Winston’s mystery ban halts racing comeback after just two rides in Bahrain

The former top Flat jockey Robert Winston, who made an unexpected and successful return to race-riding in Bahrain last week, has had his licence to ride in the country suspended and is believed to have returned to Britain while an investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding his departure.

Winston, a former champion apprentice, was on course to be crowned champion jockey on the Flat in 2005 when he suffered serious injuries in a fall at Ayr, and while he has two Group One winners to his name – most recently aboard Librisa Breeze in the 2017 Champions Sprint at Ascot – he was also banned for a year in 2007 by the British Horseracing Authority’s independent disciplinary panel for passing information for reward.

Winston initially announced his retirement from race-riding in 2019, citing problems maintaining his weight and the ongoing effects of injuries.

He made a low-key return to action in the 2021 and 2022 seasons but had not ridden in Britain since March 2022 when he announced in mid-October that he had been granted a licence by the authorities in Bahrain ahead of the start of the country’s racing season on 31 October.

Winston rode a double from two mounts on his return to the saddle last week but it has now emerged that his contract with trainer Paul Smith has been terminated and that his licence has been suspended.

A spokesperson for the Bahrain Turf Club, quoted in the Racing Post on Friday, confirmed that “following an incident involving Mr Robert Winston, his licence was suspended” and added that the circumstances are “the subject of an ongoing investigation”.

Colonel to take command over National fences

The baton passes from one code to another in the space of just over an hour on Saturday afternoon as the Grand National fences at Aintree are jumped for the first time this season in the Grand Sefton Chase before the November Handicap at Doncaster brings down the curtain on the 2025 Flat campaign on turf.

Class has been as important as previous experience of the unusual obstacles in recent renewals of the Grand Sefton, with three of the last four winners having their first start over the course, and the lightly raced Colonel Harry (2.40) is interesting at around 12-1 to extend the sequence.

Jamie Snowden’s eight-year-old was tried against the best novices of his year in the 2023-24 campaign, remains fairly weighted on the balance of his chase form and is likely to prove ideally suited by Saturday’s track and trip.

Aintree 12.55: Highly competitive despite the small field, but Idem went close on his recent return to action and should progress for the run.

Wincanton 1.10: The consistent Tapley returns to chasing for the first time in nearly a year off a 9lb lower mark and Isabelle Ryder’s 7lb claim is an added bonus.

Doncaster 1.25: This return to soft ground seems sure to suit Montassib after a solid performance on good-to-firm at Group One level last time.

Wincanton 1.45: Paul Nicholls’s Jubilee Alpha was a dual winner in Listed events last season and can continue her progress in her first start outside novice company.

Aintree 2.05: Highlands Legacy did well to win on his chase debut after allowing the favourite first run and could put the experience to good use.

Wincanton 2.23: The classy hurdler Blueking d’Oroux was beaten at 2-9 on his chase debut at Newton Abbot and Henry de Bromhead’s Cobra Queen, who is on a hat-trick, is a more appealing bet at the likely odds.

Wincanton 2.55: A procession at long odds-on is in prospect for Rubaud, the winner for the last two seasons.

Doncaster 3.10: The 1,000 Guineas fourth, Elwateen, is an interesting runner but unproven on the ground so John & Thady Gosden’s Danielle, at her best in testing conditions, looks the safer bet.

Wincanton 3.30: Threeunderthrufive was pulled up on his final two starts last season but has gone well fresh in the past and returns after a wind operation. He can give Nicholls, his trainer, a fifth win in the last nine runnings of Wincanton’s early-season highlight.

Doncaster 3.45: A typically competitive finale for the Flat season on turf, but the hat-trick seeking Atherstone Warrior is fast-improving, goes well on soft ground and could find more for the step up to 12 furlongs.