Dazzling David Probert Tees Up Big June With Haydock Treble

James StevensJames Stevens27 May 2025
Jockey David Probert. Pic: Alamy

Jockey David Probert. Pic: Alamy

It was a memorable week of Flat racing for Wales' biggest names, while it was all change at one of the major jumps yards, as James Stevens of The Racing Post reports.

With the Derby and Royal Ascot just around the corner, top Welsh Flat jockey David Probert proved just how good he is with a 281-1 treble at Haydock on Thursday.

He scored on 9-1 shot Simiyann, obliged on the 100-30 favourite Organ, and even impressed in the iconic blue silks of Godolphin, aboard Maximized.

He upset the odds-on first string of the powerhouse owner, Time To Turn, in the 6f novice stakes with William Buick travelling up to Lancashire to take the ride.

The Godolphin call-up shows just how high Probert is regarded in a globally competitive Flat racing world and it was his 13th win in the colours from 56 rides in his career.

Probert also rode winners at Lingfield in the week and capped off the bank holiday weekend with success on Cheshire Dancer at Leicester.

He could also showcase his talents on ITV this weekend as he has already been booked to ride Divina Grace in the Group 3 Bronte Cup at York. 

The 1m 6f contest is one of the weekend highlights and the five-year-old will go off as one of the leading fancies having already won at Group level this season. 

That was when an inspired Probert guided her to a 14-1 win at Newbury in April.

READ MORE: Just Beautiful . . . Sheila Lewis Gets The Winners' Treatment As New Championship Could Be On The Way

Welsh Wednesday at Chepstow

It is not just the Welsh jockeys shining but trainers too, as three different trainers won on home soil at Chepstow on Wednesday.

Some of the leading Flat yards in the country took aim at the card but a three-race Welsh streak was kicked off by Glamorous Breeze in the 5f handicap. 

He recorded win number eight for Caewent-based Christopher Mason, whose good spell continued with a winner at Windsor on Monday.

Glamorous Breeze was recording a Chepstow hat-trick and denied the course legend Connie's Rose, who was making her 22nd appearance at the track for Grace Harris.

The Shirenewton stable was given a boost fairly quickly as Over Spiced came out on top in an all-Welsh tussle with Bust A Moon for David Evans in the following race on the card.

Continuing on the theme of turning losing into winning, Evans then landed the next race on the card with 10-1 shot, Ultramarine.

READ MORE: Derby Horse Emerges For David Probert With Big Win At Chester

Stellar Sean

The ambition for reigning champion jockey Sean Bowen is 200 winners this season and he is an eighth of the way there before the first month of the season has finished.

He hit 25 winners last week having enjoyed victories at Southwell, Ffos Las, Cartmel and Worcester.

He is already 10 winners ahead of Harry Skelton, the likely biggest challenger in the title race this season. 

Meanwhile, brother James is the only other rider to reach double figures in May with 11 winners. 

New number one for top stable

Leading Welsh trainer Tim Vaughan confirmed David Noonan as his new number one jockey this week.

Noonan has stepped in for rides at the famous Cowbridge yard following the retirement of Alan Johns at the back end of last season.

Vaughan has also been purchasing more horses with ambitions to progress his yard. 

He had as many as 102 winners over a decade ago but numbers have gradually dropped over time.

The trainer, whose son Edward will also get plenty of rides, is already off the mark for the new season after Bumpy Evans completed a hat-trick at Bangor earlier this month.

READ MORE: Sean Bowen . . . The Story Of The Pembrokeshire Boy Who Became A Welsh Racing Giant

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