Jan Faltejsek ends British drought as Fairlee Grey strikes at Ayr

Jockey Jan Faltejsek rode his first winner in Britain for over 1000 days when Fairlee Grey bolted up at Ayr.Best known for his partnership with the popular Knockara Beau, that classy dual-purpose performer was actually Faltejsek's last winner on these shores when heclaimed the 2014 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham at odds of 66-1 for trainer George Charlton. But Faltejsek and Charlton might now have a replacement for their former stalwart judged by the manner in which Fairlee Grey (10-11 favourite) won the Racing UK Novices' Hurdle. "I'm based in Britain but I ride all over Europe and I had a winner in Italy the other day," said Faltejsek."I've won the Pardubicka four times now so it's not as if I haven't had a winner anywhere since Knockara Beau."Charlton is already thinking big with Fairlee Grey, who defeated the Gordon Elliott-trained Loose Ends by 24 lengths.The Northumberland handler said: "He's a very keen horse, but Jan knows how to ride him now, just like how he used to ride Bywell Beau, who won some nice races for us."We'll take him up to Kelso for the race (Premier Hurdle) we've won a couple of times with Bywell and Knockara."I'm not sure what the form was worth but he beat one of Gordon Elliott's, and Gordon told me after he expected his to win."I'm hoping he can be the replacement for Knockara.If he's half as good as him we'll have some fun."