'It's an amazing thrill, there's nothing quite as satisfying as that' - Sammy Jo Bell is a Legends winner again

You cannot keep a good woman down. Sammy Jo Bell returned from a serious knee injury to land a third Vickers.bet Leger Legends race in five years on Hartswood for old boss Richard Fahey.

But there was agony for Megan Nicholls, who looked to have the race won when Terries Royale went clear, only for the leader to hang across the track and be caught close home.

The mile race raised money for Graham Lee, who was present, and the Injured Jockeys Fund, so it was fitting it showcased a rider who missed last year's contest due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Graham Lee was present for the Leger Legends raceCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"In April last year I fell off, landed on my feet and it just snapped," Bell said. "But I did rehab at Jack Berry House and they were amazing."

She rode 83 winners in her time apprenticed to Fahey, who also trained the horses on whom she landed this race for former jockeys in 2019 and 2022.

"What makes it extra special for me is riding for Richard because he was a massive part of my career," Bell said. "I rang him a couple of weeks ago and he put a horse in for me.

"It's an amazing thrill; there's nothing quite as satisfying as that. I think I should stop while I'm ahead!"

She was quick to rule out a full-time return to race-riding. "That part of my life is gone but it's fantastic to get the opportunity to do it again with these great jockeys," she said.

No other rider has won this more than once but Bell said: "It's great just to be part of the day for such a good cause, for Graham Lee and the Injured Jockeys Fund."

Sammy Jo Bell: "It's great just to be part of the day for such a good cause"Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Nicholls was beaten just three-quarters of a length on Terries Royale and said: "I'm gutted. I thought I'd got it. He's a nice horse but still so babyish. He travelled nearly too well into the race, hit the front and was just green. He got lonely; it was a shame nobody came to me earlier."

No Great mistake this time

Marco Ghiani won his second Group 3 race of the year on Great Generation, biding his time and pouncing late to land the Japan Racing Association Fillies' Stakes by a length.

He had won on the filly at Lingfield in May and learned from their subsequent defeat at York, where she led inside the final furlong only to fade into fourth.

"She's a horse you need to know really well," the jockey said. "Last time I rode her at York, when I pressed the button she went straight away and I had nothing left in the last 20 yards. Today I kept hold of her as Iong as I could.

"It went very smoothly for her today. It was great to see her back winning."

Tele makes his mark in soft ground

Persistent rain may not have helped the attendance on "Sunday Funday" but it helped Telemark in the £65,000 7f handicap.

Having finished no closer than eighth in three outings since he won at Thirsk in June, he bounced back on ground which was changed officially to soft just beforehand, leading late on under Harry Davies.

Telemark (left) gets up under Harry DaviesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I wasn't expecting ground like that – and he likes it," said joint trainer Simon Crisford. "He's always been a horse with some talent, but things haven't always dropped right for him, and that ground enabled him to be seen at his best. He's done it well."

Crisford and his son had won here with Shout on Friday and he said: "It's always nice to have a couple of winners at a festival meeting like Doncaster, but it's a busy time of year, so we've got to keep going." 

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