Thomas and Nicholls excited ahead of Leger Legends return

Two jockeys-turned-trainers will return to the saddle for the Ubettabelieveit Leger Legends Stakes on the opening day of Doncaster’s St Leger meeting.

The line-up for the race is headed by the reigning Grand National champion Sam Waley-Cohen, who won the Aintree marathon aboard Noble Yeats this April in what was his last ride under rules before retiring.

The one-mile Leger Legends, run to raise funds for the National Horseracing College and Jack Berry House, will see the rider back on the racecourse in the name of charity as he joins 14 former riders.

Jump jockeys are well represented in the contest this time around, with Robbie Power, Barry Geraghty, Alain Cawley, David Crosse, Brian Harding and Adrian Lane all partaking.

Joining them is Sam Thomas, another former National Hunt rider who was famously connected with both Kauto Star and Denman – winning the 2007 Betfair Chase on the former and the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup on the latter.

Thomas now trains in Cardiff and enjoyed the most valuable win of his second career in December when Iwilldoit landed the Welsh Grand National.

“I’m really looking forward to it, it’ll be a bit of fun and hopefully we can raise some money for charity,” he said.

“It’ll be great to see everyone again. I’m fortunate in that I ride out every day, so it’ll be nice to get back on the track.

“I won’t be lacking for fitness, anyway – I’m probably busier now than I ever was when I was riding, so it should be fun.