It felt brilliant to reach the landmark total of 50 winners for the season for the first time at Plumpton on Sunday thanks to the hard-fought victory of Sea Invasion in a Class 4 handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles.
Posh Chick then completed a memorable afternoon for the team with a narrow success in the mares’ bumper.
The pair were very well ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies who was seen at his strongest in the closing stages of both races.
When we reached 40 winners earlier than expected we felt we had to go for the half century though achieving it has proved frustrating at times because we seem to have had loads of seconds in the last few weeks.
But we have done it now and with six days to go before the final day at Sandown we can look back on our best campaign by some way for prize money, in excess of £900,000, and winners.
Sea Invasion never got into a rhythm in the Sussex National last time, partly because he struggled to recover ground he lost at a couple of fences. I felt the race on. Sunday was a better fit for him though he made hard work of it before coming through fast and late to gain the day.
The key moment came shortly after turning for home when Sam stayed tight on the running rail and got the gap he was hoping for. Sea Invasion then found a second wind.
Posh Chick made much of the running in the mares’ bumper before seeing off the challenge of Golden Sanjida with our other contender Steal A Glance a close third.
Both mares have done plenty of schooling and are likely to be running over hurdles in May in races that carry a GBB bonus of £20,000.
