‘There’s No Thrill Like It’ – Sammy Jo Bell Writes Leger Legends Story | Horse racing news

Wednesday: Doncaster

Sammy Jo Bell said there was no thrill like a winner after becoming the first runner to win the Leger Legends Stakes twice.

There was a great sense of history repeating itself when Bell comfortably scored on Absolute Dream, as his first victory three years ago also came for trainer Richard Fahey and owners Steven and Glenda Clayton.

That success on Dubai Acclaim came just a year and a half after he retired from the saddle, and although it was a long time ago, the feeling of victory was just as strong for Bell.

“There’s no thrill like that,” she said. “You miss it, but it’s fantastic to have the chance to participate. My riding skills probably weren’t that fantastic and it was a bit easier back then. [winning first time] than he has been all these years.”

Bell, who is now 31, retired aged 28 in 2018 after partnering 82 winners. She looked set to become a force when she won the Silver Saddle at the 2015 Shergar Cup as a contender, but her progress was halted when she fractured her pelvis in an accident at Carlisle.

These experiences have added greater significance to the historic success of a race that has raised over £1million for the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Jack Berry House and the National Horseracing College since its inception in 2010.

“It’s nice to be able to give something back to the IJF, which has been so good to me throughout my career,” Bell said. “The idea couldn’t be better as I spent a good year or more in their rehab and couldn’t have gotten back to racing fitness without them. Thanks also to Richard for supporting me in the racing, which he has done throughout my career.”

Fahey said: “It’s brilliant for Sammy – she’s done two races for me in the last three years and won both. It’s also fantastic for the owners, who are from Doncaster and are with me since many years.”

This year’s Grand National winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen came out of retirement for the ride on Sandy Paradise, which finished tenth.

“It was great fun – he came out of the pits well and raced well, but he just didn’t get a lot of kicks at the end,” he said. “It’s a great charity for a great cause.”

High hopes for Manaccan

Trainer John Ryan was on crutches after knee surgery but improving sprinter Manaccan put a spring in his step with victory in the Listed Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes.

Ryan described the speedy three-year-old as a serious talent and he’s looking forward to aiming for the biggest races next season.