Vincent Ho’s latest spell riding in the UK got off to the best possible start when he won on just his second ride.

Ho made his British debut in 2018 and rode a winner on his first attempt for trainer Mark Johnston. Johnston has since passed on the training licence to his son, Charlie, who provided Ho with three rides at Pontefract on Friday.

The first failed to take a hand on his racecourse debut but Ho and Johnston didn’t have to wait long as LOVE DE VEGA proved too strong for his rivals in the 1600m handicap.

"It was a very straightforward ride – I put him in second position and just kept kicking," Ho told Racing TV.

"After the line I couldn't pull him up. He's a fit, strong horse and can probably go a little bit further because this track goes uphill a bit but in the last three furlongs he just kept going."

The 34-year-old was having the first rides of a month-long spell in Britain which includes the Goodwood Festival, which starts on July 30.

"I've always missed riding here," Ho continued. "I was supposed to be here for Goodwood last year as well but unfortunately I got an injury in Japan.

“I want to do it this summer and I’d rather ride here first and then head to Japan afterwards. I always love and enjoy riding here. Whenever I go back to Hong Kong I always improve as a rider, so it really helps me a lot."

Ho’s third and final ride at Pontefract, also for Johnston, made little impact and it was a similar scenario for his two mounts at Doncaster on Saturday. PERSIAN PHOENIX ran a respectable fifth of nine for Johnston but WOODSTOCK cut little ice, this time for trainer Ruth Carr.