News Sandown fairytale continues for Captain Guy Disney and Rathlin Rose

Sandown fairytale continues for Captain Guy Disney and Rathlin Rose

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Captain Guy Disney shone once more at Sandown as Rathlin Rose created Castel Royal Artillery Gold Cup history by becoming the first back-to-back winner of the race for military amateur riders.

Disney lost his right leg below the knee after being injured when his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while he was serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in July 2009, and made headlines 12 months ago as he became the first jockey to ride a winner under Rules in Britain with a prosthetic leg.

He also won the Grand Military Gold Cup on the same horse last March, but looked to face a tall order two out this time, with Renard, who had been given a bold ride from the front by Captain Will Kellard, holding a five-length lead turning into the straight.

However, his stride began to shorten approaching the last, leading to a first hesitant jump and giving the David Pipe-trained Rathlin Rose and Midnight Monty time to mount a challenge.

Seizing his opportunity, Rathlin Rose, who was sent off the 9-4 favourite, pulled four and a half lengths clear of Midnight Monty. Renard faded into third.

Disney said: "I thought he'd (Renard) come back to us a bit as he went off a decent pace. I knew mine goes up the hill and he ran well when he was sixth in the Welsh National.

"I thought 'Renard can't get three miles around here on testing ground' and when I asked him to go, he had a lovely build-up of speed.

"It was a class performance from the Pipes, getting him ready again, and it was nice of the owners to let me ride him again - it's a real privilege. I went to see Rodi Greene (jockey coach) for some tips and he just said try not to be too busy on him.

"It's extraordinary, I should call it a day having won three on him, it's massive, but the trouble is last year is a long time ago and there's no point celebrating a win a year ago.

"I was quite confident today and I thought I'd get there, but I thought Orbasa might be a threat.

"Whether it is a maiden point-to-point or here, winning is a drug."