RACING: Lacey happy with lot (From Witney Gazette)

RACING: Lacey happy with lot

4:18pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport By Russell Smith, Sports reporter specialising in horse racing. Call me on 01865 425453

Tom Lacey was delighted to saddle a winner with his first runner under National Hunt Rules when Trouble Digger scored at Lingfield – but he has no plans to take out a full training licence.

The 43-year-old, who specialises in breaking-in horses and pre-training at Pudlicote near Chipping Norton, sent out the son of 1995 Ascot Gold Cup hero Double Trigger to land a maiden hunters’ chase at the Surrey track.

Amateur rider Sam Drinkwater had the two-and-a-half mile contest in safe keeping approaching the second-last, and he only had to ride out the 6-1 shot with hands and heels to beat evens favourite Penmore Mill by five lengths.

“We thought we would go and serve it up to him,” said Lacey.

“It was a good performance.

“The race panned out exactly how we wanted it and Sam rides all of mine. He is a good lad.”

Lacey, who served his apprenticeship under Captain Charles Radclyffe at Lew, near Witney, and was also head lad to Brian Meehan, added: “That is my first hunter chase winner, although I have had plenty of point-to-point winners.

“It is hard work this job, so it is always great to have a winner no matter what level it is.

“I have been doing this for a long time and it is a hell of a leveller this game.

“You have to keep your feet firmly on the floor. There is no room for complacency or slacking, but of course it was special.”

Despite the success with the Johnny Wills-owned eight-year-old, Lacey has no thoughts of taking out a full licence.

“There are too many trainers struggling with 15 bad horses,” he added. “No-one in their right minds would do it.”