Tag Archive for: Sam Thomas

Our Power and Eva’s Oskar all set to be Welsh wonders at Aintree

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Our Power and Eva’s Oskar will carry the hopes of Wales when they bid to end a wait of 118 years for victory in the Randox Grand National.

There has been a single Welsh-trained winner of the race in its history, with Kirkland taking the prize under Frank Mason in 1905 after two years of near misses.

The likes of Evan Williams, Peter Bowen, Christian Williams and Rebecca Curtis have flown the flag in recent years, with the Curtis-trained Teaforthree finishing third in 2013. The Welsh contingent this year includes Bowen’s Francky Du Berlais, Sam Thomas’ Our Power and the Tim Vaughan-trained Eva’s Oskar.

Former top jockey Thomas – who won the Gold Cup aboard Denman in 2008 – trains in Lisvane, South Glamorgan, and is heavily supported by Dai Walters and the Potter family – who own the horse under the Walters Plant Hire & Potter Group banner.

Sam Thomas (left) after the victory of Our Power at Ascot
Sam Thomas (left) after the victory of Our Power at Ascot (PA)

The eight-year-old won on his seasonal debut in the London Gold Cup at Ascot and then added another valuable prize in the shape of the Coral Trophy at Kempton.

He will carry just 10st at Aintree and will be guided by an experienced pilot in Sam Twiston-Davies as he seeks to end the long wait for a second Welsh winner.

“Rules are there to be broken, it’s fantastic that we are able to represent Wales on the biggest stage,” Thomas said on a press call hosted by Great British Racing.

“I probably don’t realise the magnitude of it already, but since we’ve known we’ve got a run we’ve had so much interest from local media.

“It really is such a big thing for the country and I’m very proud that we can go there and fly the flag for Wales.

“There are some fantastic Welsh trainers in the area, I’ve grown up watching Evan Williams and Tim Vaughan training lots of good winners and to be in among some of these trainers has been a pinch yourself moment.”

Thomas’ yard is owned by Walters and the trainer is particularly motivated to repay the support he has been given by Walters throughout his training career, not least as both trainer and owner were involved in a helicopter crash in November.

He said: “We’ve loved every minute of being here at Mr Walters’ place and it’s (having a National runner) the icing on the cake for the family that have been so supportive of me, it’s lovely to try to give something back to everyone that’s been right behind through the rough times when the horses haven’t been running very well.

“Hopefully we can do them proud.”

Vaughan, based in Aberthin, will saddle the grey Eva’s Oskar – a horse who has posted two impressive Cheltenham performances this season when finishing second at the November meeting and going one better the following month.

Eva’s Oskar at Exeter
Eva’s Oskar at Exeter (David Davies/PA)

The nine-year-old carries 10st 1lb and will be ridden by a Welsh jockey in Alan Johns, making his involvement in the race a truly all-Welsh affair.

Eva’s Oskar will be cheered on by the whole yard at Aintree, with Vaughan putting on a mini bus to take his staff up to Liverpool to enjoy the big day.

“It’s lovely to have a runner in a race of this magnitude, my main girl in the yard, Lucinda, said it would be lovely if we could all go and I thought ‘what a cracking idea’,” he said.

“We’ve organised a mini bus, we’re going to get in early on Saturday morning, get them mucked out, ride out and set off at about 8am or 8.30am.

“They can have a full day to enjoy the races and the build up with us all and we’ve got some friends who are going to do evening stables for us.

“Why not? They deserve it, they work hard, it’ll be great for everyone.”

Like Thomas, Vaughan was not deterred by the lack of a Welsh winner in over 100 years and instead sees the long-standing record as more than ready for breaking.

“My theory on that is that it’s been that long that it’s about due now! Let’s hope I’m the man to change things, it won’t be for the lack of trying,” he said.

“Statistics are really against us but someone’s got to buck the trend, the likes of Peter, Evan and Rebecca have all had a close crack at it and it would be lovely to think that the trophy could come home to Wales. With the greatest respect to Sam, I hope it’s me!

“We’re all in it to win it and we’ll be trying our best.”

Vaughan’s base does not just house his racing stables as the trainer also operates several business units from outbuildings that were formerly stables.

These include a cafe and a veterinary practice among other ventures, all of whom have rallied to get behind Eva’s Oskar ahead of his journey to Aintree.

“We’ve got this WhatsApp group and I put a video of Eva’s Oskar on the gallops and of course everyone’s gripped now,” Vaughan said.

“I’ve had lots of request for tickets for National day and it’s all good, the community around us is right behind us which makes it an even more enjoyable journey.”

Tzarmix and Shomen Uchi make it a good day for Sam Thomas

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Sam Thomas has plenty to look forward to having enjoyed a fruitful time at Chepstow on Sunday, saddling a double at his local course.

Based at The Hollies on the outskirts of Cardiff, the Gold Cup-winning jockey has sent more of his string to Chepstow than any other track since joining the training ranks – a move that paid dividend when Tzarmix took the opening Cazoo Novices’ Hurdle.

Sent off at 16-5 against Tolworth Hurdle second L’Astroboy, Tzarmix was smuggled into the race by Harry Cobden before taking dead aim and running down his rival when Evan Williams’ odds-on favourite – who had traded at the minimum 1.01 on Betfair – tired after the last.

“We are thrilled with him, he’s a work in progress,” said Thomas.

“I don’t want to get too carried away, the second horse was out in front a long time and in those conditions it probably didn’t suit him. It’s nice to go and beat a well-touted horse, but I just hope the handicapper doesn’t take it literally. It’s a lonely old place up in front at Chepstow and it’s nice we had something to aim at rather than the other way round really.

“Harry has ridden him to run well basically and I think if he had ridden him to win he wouldn’t have won so it’s funny how it worked out.”

The winner will be left to swim in calm waters for the time being – given plenty of time to continue his racing education.

“He’s got so much still to learn,” Thomas continued. “He doesn’t jump the most fluently and show his hurdles respect at the minute so he has got a lot of practice to do at home. He has always been the same, he doesn’t have much regard for a hurdle.

“Hopefully as he picks up more runs he will learn on the job alongside his practice at home. But he’s clearly got an engine and is very much a work in progress.”

Another of the Thomas string held in high regard is Shomen Uchi, who sailed to to an easy 11-length victory in Cazoo Maiden Hurdle – Charlie Deutsch simply having to point the 11-10 favourite in the right direction.

After running with credit at Aintree in the Grade Two bumper last term, Shomen Uchi could return to the Merseyside track during the Grand National Festival next month.

“It’s only a maiden at the back-end of march so I don’t want to get too carried away, but he’s a horse I’m very fond of,” said Thomas.

“For whatever reason we haven’t been able to get him out as much as I would have wanted this season, but he’s very talented and loves soft ground. He will be a lovely staying chaser in time.

“I’ve always thought a lot of him and it just goes to show, if you are not over-racing them, what they can achieve – the more time we give this horse the better he will be.

“We’ll see if the handicapper gives us a mark now and if it is a rating that would warrant us going to one of the handicaps we will consider Aintree, but it is not the be-all and end-all if we don’t go there.”

Our Power adds Coral Trophy to big Ascot success

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Our Power wore down Flegmatik to win the £150,000 Coral Trophy at Kempton for Sam Thomas and Sam Twiston-Davies.

In a race run at a stiff tempo set by Annsam, Twiston-Davies was happy to bide his time on the eight-year-old winner.

Third in the race 12 months ago, he was racing off a mark 5lb higher having won his only other start this season at Ascot.

He looked to face a stiff task turning into the straight, as Harry Skelton was sat motionless on Flegmatik, chasing his third win at the track.

When asked to go and win his race, however, he could never completely put the race to bed and Our Power (11-2) was always close enough if good enough.

Twiston-Davies got a big leap out of his mount at the last and he landed with momentum, which enabled him to win by a neck.

Sam Twiston-Davies returns on Our Power
Sam Twiston-Davies returns on Our Power (Neil Morrice/PA)

Top-weight Frodon ran another thoroughly creditable race back in third.

It was another feature handicap chase for Thomas who won the Becher Chase with Al Dancer and the Classic Chase at Warwick with Iwilldoit.

The winner is now 10-1 from 16s with Betfair for the Ultima at Cheltenham.

“I’m so pleased for Dai (Walters), James and Jean Potter (owners) who are unswerving supporters of the game,” said Twiston-Davies

“He was fantastic early in the season when he won at Ascot.

“This was only his second run of the season and it’s a fair training performance to win a £100,000 handicap and then this.

Our Power and Sam Thomas after the Coral Trophy
Our Power and Sam Thomas after the Coral Trophy (Nigel French/PA)

“I was only ever three deep at worst and he’s such an economical jumper. I thought halfway down the back he would keep getting there and in the straight he was very good coming between horses. He’s not the biggest, but he has scope and can go in and out.

“He’s the right type for the National and I feel now would be the right time. But he’s on 63 (in list of runners) so would need a few to come out.

“He’s an accurate jumper and can also be quite bold. I think he’s got what it takes for the National and it would be great for Sam who is a good friend and a very good trainer.”

Thomas – who along with Walters was involved in a helicopter crash last year – said: “The horses have been wrong since November time. Credit to the team and the owners for being very patient as it has been a tough few months. It is good to be back on the scoresheet and this is a nice race to win.

“I’ve got no real faith in the runners at the moment just with how the form of the yard is. However, this lad stays forever. I was a bit worried down the back straight but when I saw him turning in, I was quietly confident.

“Although it was a sharp three miles we know he stays well and I was hopeful he would get there in the end, but a lot had to be taken on trust with how the horses have been performing.

“He would have run in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury but he had a little setback and we had no other option but to train him for this, which is a fantastic race itself.”

He added: “I’d say he would be doubtful to get in at Aintree so it will be Cheltenham for the Ultima, then he will either go for the Scottish National or the bet365 Gold Cup.”

Iwilldoit team admit defeat in race to make National line-up

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One of the leading British-based contenders in the ante-post market for the Randox Grand National, the Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit, will miss the deadline for qualification and as a result not run at Aintree.

The 10-year-old won the Welsh National at Chepstow in December 2021, after which he was off for 383 days before returning to land the Classic Chase at Warwick last month. But in total he has only had five races over fences – winning four.

As the rules stipulate runners in the National must have had six races over fences by February 19, Iwilldoit has run out of time to qualify.

Thomas and owners Diamond Racing had hoped to get his final run in this weekend’s Betfair Denman Chase, but the prevailing dry spell means the ground at Newbury is riding good.

As a result his connections have taken a pull on this season’s showpiece and put the horse’s welfare first.

Diamond Racing’s director of bloodstock and racing Chris Morgan wrote on www.diamondracing.co.uk: “Iwilldoit will not be taking on the Grand National this season.

“In order to qualify for the Grand National the last opportunity for him to run was in the Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday but sadly the ground is far from suitable.

“The ground is currently good with no rain forecast and with Iwilldoit coming back into training later than normal this season due to an issue after he won the Welsh Grand National, the decision was made by Sam Thomas and ourselves not to run him on unsuitable ground.

“The welfare of our horses is always at the forefront of what we do.”

Iwilldoit team considering qualifying options for Aintree hope

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Iwilldoit could try to book his Randox Grand National ticket by running at Newbury or Ascot next month.

Sam Thomas’ 10-year-old defied a 383-day layoff when galloping to an impressive success in the Classic Chase at Warwick – a performance that saw him cut to as short as 16-1 for the Aintree showpiece on April 15.

However, the main stumbling block post-race appeared to be the fact Iwilldoit is not yet qualified for the Merseyside marathon – and with time at a premium before the February 19 deadline to have run in at least six races over fences, Thomas was far from certain that is where he would head in the spring.

Iwilldoit’s pilot Stan Sheppard reports the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on February 11 or the Betfair Ascot Chase at Ascot a week later on February 18 are being considered in order to meet the qualification criteria.

“I believe Aintree is now the plan and that there are two races in mind, the Denman Chase over three miles at Newbury and the Ascot Chase over two-miles-five,” said Sheppard.

“He literally only needs to get around in either race as he has to have six runs over fences to qualify for the Grand National.”

Jockey Stan Sheppard and trainer Sam Thomas celebrate after Iwilldoit won The Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase during at Warwick
Jockey Stan Sheppard and trainer Sam Thomas celebrate after Iwilldoit won The Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase during at Warwick (Nigel French/PA)

Sheppard has never ridden in a Grand National, but believes his likely mount is more than capable of handling the unique test the famous spruce provides.

He added: “I definitely think he would be fine over those fences. It was only his fifth run over fences on Saturday and he jumped better than he probably did both times I rode him at Chepstow.

“I also don’t think he needs particularly heavy ground. As long as it is not quick in the Grand National, he will be fine.”

Iwilldoit overcomes long absence with Classic display at Warwick

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Iwilldoit defied a huge weight and a monster absence to win the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase for Sam Thomas.

Thomas who along with prominent owner Dai Walters was involved in a helicopter crash in November, was celebrating his first winner of the calendar year.

Winner of the Welsh National last season, Thomas and connections have had to be patient as the 10-year-old suffered a setback.

Having his first outing for 383 days, Iwilldoit travelled incredibly well in the hands of Stan Sheppard.

It was Threeunderthrufive, one of only two in the race carrying more weight than the winner, who hit the front going down the back straight for the final time – but Sheppard was still sitting pretty.

He sent him to the front turning for home and looked a class apart as he soon put distance between himself and the others.

Willie Mullins’ Mr Incredible stayed on for second, beaten two and three-quarter lengths, with Notachance third.

Racing off a 7lb-higher mark than that which he won off at Chepstow, the 12-1 winner now looks a real Aintree contender.

Paddy Power introduced him at 25-1 for the Grand National.

“We didn’t get him in till a bit later unfortunately and he missed the Welsh National. But he’s eating well and we can train him a bit differently now,” said Thomas.

Sam Thomas and Stan Sheppard lift the Classic Chase trophy
Sam Thomas and Stan Sheppard lift the Classic Chase trophy (Nigel French/PA)

“Before the Welsh National last year he was hardly ridden. I’m just delighted for everyone. It’s emotional.

“He’s notoriously been a fussy eater and a worrier, but as the years have gone on he’s matured and knows what his job is – he’s certainly easier to train than he was.

“They are his conditions (heavy), the speed he was going at the start was the same speed he was going at the end, he’s very one-paced. It’s nice we can come and have a go in these big races, the softer the better for him and it is nice to see he is still able to win off that mark.

“He’s a star, he’s very genuine. You won’t find another horse to try like him – it’s very straightforward when then want to do it just like him.

“Credit to Stan who gave him a great ride and well done to team and Leah (Dix) who rides him every day. That’s what we do the job for and it is nice we can come here and take on the big boys and have a go.

“We had a good start to the season, from November onwards for obvious reasons (the crash) we struggled a bit. It’s not an easy game and you need these big winners to keep the wheel turning.”

Of an Aintree bid he said: “I don’t know, he needs another run over fences, he’s still not qualified to run in the Grand National. It’s been a whirlwind season so far, so we’ll enjoy this today and go from there.

“Maybe the Grand Steeple-Chase (French Grand National) in May would be an option. That’s what I was thinking before I came here today and you would get heavy ground. You need a Gold Cup horse to win that, but he could go and pick up some prize money.

“He would have to get an entry (for Aintree) though.”

Sheppard, who made it a double on the day when winning the last, described it as one of the biggest days in his career, with most of his other big-race glory coming behind closed doors while Covid restrictions were in place.

Stan Sheppard celebrates winning The Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase on Iwildoit during the Wigley Group Classic Chase Day at Warwick Racecourse
Stan Sheppard celebrates winning The Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase on Iwildoit during the Wigley Group Classic Chase Day at Warwick Racecourse (Nigel French/PA)

He said: “It would be right up there with the Welsh National and Betfair Hurdle, it wouldn’t be far behind them and there were people here this time, so it slightly nudges it up past the Welsh National perhaps.

“It’s a fair training performance that is. I don’t know what he will do now as he isn’t qualified to run in the National, but to win that off 147, you are probably looking at 150 plus now and the Midlands National off that looks tough.”

On his celebration when crossing the line, he added: “There were no people at Chepstow and there was today. I know how much it means to everyone, they put all the hard work at home and I just get the good 10 minutes.”