Former jockey Jamie Osborne came close to making a dream start to his training career when his second runner, Jump, was narrowly beaten at Southwell today.
The colt led going into the final 100 yards but was caught close home by National Dance the Cowslip Maiden Stakes.
Osborne, who received his licence on December 1st, had earlier seen Sacrementum finish sixth in the Primrose Handicap.
The rookie trainer admitted to plenty of anxiety as he watched his first runner.
"I think I must be the first jockey in racing history to lose weight after giving up riding. Watching Jump was a little bit nerve-wracking because obviously I thought he would nearly win.
"The other horse ran like we expected him to so that wasn't so nerve-wracking, there you go, I have no complaints. And I don't think Jump will have much trouble winning a little maiden race."
Based at Upper Lambourn, Osbourne has a team of 50, including 40 two-year-olds.
"It is a hugely different way of life from riding, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it and we have got a nice team of horses," he said.
"The two which we have run today will probably run again before we have the next one or two ready to come out but we expected Jump to run well and he did - he was only just beaten and we will be back!"
National Dance was having his first outing for James Given having previously been trained in France by John Hammond, and was providing Grimsby-born Ritchie, 20, with his first success from his third ride in public.
Ian Mongan completed the first double of his career when winning the first and second divisions of the Buttercup Amateur Riders Cup on Swagger and Jamorin Dancer respectively but he may soon be joining the professional ranks.
Swagger, part owned by journalist and BBC TV pundit Graham Rock, is trained by Sir Mark Prescott while Jamorin Dancer is with David Nicholls.
"Ian rides very well, we rang him up and offered him the mount - if he is good enough for Sir Mark he is good enough for us," said Nicholls.
Glasgow-born Mongan, 20, was taking his career score to 15 including eight over jumps, and is now based with Gary Moore at Brighton.
Irish apprentice Jamie Spencer stole the Southwell thunder from Osborne when completing his first treble in Britain, at odds of more than 26-1, on Noufari, Calko and Oscar Pepper.
But there was a downside when he picked up a one-day suspension (January 24th) for using his whip above shoulder height on Calko.
David Barron, the trainer of Calko and Oscar Pepper said: "These are Jamie's first winners for me. Calko probably has a bit of ability but he does not want to give it away, Jamie gave him a good ride really."
Spencer, 19, rode a treble at the Curragh on Irish Derby day last year and said: "I have now had 134 winners Flat and jumps.
"I am not too disappointed at getting the whip ban, the horse was starting to hang and I was trying to win and do my best for the owner and trainer - success does not come without a cost."
Trainer Bryn Palling and his Madge are suffering from a bad bout of flu, but they were given a welcome tonic when Dim Ofan raced to a convincing success under Fergus Sweeney in the Primrose Handicap.
Palling was sending out his first winner since August 22 and his representative Jenny Thomas said: "This win will be welcomed by everyone in the yard.
"The blood tests were all right last year but the horses were just not finishing and there must have been something wrong. We have not got many for the all weather so this will keep us going now."
