Cloudy Glen wins Ladbrokes Trophy in 33-1 triumph for late Preston owner Trevor Hemmings

Trained by Venetia Williams and ridden by Charlie Deutsch, the 33-1 outsider saw off Fiddlerontheroof at Newbury. Remastered looked the likely winner when he fell

Trevor Hemmings’ famous racing silks were carried to a shock Ladbrokes Trophy success by Cloudy Glen.

The late Preston North End owner’s horse, trained by Venetia Williams, was 33-1 in the betting for the prestigious Newbury race.

With Charlie Deutsch in the saddle, the outsider stayed on in gutsy fashion to see off the late challenge of Fiddlerontheroof.

Remastered looked the likely winner when he took a heavy fall at the first fence up the home straight.

Deutsch said: “I can’t believe it to be honest. It’s huge for me and to do it in such distinguished colours is so special. We turned in and we were going so well, we just needed to keep going and he’s done that.

“He’s a funny little horse, he’s very quirky. Venetia’s a genius.”

Cloudy Glen’s triumph came just two days after a memorial service was held for Hemmings at St Andrew’s Church, Leyland.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was among the congregation paying tribute to the three-time Grand National-winning owner, who died in October at the age of 86.

Cloudy Glen went by another horse carrying the Hemmings colours, last year’s winner Cloth Cap, before making the best of his way home.

The winning distance was half-a-length, with 28 lengths back to the third Brahma Bull – and his stablemate Ontheropes was fourth.

Williams said Hemmings, who owned Preston FC for 11 years, would have been thrilled with the result of the £250,000 handicap.

“Trevor he was up there (watching),” she said.

“To have his two horses making the running in the (Ladbrokes Trophy) turning for home, it’s unbelievable.

“He was wonderful and apart from anything else he had the loveliest, wickedest sense of humour.

“He understood horses and he knew you had to be patient. In his business he was really on it but with his horses he was so patient and knew what it took.”

Herefordshire-based Williams revealed that she made a late decision to commit the staying chaser to the big race.

“He’s always been a weird one but he did a piece of work last week and I thought ‘blimey, where did that come from?!’ and decided to run him in this race,” she added.

“He’ll be out partying with us tonight because he’s that sort of horse.”

Remastered and Annamix, another faller, were walked back to the stables, along with leading Eklat De Rire, whose jockey Rachael Blackmore reported that her mount required softer ground.