Sweet Reward

“Thankfully nothing got to me as I wanted to make the running since Sweet Reward is a big, galloping horse. I filled him up and he ran on round the bend and that did him for the whole straight then. We knew a mile was too short for him before he ran last time, but he was back to his trip today and he's well handicapped on last season's form, so it's nice to see him back in front - Olivia Tubb, jockey.”

“Sweet Reward has had a lovely winter break and it's so nice to see these older horses come back year after year. - Jonathan Portman, trainer.”

“It's a shame Sweet Reward has won so far because it's rather flattered him. These older need a bit of help sometimes and they go and do that and the handicapper thinks they've improved a stone. He's getting on and you have to get what you can, when you can. You never know what you're going to get from him. He doesn't like it firm and he doesn't like it heavy - Jonathan Portman, trainer.”

“Sweet Reward seems to like it here. He is tough, brave and he stays and Rob Hornby knows how to ride him. He doesn't like sharp or undulating tracks but this track seems to bring out the best in him. It is great for the Old Stoic Racing Club. I was worried about him staying the mile and a quarter on soft ground last time but I had none of those worries today - Jonathan Portman, trainer.”

“Sweet Reward's ideap trip is 1m1f but he did stay today. I worried he wouldn't stay on the ground. He likes to get his toe in and is very brave. It took him a couple of races to blow the cobwebs away after his winter break - Jonathan Portman, trainer.”

“I thought Sweet Reward would cope best of my runners on this ground and Rob [Hornby] gave him a super ride at Sandown last time when the horse got his confidence. I wasn't in a rush to put him in an apprentice race but was keen to get him to Newbury, which is a lovely track, nice and straightforward, while Tyler is a good chap. The handicapper can get hysterical when something wins that far and if he does that, it's going to be very dull. He's a horse who has developed nicely and I knew he'd be a slow-burner. If we race him conservatively he could improve again next year; he's still developing. I always thought nine furlongs was ideal and ten would be okay on certain tracks. He reminds me very much of Balmoral Castle, whom I used to train - Jonathan Portman, trainer.”