22 December 2023 , 19:30
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Gifted young jump jockey Rex Dingle hopes to unwrap his Christmas presents two days early at Ascot on Saturday.
The 25-year-old will be reunited with the best horse he has been associated with in his short career, the game staying hurdler Dashel Drasher in the Grade 1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle.
And he will be aboard the progressive Blackjack Magic, likely to start favourite for the £100,000 Howden Silver Cup.
Dingle has struck on both horses this term, Dashel Drasher denying Paisley Park in a frantic finish to the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, while Blackjack Magic took his form to a new level with victory in the Badger Beer Chase at Wincanton.
He has won three times on the Jeremy Scott-trained Dashel Drasher and finished out of the frame only twice in 12 starts. The pair were only beaten three quarters of a length in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
'I'm so organised - I've already bought and wrapped presents for next Christmas'
“I feel very lucky to be riding Dashel Drasher,” he said. “There are not many horses of his class in Britain. It’s great that a small yard like the Scotts, who also bred him, have shown such faith in me.”
Dingle, raised on a farm not far from the now defunct Folkestone racecourse in Kent, landed a Cheltenham Festival victory as a conditional when he captured the Martin Pipe Hurdle on Indefatigable in 2020.
Dashel Drasher: bids for the Long Walk Hurdle“That was unexpected because it was a spare ride,” he said. “It was an amazing feeling.
“Dashel Drasher and Blackjack Magic come from yards I have an association with. The Long Walk will be more competitive than the Newbury race when we meet Paisley Park, Champ and some up and coming stayers.
“I’m really looking forward to riding Blackjack Magic. He improved through the summer and won nicely at Wincanton.
“I know Anthony Honeyball thought he might need the run that day so we hope he can come on for that.”