Trainer Linda Jewell is celebrating the biggest win of her career – but she didn’t have a bet.

Jewell, who owns Southfield Stables in Sutton Valence, saw 11/1 shot Itoldyou win the Sussex National at Plumpton on Sunday.

The nine-year-old horse won the three-mile, five-furlong race by two lengths, to the delight of trainer Jewell, jockey Tom Cannon and owners the Valence Racing Too consortium, who will share almost £15,700 in prize money.

Itoldyou fell in a practice run at Plumpton but came good on the day.

Jewell said: “It was a big thing to enter a race of this category. All the top trainers came from far and wide as there was a big purse to win.

“We gave him a prep run three weeks ago which didn’t work out – he tripped at the first fence. We had a decision to make, whether to be brave and run him, or pull him out of the race.

“We believed in him – we knew he had ability, so we thought we’d give it a chance. There were 14 starters, with two pulling out because of the ground and only five finished.

“It was a gruelling test of stamina but Tom rode beautifully and I can’t stress enough the credit the staff at the stables deserve.

“It’s not about me and the jockey. We tend to get the glory but the staff do a fantastic job. I don’t gamble on my horses but it’s great when everything comes together.”

Jewell started her career in point-to-point and has been training horses at Southfield for more than 20 years. The trainer and her team look after 20 horses, with Jewell admitting she’s always had a soft spot for Itoldyou.