By Peter Moore at Newbury Friday 27th February 2026
History-making jockey Aamilah Aswat continued her fine form in the saddle when Guchen provided her with a second win in six rides in the opening 2m4½f handicap hurdle for conditionals at Newbury on the opening day of the Bet Victor Weekend.
Aswat, 20, became the first black woman to ride a winner over jumps in Britain when she partnered the Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls-trained six-year-old at Kempton this month, and she followed that up with a convincing 19 length success over Karma Police.
Aswat said: “I have to thank Kim and Mat, and the owners too. It’s a great feeling, and nobody knows quite how much hard work goes into it, with the background of everything, and I’m very pleased.
“He ran brilliantly for me and he’s always a lovely spin. He jumped really well and I couldn’t have asked for any better. There was plenty left in the tank. I didn’t want to look back so I just thought to keep going.”
Fourteen times champion trainer Paul Nicholls appears to have another smart youngster at his disposal after Talk To The Man produced an impressive performance to extend his unbeaten record over hurdles.
The six-year-old cruised to a three-and-a-half-length victory in the 2m4½f novice hurdle to follow up his success at Taunton this month.
Nicholls said: “He’s a very smart horse with a bit of luck. His bumper form was good and he won well at Taunton when he beat a good horse. We then saw a very nice gallop at home.”
Nicholls, is eyeing an appearance at Aintree for the gelding, who he believes will be primed for a career over fences next term.
He said: “He’ll get three miles and I’d say we’ll go to Aintree next. I think he’ll stay well, but he’s a beautiful horse to go chasing with next season. He’s needed time, which is why he’s not run much, but it’ll repay with him. He’s an exciting horse.”
Stuart Edmunds is set to return to Grade 1 company with Miami Magic following his victory in the 2m7½f novice chase.
The seven-year-old finished third of four in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown in January, but a step up in trip appeared to do the trick as he finished 15 lengths clear of That’s Nice in second.
Edmunds said: “I’m very pleased with him and the plan is now to go to Aintree. The idea was to miss Cheltenham because we probably blew our mark when he won there on New Year’s Day, but he’s won that nicely and it’s proved that he stays the trip.”
Cecilia Star ran a promising fifth at Kempton recently, with improvement shown today with the filly holding off the determined challenge of Love You Back by a neck for the Lucy Wadham Newmarket yard.
Lightly raced Daytime Dreaming backed up his victory at Ludlow twenty five days ago by taking the 2m 1/2f handicap chase with Jack Andrew in the plate.
Approaching the final fence, three horses were all in line, but Daytime Dreaming pulled clear to score by a length.
The finale on the card went to the Katy Price trained Peacenik under Gavin Sheehan. The seven-year-old was clear of the majority of the field and pulled away to bolt home by eight lengths.