Winston’s Mystery Ban Halts Racing Comeback After Just Two Rides In Bahrain

The erstwhile apical Flat jockey Robert Winston, who made an unexpected and successful return to race-riding successful Bahrain past week, has had his licence to thrust successful nan state suspended and is believed to person returned to Britain while an investigation continues into nan circumstances surrounding his departure.

Winston, a erstwhile champion apprentice, was connected people to beryllium crowned champion jockey connected nan Flat successful 2005 erstwhile he suffered superior injuries successful a autumn astatine Ayr, and while he has 2 Group One winners to his sanction – astir precocious aboard Librisa Breeze successful nan 2017 Champions Sprint astatine Ascot – he was besides banned for a twelvemonth successful 2007 by nan British Horseracing Authority’s independent disciplinary sheet for passing accusation for reward.

Winston initially announced his status from race-riding successful 2019, citing problems maintaining his weight and nan ongoing effects of injuries.

He made a low-key return to action successful nan 2021 and 2022 seasons but had not ridden successful Britain since March 2022 erstwhile he announced successful mid-October that he had been granted a licence by nan authorities successful Bahrain up of nan commencement of nan country’s racing play connected 31 October.

Winston rode a double from 2 mounts connected his return to nan saddle past week but it has now emerged that his statement pinch trainer Paul Smith has been terminated and that his licence has been suspended.

A spokesperson for nan Bahrain Turf Club, quoted successful nan Racing Post connected Friday, confirmed that “following an incident involving Mr Robert Winston, his licence was suspended” and added that nan circumstances are “the taxable of an ongoing investigation”.

Colonel to return bid complete National fences

The baton passes from 1 codification to different successful nan abstraction of conscionable complete an hr connected Saturday day arsenic nan Grand National fences astatine Aintree are jumped for nan first clip this play successful nan Grand Sefton Chase earlier nan November Handicap astatine Doncaster brings down nan curtain connected nan 2025 Flat run connected turf.

Class has been arsenic important arsenic erstwhile acquisition of nan different obstacles successful caller renewals of nan Grand Sefton, pinch 3 of nan past 4 winners having their first commencement complete nan course, and nan lightly raced Colonel Harry (2.40) is absorbing astatine astir 12-1 to widen nan sequence.

Jamie Snowden’s eight-year-old was tried against nan champion novices of his twelvemonth successful nan 2023-24 campaign, remains reasonably weighted connected nan equilibrium of his pursuit shape and is apt to beryllium ideally suited by Saturday’s way and trip.

Aintree 12.55: Highly competitory contempt nan mini field, but Idem went adjacent connected his caller return to action and should advancement for nan run.

Wincanton 1.10: The accordant Tapley returns to chasing for nan first clip successful astir a twelvemonth disconnected a 9lb little people and Isabelle Ryder’s 7lb declare is an added bonus.

Doncaster 1.25: This return to soft crushed seems judge to suit Montassib after a coagulated capacity connected good-to-firm astatine Group One level past time.

Wincanton 1.45: Paul Nicholls’s Jubilee Alpha was a dual victor successful Listed events past play and tin proceed her advancement successful her first commencement extracurricular novice company.

Aintree 2.05: Highlands Legacy did good to triumph connected his pursuit debut aft allowing nan favourite first tally and could put nan acquisition to bully use.

Wincanton 2.23: The prestigious hurdler Blueking d’Oroux was beaten astatine 2-9 connected his pursuit debut astatine Newton Abbot and Henry de Bromhead’s Cobra Queen, who is connected a hat-trick, is simply a much appealing stake astatine nan apt odds.

Wincanton 2.55: A convoy astatine agelong odds-on is successful imaginable for Rubaud, the victor for nan past 2 seasons.

Doncaster 3.10: The 1,000 Guineas fourth, Elwateen, is an absorbing runner but unproven connected nan crushed truthful John & Thady Gosden’s Danielle, at her champion successful testing conditions, looks nan safer bet.

Wincanton 3.30: Threeunderthrufive was pulled up connected his last 2 starts past play but has gone good caller successful nan past and returns aft a upwind operation. He tin springiness Paul Nicholls, his trainer, a 5th triumph successful nan past 9 runnings of Wincanton’s early-season highlight.

Doncaster 3.45: A typically competitory finale for nan Flat play connected turf, but nan hat-trick seeking Atherstone Warrior is fast-improving, goes good connected soft crushed and could find much for nan measurement up to 12 furlongs.