COULD there be an unusual family double for Welsh trainer Tim Vaughan today? He is one of the 12 amateur riders, of varying age and experience, from all over Britain set to take part in today’s 350th running of the Newmarket Town Plate at Newmarket’s July Course. He will be trying to emulate the success of his 11-year-old son Ed in the Dingle Derby a fortnight ago.

The Newmarket Town Plate has been run at Newmarket’s Round Course since 1666. The race was instigated by King Charles II, who also won the first running. The historic contest is run over a stamina-sapping three-and-three-quarter-mile course, and boasts a jockey’s prize of a Perpetual Challenge Plate; a photo frame; a voucher from the Newmarket High Street clothes shop Golding; and a box of Powters Celebrated Newmarket Sausages.

Tim Vaughan, on Dovils Date, will be race-riding for the first time in over 12 years. “It’s my 40th birthday on Sunday,” he said, “and I thought that it would be the ideal excuse to get back in shape, lose some weight, and show two of my kids, who are both riding mad, what I could do before I was too old!

“Ed, my eldest, is 11 years old and has won 70 pony races, and he became the youngest child either to take part in or win the famous Dingle Derby. Grace is a year younger and this year has qualified four different ponies for the Horse Of The Year Show.

“The Town Plate gives me a chance to show them what I can do before it is too late. I represented Wales at show jumping when I was younger and was also twice champion Welsh point-to-point rider, winning a total of 117 races, before my training career began to take off and I retired at the age of 27.”