LILY BRADSTOCK rode a winner at Plumpton on Monday for her mother, Sara, who trains as few as ‘four or five’ horses.
Smuggler’s Haven finished nine and a half lengths in front in the two and a half mile hurdle for his second win of the season.
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As well as holding her amateur license and frequently riding for her mother, Lily is also assistant trainer to her mother at the family’s historic yard in Oxfordshire.
Sara was, until his sad passing in March, married to Mark Bradstock.
The very popular figure, who died aged 66, most famously trained Coneygree to become the first novice to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for 40 years.
But he started life out as a stable lad for trainer for Fulke Walwyn in Lambourne, before becoming his assistant for five years while also riding as an amateur.
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During his career in the saddle, he rode 18 winners, including three for the Queen Mother.
Following his death, which came after a very long illness, there was an outpouring of support for the popular trainer who made racing history.
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His wife and daughter have now continued on his legacy, and, despite their small team of horses, are getting back on the big stage.
Mr Vango, who was last seen pulling up in the Scottish grand National, will be heading to the Welsh Grand National in late December.
And Smuggler’s Haven looks an exciting prospect too.
In her post-race interview with Luke Harvey, Bradstock said: “We just need some more horses to put on them. We’ve got four or five at the moment.
“It’s just crazy – we’ve won Gold Cup, Hennessy’s. I took my eye off the ball when it came to getting more horses when Mark was very ill.
“And then he kept saying – you’ve got to keep going! You’ve got to keep going! As he was going…
“But I don’t want hundreds. I just want 20. We are so lucky with our gallops. We’ve got the best grass all the time. I mean, it’s got to be better to gallop the horses on what they race on.
“We’ve got to love the all weather, but we are almost always on the grass.
“It’s lovely to be on the grass.
“I love doing it. I like being with them and finding a way to get the best out of them.”
Of her daughter, she said: “Lily’s role is massive and she works incredibly hard. She adores the horses and does much of the physical work.
“She’s worked here solidly since she left school. She rides as an amateur and wants to continue doing that, while she also has the top eventer Tout Chocolat.
“Lily has an incredible way with horses, and they just love her.”
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