It was brilliant to see Sam Brown bounce back to form with a stirring victory in the Unibet Veterans Chase final at Warwick on Saturday.
I’m delighted for his owner breeder Tim Frost who was present with his family to greet Sam afterwards.
Sam Brown’s latest big race success came on a day when his stable companions Good Look Charm, Credo and Gustavian all performed with great credit.
By the end of the afternoon our prize money tally for the season was not far short of £380,000.
Sam is lightly raced for a twelve year old for one reason and another but he’s classy when on song and almost seemed to move into overdrive as he came with a relentless run that took him clear in the closing stages.
He was well ridden by Johnny Burke who was gaining timely compensation for breaking his arm when they fell at the Chair in last year’s Grand National.
Sam fell again two from home when poised to strike at Punchestown and it has been a challenge to bring him back to his best after he was below par on his return at Wincanton.
We then took him to Cheltenham to try to get him back on track over a trip short of his best and it turned out to be a fine prep for the final.
Yet if the race had been held on its scheduled date last Saturday at Sandown Sam Brown might have been forced to miss his date with destiny with a boil on the inside of his hind leg.
He certainly needed the extra days to recover.
By winning so well on Saturday off a mark of 147 Sam will get a hike in the ratings that will most likely deny him the chance to run in another veterans race at the age of twelve.
We will not worry about future plans for him. Instead we will celebrate a horse who has been a marvellous warrior for the yard.
Brilliant performance – enjoyed seeing him run at Wetherby and had every confidence that Sam Brown would win! Well done to all involved.
many well done from Aye Right hopefully the BHA might re think the qualifiers these veteran races make great entertainment for all Enjoy your win well fought for