DOVER LIGHT belied his 33/1 starting price when winning at Lingfield yesterday for Ken Ivory to give the stable its first winner since the resumption of racing last Monday. It was only the yards’ fourth runner, so it was good to get off the mark fairly soon after racing resumed.
The 3yo son of Sir Prancealot was having only his sixth run and just his second in handicap company as he lined up one of twelve runners in the 0-60 handicap over a mile. Always prominent, the chestnut gelding was in the first four turning for home and half way down the straight he came on the outside and stayed on strongly to win close home by a neck under jockey, George Downing from the favourite Ten Chants and Berkshire Filly who dead-heated for second place.
Owned by K T Ivory and Mrs Valerie Hubbard, it was the former trainer’s first winner of 2020 and a welcome tonic as he was not so well earlier this year. No doubt the 33/1 price will have brought a smile to his face! Congratulations to both Ken and Valerie.
Dover Light was purchased as a yearling at Tattersalls for just 22,000 guineas and as a half-brother to a 1m2f winner, there is every chance he’ll get further in time. He shouldn’t go up much for this win, so there could be more to come.
It was a first win for the stable for jockey, George Downing, who has been riding out regularly at the yard and indeed it was his first winner of the year. Expect to see more winners from this very capable jockey, who’s ridden the majority of his winners for trainer, Tony Carroll.
These are strange times and it’s definitely eerie having major races such as the first two Classics of the season being run behind closed doors with no celebrations on course for owners, trainers or jockeys. But it’s good to be back racing and good to be back among the winners!