MARLBOROUGH trainer Martin Bosley had a welcome change of luck when his charge Fine Ruler won the seven-furlong maiden at Kempton in midweek ridden by local jockey George Baker.

"It was all very emotional," said the Lockeridge handler, whose father John died from pneumonia last week.

He added: "My vet gave me a ring and said it was timely intervention from above."

The trainer recalled how his father had a hand in jockey George Baker's first ever success.

He told Turf Talk: "Dad took George up in the horse box, just the two of them, when he rode his first winner on Beauchamp Flyer when he was just 16.

"Dad called in at home with George on the way back to watch the race again, had a nip of whisky with the horse box sitting outside, and I think he got back about 1am.

"George gave Fine Ruler a great ride. How he got from last out of the back straight to third off the home turn I don't know, he's a genius at Kempton and Lingfield.

"Fine Ruler is a talented horse but needs everything to fall in place for him. He tends to pull a bit too much for his own good. Hopefully he will go on and be successful again.

"We haven't had too many runners recently due to the bad ground, but we should be cracking on now and hopefully have some more success over the jumps."