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Five for de Sousa at Sandown

Silvestre de SousaSilvestre de Sousa
© Photo Healy Racing

Silvestre de Sousa continued his magnificent run of form with a near 969-1 five-timer at Sandown.

Champion jockey in the UK in 2015, the Brazilian led this year's British title race by 11 winners ahead of Friday's action after riding four winners at Yarmouth on Wednesday and one at Newbury on Thursday.

He got the afternoon off to a flyer aboard the Mark Johnston-trained Branscombe (8-1) in the five-furlong novice event and swiftly doubled up for the Middleham handler on Falmouth Light (5-1) in the seven-furlong maiden.

De Sousa brought up his hat-trick as Roger Varian's 7-4 favourite Call Me Grumpy scooted clear in the seven-furlong handicap and it was similarly easy work aboard his stablemate Shargiah, who comfortably justified 11-8 favouritism in the nine-furlong handicap.

He looked to have a big chance of continuing his domination of the card in the one-mile fillies' handicap aboard 6-4 joint-favourite Tirania, but she was beaten a neck by market rival Time Chaser, ridden by James Doyle.

De Sousa sat out the penultimate race of the day, which went to 7-1 shot Jupiter Light, but book-ended the card aboard the Johnston-trained Dominating (7-4 favourite) in the last.