Sheikh Fahad ready to defend crown in Newmarket Town Plate
Sheikh Fahad Al Thani will clash with former international showjumper Tim Gredley among others as he bids for a second successive victory in the Newmarket Town Plate on Thursday.
The three-and-three-quarter-mile race was instigated in 1665 and is a contest for true amateurs, with recent victors including both an accountant and a neurosurgeon. The winning rider receives a Perpetual Challenge Plate, a silver photo frame, a voucher from the Newmarket high street clothes shop, Goldings, and a box of Powters Newmarket sausages.
Sheikh Fahad, who is a member of the Qatari royal family and a key owner and breeder in British racing, will team up once again with Almagest as he tries to retain his crown.
He said: "It was a great honour and a thrill (to win last year). It was also my first experience of winning a race and it is hard to put into words how that feels, it's a combination of relief and elation.
"I got a great reception back in the weighing room, which was very nice. Riding out and riding in races has given me an insight which I obviously never had before and I think jockeys appreciate that. I now see things more from their perspective.
"I am riding Almagest again. He has been trained for the race and obviously he gave me a great ride last year, but he needs every inch of three and three-quarter miles, if not further. We will give it our best shot."
Gredley, who lives in Stetchworth, just outside of Newmarket, retired from showjumping almost exactly a year ago having represented Britain at the 2008 World Equestrian Games in Aachen.
He now rides in point-to-points and owns this year's Ascot Gold Cup hero Big Orange in partnership with his father, the prominent owner-breeder Bill.
Gredley said: "I am very excited about taking part in the Newmarket Town Plate. I have been going to the July Course ever since I was a kid so to get to ride on the same track as the July Cup is great.
"It's completely different to showjumping, a lot more physically demanding, and I certainly still get nervous - I wouldn't do it if I didn't. There may not be any jumps in the way on Thursday but there are still plenty of things that can go wrong.
"Comparing the two sports is like comparing chalk and cheese. Since I have been riding out thoroughbreds I have started using muscles that I never realised I had before.
"The riding position for racing is much higher in the saddle so every other week I have been putting my stirrups up a peg, which really helps with your balance. Showjumping is all about precision whereas everything happens much quicker in racing."
Gredley will team up with the ex-Nicky Henderson-trained Bivouac in the race with other contenders including a dentist, an ambulance driver, a bookmaker and a full-time mum.
Meanwhile John Oxx has expressed his delight after being sent five juveniles to train for Godolphin. The Currabeg handler enjoyed success with Sheikh Mohammed in previous times with horses such as Witness Box, Heart Lake and Russian Snows running in the owner's maroon and white colours.
With Sheikh Mohammed's interests now concentrated in the Godolphin operation, Oxx is thrilled to have been sent some regally-bred individuals to run in the famous royal blue silks.
He said: "It was very nice to train for Sheikh Mohammed for over 20 years, and to have five two-year-olds for him again.
"They have just come out of a pre-training yard. They are ready to move on with and are in good condition and ready to go.
"Hopefully in a couple of months' time we might have something on the track. They haven't done any fast work yet and are quite a bit away from the track."