"Saffie Osborne Sparks Comeback for ‘Home Team’ in Racing League"
The East still at the top after week three – but only just.
A brilliant night for Wales & The West at Chepstow saw Jamie Osborne's platoon move right to the heels of The East in the Racing League.
Just over 100 points adrift of The East at the launch of play, the defending titleholders were in business in race two, courtesy of league specialist Saffie Osborne and the Brian Meehan- trained Von Baer( 4- 1 fave).
Osborne elderly said" I suppose Brian was fairly confident, no matter what the ground – he is a nice steed."
The successful jockey added" I was left in front a long way from home and he got lonely, but he was always pulling out enough. He is still veritably smoothly contended and there is further to come."
Wales & The West again showed taking their crown wo n't be easy, with Osborne getting Ed Walker's Fantasy Believer( 9- 1) home in race six, beating Rathgar and David Probert representing the charging London & The South.
Leading rider in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Racing League, Osborne said" He is such a legend of a steed! Ed's platoon have done an amazing job getting him back to the form he is in."
The evening was complete for the' home platoon' when Osborne pounced late on Michael Bell's Carrytheone( 2- 1 fave) to win the homestretch, the point Take tote Home With You tote.co.uk Racing League 21 Handicap over seven furlongs, getting the verdict in a three- way print. There was drama near the line, with Oisin Orr and Maywake crashing to the ground. Thankfully, both steed and jockey were snappily to their bases.
A beaming Osborne told Sky Sports Racing" Three yards before the line I did not suppose I was going to get up, also on the line I allowed ' I have got that!'."
Also making raids were the forenamed London & The South, with Oisin Murphy helping Matt Chapman's outfit to a treble of their own.
Immediate earnings came for them with a one- two in the nature, as Eve Johnson Houghton's Great Acclaim( 10- 1) picked up 25 points for first under Charlie Bishop and Andrew Balding's Lady Flora took another 18 in the hands of former champion Murphy.
Johnson Houghton said" He is perfecting all the time, which is good, and luckily he does not win by too far so the high roller can not do too important about it."
A rare caller to Chepstow, Murphy did n't have to stay much longer to bag a winner of his own, denying Havana Rum( The North) in race three aboard Richard Hannon's Gisburn( 100- 30).
And it got indeed better for Murphy and London & The South when the Balding- trained Lieber Power( 9- 4 favourite) wore down The East's Walter Hartright in the afar- and-a-half handicap that was race five on the card.
Murphy said" Andrew has placed him really well and he enjoyed that. It was a good spot for him."
There was a notable double for Manila Scouse( 7- 1), who repeated last time's palm in the five- furlong handicap then for Tim Easterby and David Allan to give Yorkshire maximum points in race four.
Allan said" He likes a trip down then! He likes the rain, too, and stays six, so when it rained we knew he'd a big chance."
