Joy for Jeremy Clarkson as The Hawkstonian claims first win

Jeremy Clarkson was planning a Friday night celebration after watching the The Hawkstonian win for the first time at Ffos Las.

The Ben Pauling-trained grey is named after Clarkson’s Hawkstone Brewery and the TV presenter is part of the owning syndicate set up by Old Gold Racing.

The Hawkstonian had been unsuccessful in five previous starts but ridden by Ben Jones in the tigerbet.co.uk Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Hurdle, he prevailed in a tight finish at odds of 13-2.

In a post on X, Clarkson said: “Hawkstonians. I’m receiving word that our horse triumphed today at the Blue Ditch course in Wales. I’m going to celebrate with a beer.”

Jones hopes the victory may now warrant a free meal in Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog.

“Honestly, if you saw him at home – he’s an absolute rocket,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s gone to the track and disappointed us a little bit, I think it’s just taken a while for the penny to drop.

“He had a tongue strap on for the first time today which has played to his favour and I think that wet, sloppy ground where you can get through it meant he hit the line strong, which he hasn’t been doing until today.

“He’s still a bit green but what I liked was when the other came upsides him, he put his head down and battled on.

“I might get a free meal in the pub now!”