'It felt like I'd dropped off face of the earth' - Osborne ends year in style

Saturday: Doncaster

After starting the season worried she had "dropped off the face of the earth slightly", Saffie Osborne ended it by landing the big handicap she craved – just one winner before losing her claim.

The apprentice teamed up belatedly with the Harry Fry-trained mudlark Metier to take the £70,000 BetGoodwin November Handicap by a determined length and a quarter.

"The year didn't start very well but it's got a lot better," said Osborne, 20, the daughter of trainer Jamie Osborne, who won her first Group race on Random Harvest for Ed Walker in Italy last month.

"The start of the year I was struggling to get rides," she said. "I'd had an operation at the end of last year and I was in Dubai and Bahrain, and to the British people it probably felt like I'd dropped off the face of the earth slightly.

"My first Group 3 winner was amazing, Mr Walker has given me so many opportunities. To end the season on this is amazing, to get a big handicap whilst I'm still claiming."

Osborne thanked enterprising agent Niall Hannity for securing the mount and said: "I was meant to ride Metier in the Chester Cup but the rain never came and I was gutted.

"He makes this feel like good ground when everything is struggling on it. I just hope it rains before Royal Ascot next year!"

But Thady Gosden felt the ground counted against 5-2 favourite Israr, who finished 12th, and said: "You either go on it or you don't. He's a talented horse and hopefully he'll have a good future next year."

Signing off with a double

Mick Channon, who won the Lincoln with Johan in the spring, returned to Doncaster to score with his last two runners on grass as Ferrous and Tiriac took both divisions of the maiden.

The trainer, who was presented with a farewell bottle of champagne by the course to mark his imminent retirement, hopes the pair can be decent prospects for his son Jack in 2023.

"We've had to wait a while for Ferrous as he's been slow maturing, but he's worth waiting for," said Channon. "He did it well as he had to tough it out."

Ferrous won by a head but Tiriac pulled five lengths clear as he completed a double for the trainer and jockey Connor Beasley.

Channon said: "He ran very well at Newmarket the other day, it was a good horse who beat him there.

"They're two nice two-year-olds. They've both run well and they're decent horses for Jack going forward, which is the important thing."

Doncaster executive director Rachel Harwood presented Mick Channon with a bottle of champagne to mark his retirementCredit: David Carr

Nick Bradley is also optimistic about Fast Response for next season after his syndicate's filly took the 6f Listed race.

He said: "Next year we'll get to September, then train her for the Prix de l'Abbaye as five furlongs and soft ground are what she wants. That was a hot race."

Northern triumph

Paul Mulrennan was crowned cock of the north, having ridden the most winners on northern tracks this season.

"I've been very lucky this year," he said. "I've had great support from owners and trainers – too many to mention. It was great to get to 105 winners."

Paul Mulrennan was cock of the northCredit: David Carr

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