THERE was no return to the Cheltenham Festival winner's enclosure for 2008 Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Thomas last week.

The Grosmont-raised trainer's 16/1 shot Steel Ally came fifth out of six under Dylan Johnston in the £200,000 Arkle Novices' Chase over two miles, struggling home from three out, while sadly sixth horse Hansard stumbled and fell running on the flat, sustaining fatal injuries.

Then 9/1 shot C'est Different couldn't stay with the pace in the closing stages of the three-mile £110,000 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, finishing 15th out of 24 starters.

There were two seconds on Sunday at Ffos Las though, 5/4 shot Whiskey Yankee again under Johnston coming home 7L behind runaway 5/6 favourite Lon Chaney under champion jockey Sean Bowen in the Celtic Subaru Novices' Hurdle.

Johnston also rode 6/1 shot Alfie's Princess to near victory in the Welsh Gold Cup Handicap Chase, beaten into second by just 1/2L by 17/2 chance Big City Roller, which earned a £4,252 pay out.

Thomas’ Special John was also set to race at Exeter yesterday (March 17), marking the return to the saddle of Ascot Chase-winning jockey Matt Griffiths, over four years after being involved in a fatal crash on Exmoor that put him in intensive care with a serious brain injury.

Meanwhile, Devauden trainer Thomas Faulkner enjoyed three wins on the flat this month, with Fifty Sent under Rob Hornby taking two £6,000 Bet MGM Classified Stakes races in 10 days at Southwell by 2 1/4L and then 1/2L on Saturday, followed on Monday by Desiderata winning the BetMGM Stakes at Wolverhampton under Billy Loughnane by 1L to land a £3,140 pay out.

Pandy's Nikki Evans was also in the winner's enclosure at Wolverhampton when 13/2 shot Virtual Hug won the 1m 4f £6,000 handicap by a neck.