Godolphin trained Saeed Bin Surour odds shorten in UK trainer’s championship

Dubai: Godolphin trained Saeed Bin Surour has attracted substantial attention after being handed charge of the operation’s Moulton Paddocks training yard, albeit on an interim basis.

A five-time champion trainer in the UK, the Emirati handler has come into strong consideration to regain the title he last held in 2004.

Bookmakers Coral have cut Bin Surour’s odds to 6-1 (from 10-1) to win the prestigious honour after he was formally given the green signal by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to saddle runners from the historic Newmarket stable, in addition to preparing horses from the neighbouring Godolphin Stables.

“Saeed Bin Surour will take charge of almost 400 horses having been given the all-clear by the BHA, and with such numbers at his disposal, it’s not surprising some punters are backing him to regain the trainers’ title he last held in 2004,” Coral’s PR Manager David Stevens said on the firm’s website.

“The news that a further seven horses trained by Mahmoud Al Zarouni had tested positive for steroids was another blow to racing, and it is vital that all future Godolphin runners are clean for punters to have the utmost confidence in them and the sport as a betting medium, which makes the Bin Suroor all-clear all the more important,” added Stevens.

When Gulf News spoke to Bin Surour earlier this week, the Emirati stressed that he never aspired to set goals for himself that would be based on winning titles.

“My goal has always been to ensure that every horse that I train runs to the best of his ability. My job is to ensure that he is fit and ready to perform up to expectations,” he said. “At the end of the day, every winner I saddle is special to me. I don’t really keep track of the score, it does not help me raise my game.

“Obviously, the objective of every trainer is to win as many races as they can. If it helps you win the title, it’s a bonus.”

Richard Hannon, three-time British Champion Trainer, is the 5-4 favourite to add to his 1992, 2010 and 2011 titles, while Irish maestro Aidan O’Brien , who in 2001 became the youngest ever Champion British Trainer, and the first overseas holder of the title since, well, since the legendary Vincent O’Brien, is offered at 13-8.

Bin Surour has leap-frogged former champion John Gosden and Sir Michael Stoute (both 8-1) to third favourite.

Richard Hughes, Hannon’s stable-jockey, is the 2-5 favourite to emerge champion ahead of Ryan Moore (2-1) and Godolphin’s Silvestre de Sousa (12-1).

Flat Trainers’ Championship

5-4 Richard Hannon, 13-8 Aidan O’Brien, 6 (from 10) Saeed Bin Surour, 8 John Gosden, Sir Michael Stoute, 20-1 Marco Botti, 33-1 Mark Johnston, 40-1 Sir Henry Cecil.

Flat Jockeys’ Championship

2-5 Richard Hughes, 2-1 Ryan Moore, 12-1 Silvestre de Sousa, 16-1 William Buick, 20-1 Graham Lee rest bar 50