get anywhere near getting in. While he's enjoying it, we'll keep him going.”

Meanwhile, A Different Kind (7-4) showed plenty of heart to extend his record to four straight victories under Rules when getting up late under Brian Hughes to take the Oakmere Homes "Introductory" Hurdle (2m) for the Donald McCain team, with his trainer suggesting afterwards that they could now look to return here in Grade Two company in January.

He said: “He’s just a grand horse and just keeps winning. The ground was questionable today but you couldn’t not race him and he’s one of those horses that just keeps performing. We came here thinking that if he won today the Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle would be an option – it’s Haydock Park and he’s a nice horse, but we’ll have to see how the ground is.”

Merseyside jockey Lewis Stones described riding his first ever winner at his local course as a ‘dream come true’, after guiding the Olly Murphy-trained Macho Mover (9-2) to a game success in the opening Arete Capital Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park today.

The 25 year old is based at Olly Murphy’s yard in Warwickshire these days, but hails from Little Sutton near Ellesmere Port and was having his first ever ride at one of his local courses on the six year old son of Camacho – whom he was partnering for the first time.

The pair still had plenty to do approaching the second last flight in the extended three-mile contest, but Stones showed plenty of composure to hold onto his mount and the pair battled on resolutely after the last hurdle to hold on for a half a length success.

And Stones, who revealed after the race that he used to dream of such moments when growing up, could not hide his delight at fulfilling his ambition. He said: “I actually grew up not too far away from here and this is my first ride here today so I’ve got a 100 percent record now!

“I used to come here a lot growing up for things like the Grand National Trial and also the Becher Chase at Aintree – not really Flat racing though, that’s boring! It’s fantastic to win here, you come to these meetings always wanting to be a jockey and to ride a winner today makes it even more special.

“I used to dream of riding winners at places like here, Bangor and Aintree, all the local courses. My dad would always take me along to them and he always kept me interested, so I’m just delighted. My old man has come straight from work here so I’m glad I’ve ridden a winner for him!”

Lewis’ father Peter Stones was excitedly cheering his son back into the winner’s enclosure in the aftermath after taking a half-day at work and he could not hide his pride at seeing his son ride a winner at his local track.

He said: “We used to drag him to a lot of courses growing up. The first time we took Lewis racing was to Hexham when he was no older than two and we have a great picture of him in one of those ‘Michelin Man’ outfits. He was sat on a fence and has his hand up in the air pointing as the horses go past, so we’ve still got that.

“It’s snowed from there really, we’ve been to places like Uttoxeter, Aintree and Chester since and I said to Lewis it was a big day today as he was coming back near home. I’m just so pleased he was able to do what he did today.

“I took him to football when he was four years old and went to every match with him until he was 16. He told me then he was going to be a jockey and off he went to the racing school at Doncaster, he did what he said he was going to do and I’m just pleased for him.

“I sneaked out of work for half a day, I told them I was going somewhere but not here! I was stood on the front and everyone was shouting for the favourite (Seymour Sox), while I was just going ballistic. It just gets to you and it’s a brilliant feeling, I’m so pleased for Lewis.”

Meanwhile, winning trainer Olly Murphy added: “He looked to be crying out for this distance and he flew home all too late last time out at Market Rasen. He got a good ride from Lewis and I’ve a good bunch of young lads so it’s nice to see them ride winners.

“I’ve got plenty of them riding winners at the moment and it was a good ride considering the horse is not very straightforward. Lewis was very patient on him and I thought ‘don’t get there too soon’ and he’s a good fun horse.”