Charlie Maggs rides another feature winner for Richard Hobson as veteran Saint Xavier strikes in Last Fling at Haydock

Charlie Maggs had not ridden a winner over fences or for Richard Hobson before Boxing Day but made it back-to-back feature successes for the trainer when helping Saint Xavier roll back the years in the Last Fling Handicap Chase.

Maggs picked up the plum spare ride on Some Scope on the morning of the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase after booked jockey Callum Pritchard could not do the weight.

Four days on from victory in Wetherby’s £50,000 Christmas highlight, Maggs secured another valuable prize when Some Scope’s stablemate Saint Xavier scored by two and three-quarter lengths from 2022 Welsh Grand National winner The Two Amigos.

“What a fantastic little jockey he is,” Hobson told Racing TV of the 19-year-old. “Horses jump for him, they travel for him.”

Hobson had retired Saint Xavier after he ran at Lingfield in December last year, but the decision to put the 12-year-old back in training was vindicated by the veteran recording his first success since striking at this track in November 2022.

“He had a bad winter so we had to bring him in,” said Hobson, who also won the £25,000 3m4½f contest with Lord Du Mesnil in 2019.

“I was always adamant that he’d stay a longer trip than what we’d been winning over with him in France and over here.

“He’s had a stellar career. Before today he’d won £310,000 in prize-money and he’s doing that at the grand old age of nearly 13. It’s incredible.”

De Boinville delivers

Itstonitejosephine wins the 1m7½f junior National Hunt hurdleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Nico de Boinville made it two wins from as many rides at the course this season when steering Itstonitejosephine, from the family of three-time Grade 1 winner L'Ami Serge, to a successful debut for Nicky Henderson.

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