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Faringdon jockey/trainer Sean Curran is looking for another big pay day this weekend when he runs his Scottish National winner Iris De Blame in the Bet 365 Gold Cup.

The trainer said he had come out of the race at Ayr OK and although bening put up 27 lbs by the handicapper would still be in with a shout.

Curran was delighted with his trip North of the border last weekend with the 66/1 shot running on well after the last to deny the Alan King trained Halcon Genelardais Victory.

The eight year old however was ridden by amateur rider Charlie Huxley who is attached to the Barbury Castle yard with King jokingly saying " I'm very pleased for Mr Huxley but he faces the sack on Monday morning."

It was the first time an amateur jockey had won the race since 1978 and the 20 year old rider said he could hardly believe his luck he added : " I spoke to Mattie Batchelor who generally rides the horse and he told me the best way to ride him.

"For someone as young as me and with the amount of winners (11) this season to win the Scottish National is amazing."

Curran, who had to back at his Faringdon base promptly to ride at Plumpton on Monday said : " It was a fantastic day, he's only a little horse but he did the business well. We entered him because we thought he could nick a bit of prize money but after the first circuit we began to think he could win it.

"My good mate, jockey Timmy Murphy, had said earlier in the week to book a 7lb claimer to give him a chance because he was out of the handicap so Charlie was booked and gave him a good ride sticking to the inner all the way round.

"Timmy was so happy for us he went on to ride a couple winners in later races, so it was a good day for the Oxfordshire boys."

Owner Lee Power former Norwich, Portsmouth and Sunderland soccer star said ; This is the stuff dreams are made of. I played football at Old Trafford and in Milan many years ago but I have never experienced a thrill like this."

At the same meeting Border Castle 40/1 trained at Limpley Stoke in Wiltshire won the Scottish Champion Hurdle for trainer Andy Haynes.

The trainer missed the victory as he was on a ferry back from Ireland but his representative Michael Blake, head of the 33 strong Staverton Owners Group sais : " We nearly didn't run him but trainer Paul Nicholls said the ground was alright so we went ahead and it proved to be a good decision.

The trainer was in the winners enclosure again on Tuesday when Swindon Town Flyer,owned by the County Ground Syndicate and West Country Racing won the Claiming Stakes at Folkestone. With Swindon beating Bristol Rovers later in the evening it was a good day for followers of the Town.

Plenty of racing this weekend for backers to get their teeth into as well as the mixed jumping and flat card at Sandown there are meetings scheduled for Leicester and Ripon with evening fixtures at Haydock and Wolverhampton plus a meeting over the jumps at Market Rasen.

At Sandown, feature race on the flat is the Group 2 bet 365 Mile that could be another for the Richard Hannon team with Major Cadeaux, the mount of Richard Hughes.

In the Group 3 Classic Trial the Hannon yard could strike again with Latin Lad.

The Leicester card begins at 2.15 with a two year old Auction Maiden over five furlongs where Rayvin Mad trained by Peter Chapple- Hyam would look to have a chance.

Later in the afternoon the John Dunlop trained Downhiller and Spanish Cruise trained by Andy Turnell could be worth an interest.

At Ripon Neil Callan would look to be the jockey to follow for trainer Kevin Ryan and at Haydock, Mizooka could be another for local jockey George Baker.

10:13am Thursday 24th April 2008

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