Last year’s champion apprentice returns to action at Lingfield Park for the first time since injuring his neck in January
The Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster will launch the Flat campaign on turf a week on Saturday so the timing could hardly be better for Jason Watson, last year’s champion apprentice, as he returns to action at Lingfield on Friday for the first time since injuring his neck in a fall at Kempton in early January.
Watson was injured just a fortnight after being appointed as first jockey to Roger Charlton’s Beckhampton stable, at the end of a title-winning season that included a memorable short-head win on Gifted Master, the top-weight, in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.
In recent seasons, Oisin Murphy and Tom Marquand have both transitioned smoothly into the professional ranks after winning the apprentice title. Others have found it more difficult to establish themselves as senior jockeys but Watson could hardly have a better foundation for his first full season without a claim than his new role with one of the finest trainers of the last 30 years.
Watson has one ride at Lingfield on Amanda Perrett’s Azets (2.10), a 300,000gns yearling who appears to be starting out his handicapping career on a very workable mark. He was given plenty to do at Kempton last time out but finished well to be within two lengths of the winner and looked to have plenty left in the tank. An initial rating of 69 looks generous and he should begin his progress through the handicapping ranks without too much trouble. Exceeding Power (3.50) and the veteran Sandfrankskipsgo (3.15) are both worth a close look at decent odds on the same card.
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