tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814837407440617012024-03-13T12:39:21.692+00:00Racing CalendarA celebration of horse racing featuring jockey, trainer and horse profilesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-4386922182159025352024-02-13T04:44:00.000+00:002024-02-13T19:12:56.794+00:00Ebor Handicap<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIXuZxmVL-VogX6cmGvwxxJgZV73SBQknDVjgwuIYP6Co1fiO1WbC2MVtQIdtwJxhoGlWqtHwM7dmRh6YCI8YiWxC55N_E7kNnjfUfyrXFSKs5oNYFR7u5sJIHJOnSYgeArhrwVlFpq7Z5eFQZEwVL8GxKxmD3nRQZeGxGiCG3itWsSl3RU6Cp9JvJ8iJ/s640/equine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIXuZxmVL-VogX6cmGvwxxJgZV73SBQknDVjgwuIYP6Co1fiO1WbC2MVtQIdtwJxhoGlWqtHwM7dmRh6YCI8YiWxC55N_E7kNnjfUfyrXFSKs5oNYFR7u5sJIHJOnSYgeArhrwVlFpq7Z5eFQZEwVL8GxKxmD3nRQZeGxGiCG3itWsSl3RU6Cp9JvJ8iJ/s320/equine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Taking its name from 'Eboracum', the
Roman name for York, the Ebor Handicap is worth £1 million in prize
money, of which £600,000 goes to the winner, making it the most
valuable race of its kind in Britain. Inaugurated, as the Great Ebor
Handicap, in 1843, the race is run over one mile and six furlongs at
York Racecourse, where it forms the centrepiece of the four-day Ebor
Festival, staged annually in late August. Since 2019, when prize
money was increased to its current level, the Ebor Handicap has been
open to horses aged four years and upwards.<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Flint Jack, who recorded back-to-back
victories in the Ebor Handicap in 1922 and 1923, remains the only
horse to win the race more than once. The legendary Lester Piggott
remains the leading jockey in the history of the Ebor Handicap, with
five winners between 1958 and 1983. His quintet included Gladness,
who also won the Gold Cup at Ascot and the Goodwood Cup in 1958, and
Jupiter Island, who subsequently became the first British-trained
winner of the Japan Cup, in 1983. Other notable winners of the Ebor
Handicap include Sea Pigeon (1979), who went on the win the Champion
Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival twice, in 1980 and 1981, and
Sergeant (2005), who completed a notable treble by winning the
Northumberland Plate, Ebor Handicap and Cesarewitch Handicap in the
same season.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /><br />
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-22100265086475311162024-02-01T18:50:00.000+00:002024-02-13T19:16:00.159+00:00Triumph Hurdle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjw5J3Owjes6ORTWdiwyA2FtmUlZVMO-mFliyOydQqN9MUA0vWGX9da0jnRBS8z8toGhqUPdgg_Vprc1j0_LE3vRicxSQvaoVQTfVDxJLhTUk6gsJYgxq7wroYIOVpgXEusF27E66YiMCQfwENIOIJlkQvbRoxMwqFgLl1RQLwPd8WO4-wUZB6mDmVBod/s640/drawing.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="640" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjw5J3Owjes6ORTWdiwyA2FtmUlZVMO-mFliyOydQqN9MUA0vWGX9da0jnRBS8z8toGhqUPdgg_Vprc1j0_LE3vRicxSQvaoVQTfVDxJLhTUk6gsJYgxq7wroYIOVpgXEusF27E66YiMCQfwENIOIJlkQvbRoxMwqFgLl1RQLwPd8WO4-wUZB6mDmVBod/s320/drawing.png" width="320" /></a></div>The Triumph Hurdle is
Grade 1 juvenile novices' hurdle run over 2 miles and 179 yards on
the New Course at Cheltenham in March. Restricted, exclusively, to
horses aged four years – who, of course, start the season aged
three years – the race is currently scheduled as the opening
contest on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival.<p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Triumph Hurdle was
inaugurated, at the now-defunct Hurst Park, in West Molesey, Surrey,
in 1939 and, following the Second World War, was run, uninterrupted,
until 1962. Hurst Park closed permanently that year and, in 1965, the
Triumph Hurdle was resurrected at Cheltenham, becoming part of the
Festival programme in 1968. The race was initially sponsored by the
Daily Express, followed, briefly, by the Elite Racing Club and, since
2002, by JCB.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Four winners of what
is, effectively, the seasonal championship for juvenile hurdlers in
Britain – namely Clair Soleil (1953), Persian War (1967), Kribensis
(1990) and Katchit (2007) – have gone on to win the Champion
Hurdle later in their careers. Interestingly, the jockey of the 1954
winner, Prince Charlemagne, was none other than 18-year-old Lester
Piggott, who would win his first Derby on Never Say Die later the
same year.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Veteran Seven Barrows
trainer Nicky Henderson has saddled seven winners of the Triumph
Hurdle – First Bout (1985), Alone Success (1987), Katarino (1999),
Zaynar (2009), Soldatino (2010), Peace And Co (2015) and Pentland
Hills (2019) – making him the most successful handler in the
history of the race. Anyone looking ahead to the 2023 renewal,
scheduled for 1:30pm on Friday, March 18, might also like to bear in
mind that seven of the last ten winners were trained in Ireland; at
this still early stage, the once-raced French filly Lossiemouth heads
the ante-post betting market.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /><span style="color: #003300;"><span face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></span><br />
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-85470467091213433362024-01-04T02:33:00.002+00:002024-02-13T19:17:29.921+00:00One For Arthur<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_CHAULr0T9s3asqJmJZewHww2RceHyiWJQ3uMgXBqJRTUdZ3JOp7ZLbcmaD4vpw4PYjjlWcLMPvCFjvNcAK-rAkQnsiQgS2Zj2dERwgSSszlNRn9hT1EvC6dSVZTu5D17D3HPKfcYZJ-AAiIYz1oDx4imvqNep_EtdEmXEQygljAwj8UGtUrtmbPUZG5/s640/horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_CHAULr0T9s3asqJmJZewHww2RceHyiWJQ3uMgXBqJRTUdZ3JOp7ZLbcmaD4vpw4PYjjlWcLMPvCFjvNcAK-rAkQnsiQgS2Zj2dERwgSSszlNRn9hT1EvC6dSVZTu5D17D3HPKfcYZJ-AAiIYz1oDx4imvqNep_EtdEmXEQygljAwj8UGtUrtmbPUZG5/s320/horse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Owned by Belinda
McClung and Deborah Thomson, a.k.a. 'Two Golf Widows', and trained by
Lucinda Russell near Kinross, in eastern Scotland, One For Arthur is
best known as the winner of the 2015 Grand National. Indeed, he had
the distinction of being just the second horse trained north of
Hadrian's Wall – the other being Rubstic, trained by John
Leadbetter in Denholm, near Hawick, in 1979 – to win the premier
steeplechase.<p></p><p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">One For Arthur had
demonstrated his Grand National credentials when staying on well to
finish fifth, beaten just 3 lengths, in the valuable Becher Chase,
over 3 miles 2 furlongs, on his first attempt over National fences
the previous December. He subsequently won the Classic Chase, over 3
miles 5 furlongs, at Warwick in January in taking style and headed to
Aintree at the top of his game.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western">Despite being 11lb higher in the weights than at
Warwick, One For Arthur was sent off 14/1 fourth favourite for the
National, behind Blaklion, Definitly Red and Vieux Lion Rouge. Under
a confident ride from jockey Derek Fox, who was making his debut in
the race, he was held up in rear, as he had been at Warwick, but made
steady headway throughout the second circuit.
</p>
<p class="western">Favourite Blaklion took a clear lead as the field
crossed the Melling Road for the final time, but One For Arthur, who
had travelled and jumped well throughout, moved upsides at the
second-last fence and soon quickened into the lead. On run-in, recent
Cheltenham Festival winner Cause Of Causes appeared as his main
challenger, but he was not to be denied and stayed on strongly to win
by 4<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">½</span> lengths.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western"><br /><br />
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-4259366240562181072023-12-07T04:52:00.001+00:002024-02-13T19:17:57.960+00:00Northumberland Plate<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeBw7Ym_8qLiAplWiTpCUTPkgRnBI5vr48-t66qwUCYJsZijlj36W84waUiRC6I1_whIsPEgplSj8qABnGNgYdMxk4idM9WOXn-gTKblPuIp_YX2uuopeUMzy-BB0YegKJlKWmuUh1JIca6Fodkd-FwwU8uRpJbPgqIY2klP920P2XujafVuBS1k4iFuV/s640/horse-toys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="640" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeBw7Ym_8qLiAplWiTpCUTPkgRnBI5vr48-t66qwUCYJsZijlj36W84waUiRC6I1_whIsPEgplSj8qABnGNgYdMxk4idM9WOXn-gTKblPuIp_YX2uuopeUMzy-BB0YegKJlKWmuUh1JIca6Fodkd-FwwU8uRpJbPgqIY2klP920P2XujafVuBS1k4iFuV/s320/horse-toys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Northumberland Plate has been run
at its present venue, High Gosforth Park, which houses Newcastle
Racecourse, since 1882. However, in 2016, the owners of Newcastle
Racecourse, Arena Racing Company, replaced the turf course with
Tapeta and, since then, the Northumberland Plate has been run on the
new synthetic surface.</span></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Until the middle of the twentieth
century, the Northumberland Plate was run on a Wednesday, as the
highlight of a holiday period for local mineworkers, known as 'Races
Week', and was known colloquially as the 'Pitmen's Derby'. The race
was moved to a Saturday in 1952 and, nowadays, forms the centrepiece
of the third and final day of the Northumberland Plate Festival,
which is staged annually in late June or early July.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Run over an extended two miles, the
Northumberland Plate is a Class 2 handicap open to horses aged three
years and upwards. With total prize money of £150,000, it is one of
the most valuable races of its kind run anywhere in Europe and,
unsurprisingly, remains one of the highlights of the Flat racing
season in the north of England. Just one horse, the diminutive
Underhand, trained by John Fobert, has won the Northumberland Plate
three times, in 1857, 1858 and 1859, and also finished second in
1860. Much more recently, other notable winners of the historic race
have included Celeric in 1996, Sergeant Cecil in 2005 and Overturn
in 2010.
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-85172247935069500682023-10-15T04:56:00.000+01:002023-10-19T14:19:20.640+01:00Galileo<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Nowadays, Galileo, by Sadler’s Wells
out of Urban Sea, is best known as a champion sire. Indeed, in 2017,
he was named leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland for the ninth
time in ten years, with 12 Group 1 winners, including Classic winners
Churchill and Winter, and just under £12 million in prize money.
Since 2012, he has stood exclusively at Coolmore Stud, Co. Tipperary,
for a “private” fee, which is reputed to be in excess of
€400,000.
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In a racing career lasting exactly a
year and a day, Galileo won six of his eight races, including the
Derby, the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
Diamond Stakes in 2001, and earned over £1.6 million in prize money.
He raced just once as a juvenile, winning his maiden, over a mile, at
Leopardstown, by 14 lengths from subsequent winner Taraza. He
reappeared in the Listed Ballysax Stakes, over 1 mile 2 furlongs, at
the Co. Dublin course the following April when, at odds of 1/3, he
made short work of stable companion – and future St. Leger winner –
Milan, winning easily by 3½ lengths. He stepped up in class for the
Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial over the same course and
distance less than a month later but, although he had to work a
little harder for victory, he stayed on strongly to beat Exaltation
by 1½ lengths.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As an unbeaten colt with a top
pedigree, owned by Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor and trained by
Aidan O’Brien, it was really no surprise that Galileo started joint
favourite, at 11/4, for the Derby at Epsom. His main market rival,
Golan, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, was also unbeaten and already a
Classic winner, having beaten Tamburlaine in the 2,000 Guineas at
Newmarket the previous month. Nevertheless, it was Galileo who
prevailed, leading inside the final quarter of a mile and drawing
clear for an impressive 3½-length win over Golan, with Tobougg a
never-nearer third, beaten a further neck. Galileo earned a Timeform
rating of 132, making him one of the best Derby winners since the
turn of the century, alongside Authorized and Workforce.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-22299607687570186092023-09-12T16:54:00.000+01:002023-09-22T15:31:33.435+01:00Ryan Moore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Born on the 18th September 1983, Ryan
Moore is an active flat racing jockey from Brighton that to date, has
won the champion jockey title three times, as well claiming many
other British classics. They include two Epsom Derby triumphs, two
Epsom Oaks wins, two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes and the St Leger
Stakes in 2017.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Right now, he is the primary jockey for
the stable of Aidan O’Brien and Ballydoyle, which means that the
majority of his rides are on horses from the Coolmore Stud.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>In the Blood</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ryan Moore’s involvement with horse
racing comes as no surprise, as many of his family have been
connected to the sport over the years in a number of different
capacities. His father, Gary L Moore is a successful trainer and he
has two jockey brothers, Jamie and Joshua, as well as his sister
Hayley Moore who is a leading light in amateur racing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He even has an Aunty Candy who plies
her trade as a professional jockey, so you could say that he belongs
to a racing mad family.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Early Start</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Having showed an interest in racing as
four year old, Ryan joined a local pony club and after finding the
experience a bit too ‘tame’ for his liking, he progressed to
competitive racing at the age of 12. He joined the big time at the
age of 20, becoming part of the Richard Hannon stable, for who he was
still riding as late as 2013.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The first major race won by Ryan Moore
was the 2002 Cesarewitch Handicap, which he claimed in the saddle of
Miss Fara and whilst he wasn’t exactly lighting the flat racing
world on fire, he would still become a Champion Apprentice in 2003.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In the years since, the jockey has
ridden winners for St Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien and at the
age of just 34, he still has many years ahead of him and no one would
bet against him becoming flat racing champion again soon.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Time will tell just how iconic this
jockey can be and where it places him in the pantheon of the sport’s
greats.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-39789872745167448042023-06-06T02:17:00.001+01:002023-07-27T14:38:31.628+01:00Willie Carson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Having been born and raised in
Stirling, Scotland, Willie Carson 75, has been an ambassador for
horse racing for many years and is a face is familiar to most people
living in the United Kingdom. Featuring on television for decades, he
was once a team captain of BBC1’s Question of Sport, appearing
nationally every Saturday evening.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He earned his name in the sport that he
still loves today and his journey began as an apprentice to North
Yorkshire based Captain Gerald Armstrong. His first win of note came
at Catterick Bridge in the Summer of 1962, when he rode Pinker’s
Pond to victory in an apprentice handicap.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Willie Carson learned his trade over
the next decade, at which point, he really came to prominence. 10
years after winning his first ever race, he went on to win his first
British Champion Jockey title in 1972 and then again in 1973. It was
a feat he repeated three more times, coming out on top in 1978, 1980
and 1983.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ironically, Carson’s best ever tally
came 7 years later in 1990, riding to an astonishing total of 187
winners. In many other years, this would have been enough to claim
the Champion Jockey mantle, but the imposing figure of Pat Eddery
stood in his way and got there first with a staggering 209 winners.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That same season saw Carson become one
of just 4 jockeys ever to win 6 winners at the same track on the same
day in the whole of the 20th century.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Longevity</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Carson always looked after himself and
this allowed him to continue until well into his 50s. In 1996, he
retired at the age of 54 and was very much still at the top of his
game. In 1983, he was deservedly awarded an OBE for his contribution
to horseracing and will certainly go down as one of the greats.
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-62404498225023146682023-04-23T12:49:00.002+01:002023-07-27T14:38:24.267+01:00Hampton Novices' Chase<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Hampton Novices'
Chase is a Grade 2 novices' steeplechase run over 3 miles at Warwick
in January. Open to horses aged five years and upwards, who start the
season without a win over regulation fences, the race was
inaugurated, as a Class 2 weight-for-age contest, in 2004. However,
it was promoted to Listed status by the Jump Pattern Committee of the
British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in 2015 and, having continued to
exceed the required rating parameters, was promoted again, to Grade 2
status, in 2020.<p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">In the relatively short
history of the Hampton Novices' Chase, Paul Nicholls has saddled four
winners, namely Gungadu (2007), Rocky Creek (2013), Next Destination
(2021) and Threeunderthrufive (2022) and is the leading trainer so
far. As far as future winners are concerned, it is worth noting that,
despite field sizes of no more than seven, just three of the last ten
renewals have been won by the favourite, who was odds-on on all three
occasions. That said, the longest-priced winner in that period was
Sego Success, who was sent off 5/1 third favourite in 2015, so the
Hampton Novices' Chase is no get-rich-quick scheme either.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Course form, even
winning course form, appears unimportant, but all bar one of the last
ten winners had previously won at least once between 2 miles and 7
furlongs and 3 miles and 1 furlong. Other recent trends suggest that
the runners on which to concentrate are those aged seven or eight
years, officially rated 137, or higher, with recent, last time out
winning form, preferably within the last seven weeks or so.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-71288387764005704522023-02-05T18:44:00.005+00:002023-07-27T14:38:13.041+01:00Ryanair Chase<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Ryanair Chase is a
Grade 1 steeplechase run over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 127 yards on
the New Course at Cheltenham in March. Open to horses aged five years
and upwards, the race is a relatively recent addition to the
Cheltenham Festival programme, having been inaugurated in 2005, when
the Festival was extended from three days to four. The Ryanair Chase
can be considered a replacement for the Cathcart Challenge Trophy,
which was run for the last time in 2004, although in its final
incarnation the Cathcart Challenge Trophy was restricted to
steeplechasers in their first or second season. <p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Officially registered
as the Festival Trophy, the Ryanair Chase initially held Grade 2
status, but was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2008; the race has been
sponsored by Irish budget airline Ryanair for all bar the inaugural
running. Nowadays, the Ryanair Chase is the feature race on the third
day of the Cheltenham Festival and is ideally suited to top-class
steeplechasers who lack the speed required for the Queen Mother
Champion Chase and the stamina required for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Two horses, namely
Albertas Run (2010 and 2011) and Allaho (2021 and 2022), have won the
Ryanair Chase twice. Willie Mullins, trainer of Allaho, also saddled
Vautour (2016), Un de Sceaux (2017) and Min (2020) to victory and is
the leading handler in the short history of the race. Looking ahead
to the 2023 renewal of the Ryanair Chase, scheduled for 2.50pm on
Thursday, March 15, Allaho could attempt an unprecedented hat-trick
and is currently a short-priced favourite to do so. However, the
opposition, headed by the likes of Galopin Des Champs – a
desperately unlucky loser in the 2022 Turners Novices' Chase –
looks certain to be strong, so adopting a waiting brief may be the
best ploy.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-80762643006564593892023-01-03T18:43:00.005+00:002023-01-03T18:43:00.207+00:00Arkle Challenge Trophy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITaHdei-XdQcK_MxM4BLkLZiS3dMapCFrPD2co6I9elR4J0wo5yS_P3eXoSKJQgaqL37Vvwk1Bkm_oanUZNqDzFDYVJpYxC-NOMi1EdmC6hSAxZM5qRs1Rp9ja4UI-_I7kLYf2Tjw13OBLnNFpcV1irA_72jnbJrma4W4ySPdGnGKfK8PbRREbv0gwA/s1200/Arkle-Chase..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1200" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITaHdei-XdQcK_MxM4BLkLZiS3dMapCFrPD2co6I9elR4J0wo5yS_P3eXoSKJQgaqL37Vvwk1Bkm_oanUZNqDzFDYVJpYxC-NOMi1EdmC6hSAxZM5qRs1Rp9ja4UI-_I7kLYf2Tjw13OBLnNFpcV1irA_72jnbJrma4W4ySPdGnGKfK8PbRREbv0gwA/s320/Arkle-Chase..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Arkle Challenge
Trophy is a Grade 1 steeplechase run over 1 mile, 7 furlongs and 199
yards on the Old Course at Cheltenham in March. The race is open to
horses aged five years and upwards who, at the start of the current
season, have yet to win a race over regulation fences. Named after
Arkle, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years running, in 1964,
1965 and 1966, the Arkle Challenge Trophy was established, in its
current guise, in 1969. Currently scheduled as the second race on
the opening day of the Chelteham Festival, the Arkle Challenge Trophy
is, in fact, the leading race of its kind in the British National
Hunt calendar.<p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Of course, it follows
that the best novice steeplechasers over the minimum trip become the
best steeplechasers in open company; in recent years, Moscow Flyer,
Azertyuiop, Voy Por Ustedes, Sizing Europe, Sprinter Sacre, Altior
and Put The Kettle On have all won the Arkle Challenge Trophy
followed by the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the next Cheltenham
Festival. Nicky Henderson, trainer of Sprinter Sacre and Altior, also
saddled Remittance Man (1991), Travado (1993), Tiutchev (2000),
Simonsig (2013) and Shishkin (2021) for a total of seven wins and is
the leading handler in the history of the Arkle Challenge Trophy.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Looking forward to the
2023 renewal of the Arkle Challenge Trophy, which is scheduled for
2.10pm on Tuesday, March 14, the ante-post lists are dominated by
Jonbon and El Fabiolo, who finished miles clear when first and second
in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, and Sir Gerhard, a comfortable
winner of the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
At longer odds, Monmiral, described by trainer Paul Nicholls as 'a
proper horse', has always looked an embryonic steeplechaser in the
making.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-81801675007185816782022-12-21T04:55:00.004+00:002023-07-27T14:38:04.582+01:00Vertem Futurity Trophy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Inaugurated, as the Timeform Gold Cup,
in 1961, the Vertem Futurity Trophy has been known as the Observer
Gold Cup, Futurity Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy at various
points in its history. However, following the introduction of the
European Pattern in 1971, the race was awarded Group 1 status and has
maintained that status ever since.<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Run over a mile on Town Moor,
Doncaster, the Vertem Futurity Trophy is open to two-year-old colts
and fillies and its scheduling, in late October, makes it the final
Group 1 event in the British Flat racing calendar. In 2019, with
Doncaster abandoned due to waterlogging, the Vertem Futurity Trophy
was run at Newcastle, thereby becoming the first Group 1 race in
Britain to be run on a synthetic surface.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery
remain the leading jockeys in the history of the Vertem Futurity
Trophy with five wins apiece, while Sir Henry Cecil remains far and
away the leading trainer with ten wins between 1969 and 1993. The
race is considered a trial for the Derby the following season and
five winners, namely Reference Point (1986), High Chaparral (2001),
Motivator (2004), Authorized (2006) and Camelot (2011) have gone on
to win the Epsom Classic. Aside from the subsequent Derby winners,
other notable winners of the Vertem Futurity Trophy include Saxon
Warrior (2017), Magna Grecia (2018) and Kameko (2019), who all won
the 2,000 Guineas the following season.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-89146134750713970832022-10-19T04:54:00.006+01:002023-07-27T14:37:59.917+01:00Stewards' Cup<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Since 1993, the Stewards' Cup has been
the betting highlight of the fifth and final day of the Goodwood
Festival, a.k.a. 'Glorious Goodwood', staged annually in late July or
early August. However, the history of the Stewards' Cup dates back to
1839, when it was conceived by politician and racehorse owner Lord
George Bentinck; the inaugural running took place in 1840.<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Stewards' Cup is a Class 2 handicap
run over 6 furlongs on the sharp, downhill sprint course at Goodwood
and open to horses aged three years and upwards. With total prize
money of £250,000, £155,625 of which goes to the winner, the
Stewards' Cup is invariably well subscribed. Indeed, with a safety
limit of 28, the race often resembles the proverbial 'cavalry
charge', at the end of which close finishes and 'shock' results are
not uncommon.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A total of five horses have won the
Stewards' Cup twice, although the most recent of them was Sky Diver,
who did so in 1967 and 1968. Three-time champion jockey Richard
Hughes, who retired from race riding in 2015, remains the leading
jockey in the history of the Stewards' Cup, with four wins. However,
for the leading trainer, we need to look back to the nineteenth
century, during which the 'Wizard of the North', John Scott, and
James Jewitt both saddled four winners apiece. Down the years,
notable winners of the Stewards' Cup have included Soba, Petong,
Lochsong, Coastal Bluff and Borderlescott.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-52921036661903286552022-04-10T04:47:00.008+01:002023-07-27T14:37:44.495+01:00Eclipse Stakes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Named after Eclipse, an undefeated
champion thoroughbred of the eighteenth century, the Eclipse Stakes
has been sponsored by bookmaker Coral since 1976, making it the
longest-running Pattern race in Britain. Inaugurated in 1886, the
Coral-Eclipse, as the race is popularly known nowadays, is run over
an advertised distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs, or 1 mile, 1 furlong and
209 yards to be exact, at Sandown Park in early July each year. The
Coral-Eclipse is open to horses aged three years and upwards and, as
such, offers the first chance for the so-called 'Classic' generation
to race against their elders at the highest, Group 1 level.<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Several horses have won the
Coral-Eclipse twice, the most recent of them being Halling, trained
by Saeed bin Suroor, who recorded back-to-back victories in 1995 and
1996. Lester Piggott remains the leading jockey in the history of the
race, with seven wins between 1951 and 1957. Early twentieth century
trainer Alec Taylor, Jr. and Sir Michael Stoute are jointly the
leading trainers, with six wins apiece.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">In recent seasons, the Coral-Eclipse
has been won by such luminaries of the sport as Sea The Stars (2009),
Golden Horn (2015), Enable (2019) and Ghaiyyath (2020). It is no
coincidence that all four of the aforementioned quartet were named
Cartier Horse of the Year in their respective years. Indeed, the
Coral-Eclipse has always attracted the crème de la crème of
middle-distance talent. The roll of honour includes Ballymoss, Mill
Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Dancing Brave and Nashwan, to name but a
handful.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-19598326949125331882022-02-18T04:49:00.001+00:002022-02-23T00:39:24.591+00:00Geoffrey Freer Stakes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIKB6ZMkNqM/YNlHSXIULAI/AAAAAAAAEPM/p6P3XY53IjEZWjxgv9mg5Z4X5D9iLRw8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s142/geoffrey-freer-stakes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="92" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIKB6ZMkNqM/YNlHSXIULAI/AAAAAAAAEPM/p6P3XY53IjEZWjxgv9mg5Z4X5D9iLRw8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/geoffrey-freer-stakes.png" /></a></div><br />Inaugurated, as the Oxfordshire Stakes,
in 1949 by Geoffrey Freer, who was Clerk of the Course at Newbury
Racecourse at the time, the Geoffrey Freer Stakes was renamed in
honour of Freer following his death, in 1969. Run over an advertised
distance of 1 mile 5½ furlongs and open to horses aged three years
and upwards, the Geoffrey Freer Stakes is staged annually in August.<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Nowadays, the Geoffrey Freer Stakes is
a Group 3 contest, having been downgraded from Group 2 status in
2006. However, it has typically proved a strong race for the grade,
with several recent winners – Mount Athos (2012), Royal Empire
(2013) and Seismos (2014) – going on to contest the Melbourne Cup
at Flemington, Australia, albeit without distinction, later the same
season.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Just one horse, Mubtaker, trained by
Marcus Tregoning, has won the Geoffrey Free Stakes three times; he
recorded his unprecedented hat-trick in 2002, 2003 and 2004 to become
the most successful horse in the history of the race. Other notable
winners include Ardross, trained by Henry Cecil, who recorded
back-to-back victories under Lester Piggott in 1981 and 1982, Drum
Taps, trained by Lord Huntingdon, in 1991 and Silver Patriarch,
trained by John Dunlop, in 1999. Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery and
Frankie Dettori are jointly the leading jockeys in the history of the
Geoffrey Freer Stakes with four wins apiece. Sir Noel Murless remains
the leading trainer, with five wins between 1949 and 1973.
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /><br />
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-16306426409131862652022-02-16T06:09:00.001+00:002023-07-27T14:37:35.629+01:00Paul Hanagan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Born on the 8th September 1980 and
hailing from Cheshire, Paul Hanagan is a ex champion jockey of great
acclaim in the flat racing world.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Having never been in the saddle until
the late age of 14 and having had his eyes firmly fixed on a career
on the green grass of a football field rather than a racetrack, Paul
Hanagan was a graduate of the British Racing School after great
encouragement from his father, Geoff Hanagan. Deemed ‘too small’
for professional football, he helped out as a weekend work experience
stable hand for trainer Terry Caldwell, based in Warrington, which
ultimately led to the pivotal moment when Hanagan realised that
racing had gotten under his skin and into his blood.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Captivated by what he saw at Caldwell’s
yard, Hanagan would get his first taste of being a jockey, being
allowed to ride out at the age of 14 and begin training the British
Racing School, graduating in 1997.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Breakthrough</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hanagan got his first taste of senior
racing on Stone Beck 4 days shy of his 18th birthday , racing to a
creditable 4th place under the stewardship of Malcolm Jefferson, who
was better known for his work in National Hunt training. Jefferson
knew his onions and he saw a promising flat jockey in Hanagan,
guiding the young man to join Richard Fahey as an apprentice flat
jockey just a year later.<br />
<br />
Over the next four years, the
apprentice jockey saw his promise turn into results, improving each
season and gaining the title of Champion Apprentice in 2002. He did
this by riding a highly impressive 87 winners, the 2nd most since the
end of WWII, which included a win on Vintage Premium in the John
Smith’s Cup.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Richard Fahey foretold a big future for
Paul Hanagan and he wasn’t wrong. Having matured over the next few
years, he won his first senior Champion Jockey title in 2010 with a
brilliant 191 winners and then backing that up by winning it again in
2011, beating Silvestre De Sousa from Brazil on the very last day of
the season.<br />
<br />
After this great achievement, Hanagan took a brief
sabbatical and stated that he need a break after all his efforts. He
did return the next year, but he never again hit the heights of the
2010 and 2011 seasons. To this day, he attributes much of his success
to Richard Fahey who he spent 14 years with and he will forever be
included in the pantheon of great flat jockeys.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-72223538044110955692021-12-03T11:37:00.002+00:002023-07-27T14:37:24.334+01:00Sir Henry Cecil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Henry Cecil is one of the greatest
British flat racing horse trainers in history. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A 10-time Champion Trainer, he trained
25 Classic winners including four in The Derby, eight in The Oaks,
six in the 1,000 Guineas, three in the 2,000 Guineas and four winners
at St. Leger Stakes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He was especially known for his success
at The Oaks and 1,000 Guineas and as the master trainer at Royal
Ascot, where he had 75 winners. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Born in Scotland in 1943, Cecil began
his career assisting at his stepfather, British flat racing Champion
Trainer, Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort’s stable Freemason Lodge. In
1969 he obtained his training license and won his first English
Classic, the 2,000 Guineas in 1975. A year later he took over the
running of Warren Place in Newmarket, which quickly became known as
the “most glamorous yard in Europe.” </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Noted for his flair in clothing,
Cecil’s extraordinary career was marred by huge swings in fortune
both and off the track. After a brief dip in success from 2000 to
2006, his career rebound with the training of Frankel. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Described by Cecil as “the best horse
I’ve ever seen,” Frankel was unbeaten in his fourteen-race career
and was the highest-rated racehorse in the world from May 2011. <span style="color: #222222;">His
six Length victory in the 2,000 Guineas was called "one of the
greatest displays on a British racecourse".</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Knighted for services to horse racing
in the queen’s 2011 Birthday Honors, Cecil died of stomach cancer
age 70 in 2013 after a six-year battle.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-79547358271248694422021-06-28T04:33:00.001+01:002023-07-27T14:37:12.195+01:00Dancing Brave<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dancing Brave, owned by Prince Khalid
Abdulla and trained by Guy Harwood, was officially the second highest
rated horse on the Flat since official international figures were
first published in 1977. Only Frankel was rated higher and, even
then, only after a “historical recalibration” of the rankings in
2013, which downgraded Dancing Brave from 141 to 138.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
During his career, Dancing Brave won
eight of his 10 races, including the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, the
Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth
Stakes at Ascot and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, and
was named European Horse of the Year for 1986.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
An unimposing son of Lyphard, Dancing
Brave made his racecourse debut in the Dorking Stakes at Sandown in
1985, which he won convincingly. Guy Harwood later recalled, “[Stable
jockey] Greville Starkey got off and said, ‘This horse is my Derby
ride.’” Dancing Brave followed up, in similar style, in the Soham
House Stakes at Newmarket, and went into winter quarters as favourite
for the 2,000 Guineas.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On his reappearance, he started
favourite for the Craven Stakes at Newmarket, which he won
emphatically. On his return to Newmarket for the 2,000 Guineas, he
came with a powerful run going down into ‘the Dip’ and quickened
clear in the closing stages to beat Green Desert by 3 lengths, with
jockey Greville Starkey looking around for non-existent dangers.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
His subsequent defeat by Shahrastani in
the Derby, in which Starkey gave him far too much to do, has been
well chronicled elsewhere, but his finest hour came at Longchamp on
October 5, 1986. Sent off favourite, once again, for the Prix de
l’Arc de Triomphe, he was switched off at the rear of the field by
Pat Eddery before being asked for maximum effort in the final
furlong-and-a-half. Delivering his challenge wide, late and fast,
Dancing Brave passed a dozen rivals – including Bering, Triptych
and Sharastani – in the final furlong to win by 1½ lengths.
Commentator Graham Goode said afterwards, “Pat Eddery has never
ridden a better race.”</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-5176234371158400822021-04-05T01:00:00.005+01:002021-04-05T01:12:44.604+01:00Don't miss the 2021 Grand National!<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-1g_8KNoMxQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><br /><br />Just my opinion of course, but last years 'Virtual Grand National' was virtually unwatchable. There is something about actually watching the cream of the crop of racing, and all of the emotion and effort that's poured into that one moment, that is missing from a parade of pixels. Even in this age of gaming, I'm not convinced that many thought that it in any way compared to the real thing. <br /><br /> This year we have an especially short favourite, the Jonjo O'Neill trained Cloth Cap. It makes for an interesting scenario as the racing public appear to have gone 'all in' in a race that can throw up more surprises than just about any other. Still, it's interesting to have these 'narratives' writing themselves as it creates quite the story no matter the outcome. <br /><br /> As with all Grand Nationals, millions will be tuning in at home, but sadly on this occasion crowds will be absent. We can only hope that next year more normality has returned, while simultaneously counting our blessings for how far we've come this year. In preparation for the Grand National <a href="https://betway.com/en/sports/cat/horse-racing">Betway</a> present a short, yet absorbing segment on women jockeys trials and tribulations in the race.<div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-16300939991288191132021-03-15T19:57:00.003+00:002021-03-15T19:57:46.688+00:00Cheltenham Festival 2021 Quiz<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HVDLUKhu9Jg" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">If there's one event on
the racing calendar that I'd be sorry to miss, it just has to be the
Cheltenham Festival. With so much history wrapped around this jewel
in the national hunt crown, and it being a gathering point for the
top horses, jockeys, trainers and owners around; we can safely call
it an unmissable event. The likes of A Plus Tard, Al Boum Photo and
Native River will all be part of the action this year. To celebrate this unrivalled Festival of racing, it's time to switch it up with an entertaining <a href="https://betway.com/en/sports/cat/horse-racing">Betway Horse Racing</a> quiz
featuring Richard Hoiles and members of the West Ham team. Let's see how much
they know about racing!</p><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-44831014560081873062021-03-02T15:00:00.007+00:002023-07-27T14:38:52.850+01:00Al Boum Photo: Dual Gold Cup Winner in Profile <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Irish trainer Willie
Mullins has had plenty of luck with French-bred horses. A regular to
France on scouting missions, Mullins has been part of lots of deals
for French imports to train at his Closutton operation. It has
clearly been a fruitful enterprise for Mullins, with the likes of
six-time Cheltenham Festival winner Quevega, Arkle winner Douvan and
Ryanair Chase winner Un De Sceaux heading from France to Ireland,
and, ultimately, success at Cheltenham. You can add many others –
Vroum Vroum Mag, Vautour, Min – to that list. The Racing Post terms
it a “pipeline of success flowing between Chantilly and
Clossuton.”.</div>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">But if you weigh up the
recent <a href="https://blog.mansionbet.com/horse-racing/cheltenham-festival/cheltenham-results/"><span>Cheltenham
Festival race results</span></a>, you’d have to say that Al Boum
Photo tops the lot of Mullins’ French-bred superstars. A two-time
winner of the Gold Cup, and the hot-favourite for his third in just
under two weeks’ time, Al Boum Photo could even eclipse Quevega as
Mullins’ best French discovery.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">However, Al Boum Photo
is a curious horse. He is superb, of course – you can’t win two
Gold Cups without being special. But he perhaps does not get the
respect afforded to others who join him on the list as multiple Gold
Cup winners. For instance, even though he might go one better than
Kauto Star this year, there are few who rate Al Boum Photo ahead <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/jun/30/kauto-star-greatest-horse-modern-era">of
Paul Nicholls’ beloved two-time Gold Cup</a> winner.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Al Boum Photo is
lightly raced</b></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So why the low-key
profile? Perhaps it’s down to how lightly-raced Al Boum Photo has
been over the last few years. Kauto Star, for instance, was also a
five-time King George VI Chase winner, whereas Al Boum Photo has
never appeared in the race. In fact, you rarely see Al Boum Photo at
all. He has run just four races since winning his first Gold Cup in
2019, including the 2020 renewal.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Mullins tends to take
him out for the Savills Chase each January, a Grade 3 in Tramore that
acts as little more than a workout for Al Boum Photo. The trainer
then puts him away until Cheltenham, where he is fresh for his tilt
at the big one.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Townend rode horse
to first Gold Cup success</b></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">And that probably gets
to the heart of Al Boum Photo and his reputation. His career was fine
before <a href="https://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2019/0315/1036684-al-boum-photo-give-mullins-first-cheltenham-gold-cup/">the
Gold Cup win in 2019</a>. He had appeared at Cheltenham before,
falling in the RSA Novices’ Chase in 2018 with Ruby Walsh in the
saddle. Walsh, DJ Mullins and Paul Townend all rode him throughout
2017 and 2018, picking up a couple of Grade 1s in Ireland. But the
constant changing of jockey suggested that he wasn’t the pick of
Mullins’ stable at that time.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">While the 2019 Gold Cup
win under Townend wasn’t a shock – the horse had an SP of 12/1 –
it was still a mild surprise. Al Boum Photo hasn’t looked back
since. But he is perhaps beneficiary of Mullins’ nous as much as
his own talent. You get the sense that Mullins has promised his
owners that he will deliver Gold Cups, and little else manners. He is
playing the percentage game.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Al Boum Photo’s
reputation will perhaps not be helped by the fact that there is a lot
of question marks over the field at this year’s Gold Cup. Many of
the established horses, like Santini and Lostintranslation, have been
in a terrible run of form. The likes of Royal Pagaille and A Plus
Tard are untested at this level. So, if he wins, he’ll be a
hat-trick hero, a history-maker. But the sense is that he won’t be
venerated alongside the likes of Arkle, Best Mate and Kauto Star.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-6856563652116473012020-11-12T04:55:00.001+00:002023-07-27T14:39:00.388+01:00Yeats<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
These days, Yeats, who was retired from
racing in October, 2009, stands at Castlehyde Stud, Co. Cork, where
he commands a stud fee of €5,000. Granted his exceptional sire,
Sadler’s Wells, and his own exceptional ability, it’s no real
surprise that he’s garnering a reputation as a sire of top-class
jumpers.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Owned by Mrs. John Magnier and Mrs.
David Nagle and trained by Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, Co.
Tipperary, Yeats is best remembered for winning the Gold Cup at Royal
Ascot an unprecedented four times in a row, in 2006, 2007, 2008 and
2009. He was also, unsurprisingly, named Cartier Stayer in each of
those years but, in a lengthy career spanning six seasons, he won 15
of his 26 races, including seven Group 1 races, and earned over £1.3
million in prize money.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Although he ultimately made his name as
an out-and-out stayer, it is, perhaps worth remembering that Yeats
won his maiden over a mile at the Curragh on his sole start as a
juvenile and the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Stud Derby
Trial, both over 1 mile 2 furlongs, at Leopardstown as a
three-year-old. Indeed, he was a leading fancy for Derby proper in
2004, before injury ruled him out for the rest of the season.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When he returned, after nearly a year
off, he was beaten, at odds-on, in the High Chapparal EBF Moorsbridge
Stakes at the Curragh, but clearly detested the heavy going and
wasn’t beaten up by Kieron Fallon once it was clear he was making
no impression in the closing stages. Indeed, Yeats showed the benefit
of that tender handling in the Coronation Cup at Epsom the following
month, making all to win unchallenged a record his first win at the
highest level. Aidan O’Brien admitted afterwards, “I might have
over-trained him for the Derby last year, which could have brought on
his problems, and we learned a lot from that.”</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Yeats didn’t win again until stepped
up to 2 miles 4 furlongs for the first time in the Gold Cup at Ascot
the following June, but the rest, as they say, is history. Following
his fourth, and final, win in the Gold Cup three years later, winning
jockey Johnny Murtagh said, tearfully, “It's one of the greatest
days of my life in racing. Yeats is everything positive about
racing.”</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-40686001110191327702020-10-30T17:17:00.004+00:002020-10-30T17:19:56.955+00:00The Melbourne Cup<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/melbourne-cup" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2806" data-original-width="500" height="2802" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhTqO-AVRPE/X5xKSsGxZFI/AAAAAAAAECY/k_O1xoXdRnIjBzWDlPEqfFDTuq_CF0wRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w529-h2802/MelbourneCup_Infographic.jpg" width="529" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Melbourne Cup is arguably Australia's most important horse racing event, and of course emanating from that is the rich history developed since the first ever race took place, in 1861. The Melbourne Cup field is exclusively composed of thoroughbred racehorses, with only those with the finest ancestral lineage able to compete. This years’ Cup is just round the corner, on its customary first weekend of November date, this year falling on 3rd November. As such, we thought it is appropriate to reminisce some of the most memorable moments from throughout the years.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The 11-Year-Old that Changed History Forever </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1876, an 11-year-old jockey named Peter St Albans rode the winner in the Melbourne Cup. This race was the largest Melbourne Cup field of all time, with 33 runners, a practise which has since been made impossible since the restriction of entries to a maximum of 22. Scandalously, it’s reported that St Albans had to lie about his age to be granted the opportunity to ride in the race. Reports from the time suggest different ages for him for this reason, it’s difficult to know his exact age to the day. Regardless, this is one hell of a record, and one which won’t be beaten any time soon.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The reason as to why St Albans had a really lucky escape and was allowed to ride, is due to having the perfect weight of 39 kilograms. The filly he rode, named Briseis, had a previous owner named Tom Hales, who could not make the requirement of weight for the Melbourne Cup. For that reason, Hales gave permission for Peter Albans to ride the filly, due to Peter’s affinity with the horse in training. He was said to have rode an impressive session of work on the filly, and was subsequently given the nod to ride her in the big race!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Hales’ blessing, Peter went on to beat Sybil and Timothy, the more favoured runners in the race, clocking a race time of 3.36.25 in the process. This win was hugely celebrated at the time and day of the race, and many had celebrated and cheered for Peter Albans miraculous win-especially the punters who actually had taken a bet and leap of faith in him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup Double Winners </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Melbourne Cup is of course one of the most desired wins for any jockey out there. In addition to the Melbourne Cup, there are other events that share such high status in both the context of Australian racing and the wider horse racing world such as The Cox Plate and The Caulfield Cup. Not many horses have managed to win both the prestigious Melbourne and Caulfield Cups, with only 11 wins in historical records to date. The last double win was in 2001 by Ethereal, and the very first to win a double, was by the horse Poseidon.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For punters that want to bet on the </span><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/melbourne-cup" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Melbourne Cup</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, The Caulfield Cup can be a decent yardstick in terms of performance, as the event occurs in the month of October-only a few weeks away from the Melbourne Cup and is largely comparable in terms of conditions.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Widest Winning Margins of Melbourne Cup History </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The widest winning margin that was ever to be recorded within Melbourne Cup history, was by 8 lengths. This has only occurred twice: in 1862 when legendary Melbourne Cup horse Archer hosed up and once again in an effort by Rain Lover in 1968. Occurring at almost a century apart, nobody has managed to beat this record to date-yet.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bay Coloured Horses Have Brought Success</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">History would tell us that bay coloured horses in fact, have the most successful record within the history of the Melbourne Cup. Over the last 158 years during the Melbourne Cup tournament, the majority of winning horses have all been bay colour, winning a total of 69 times in total. Of course, this colour is one of the most common in horse breeds. If any superstition was as popular in the context of the Melbourne Cup, it would definitely have to be this one!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Example bay coloured horses of today include: Constantinople, Mirage Dancer, Huntington Horn, Mer De Glace, The Chosen One and Raymond Tusk.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Melbourne Cup Barriers </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the beginning of Melbourne Cup history, there have been barriers that have yielded more wins than others. The top barriers to date that have given a total of 8 wins, are barriers 5 and 8. Barriers 1,4,6,11,14,17,19 and 22 have all given 7 wins in total, and are not far behind the best barriers 5 and 8. One barrier however, that has had no luck in being the Melbourne Cup winning barrier, is number 18. For 84 years, not one win was made from number 18, which has very much created a superstition within the horse racing community for this barrier. Number 13 is also considered another unlucky draw, even though Ethereal, Baghdad Note and Phar Lap, have all won from that barrier!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saddlecloth Numbers: The Best in the Business </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The saddle cloth that is used to identify the horse within the race, has often got a number with varying different colours to represent the horse and its jockey. Within the history of the Melbourne Cup, numbers 4 and 12 have produced the most wins, in all the years this tournament has been running for, with a total of 11 wins each. The saddle cloth representing number 10, is very close behind with 10 wins in total and in third position, is the saddle cloth number 8, with 8 wins in total.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Melbourne Cup Jockey Weights: Facts and Figures</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many stories to tell when it comes to discussing the weight of jockeys. The largest weight ever to be recorded and supported by a horse, was at 68 kilograms, from the Phar Lap horse in 1931. As can be expected, the horse unfortunately could not carry the jockey across to win at the finishing line. However, the heaviest recorded weight that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">actually did </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">secure a win, was at 66 kilograms, by the Carbine in 1890. This still holds record today as the heaviest weight to date, to manage a win and victory within the Melbourne Cup.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lightest weight recorded that also brought a victory on the other hand, was at a small 33.5 kilograms, by the horse Banker in 1863. Weight is definitely a significant factor to consider when it comes to making a win at the Melbourne Cup, however there is one weight that has shown to be the most popular and comfortable for a victory, and that is at 54.5 kilograms. Many riders nowadays tend to go for this option as the average weight as history supports this mass to be quite popular within all of the Melbourne Cup winning trends. In total 54.5 kilograms has brought 8 champions the spoils of victory for Melbourne. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who Was the Most Successful Trainer?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Within Melbourne Cup history, there are many legendary riders that have gotten their names recorded within the history books. However, there is one trainer in particular that stands above the rest, with the most success. Bart Cummings managed to win 12 cups within his entire career. This puts him at an elite position, as he has 7 more cups then the closest rival within that list. His last victory and twelfth win, was in 2008 by the horse Viewed, a famous Australian Thoroughbred. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This information was brought to you by </span><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.sportsbet.com.au/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-51224947323871354922020-09-01T20:25:00.001+01:002023-07-27T14:37:02.033+01:00Michael Stoute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sir Michael Stoute is a Barbadian,
British thoroughbred horse trainer who has achieved incredible
success over his five-decade career. Stoute is widely considered one
of the best trainers in horse-racing, winning in all five British
classic races - the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, 1.000 Guineas Stakes, Epsom
Oaks, Epson Derby and St. Leger Stakes. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At 19 he moved to the UK to become an
apprentice to trainer Pat Rohan, establishing his own stable in 1972.
He was the only trainer of the 20th century to win a Classic in five
successive seasons and was named Champion trainer 10 times between
1981 and 2009. Stoute's success continued overseas with victories in
Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the United
States and the United Arab Emirates. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
His most famous horse was Shergar who
won the 1981 Epsom Cup by a record 10 lengths. The horse was stolen
from a yard in County Kildare, Ireland in 1983 with kidnappers
settling a ransom of £2 million. At the time Shergar's value was set
at £10 million and despite a nationwide search was never found. One
theory was the IRA had stolen him. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In, 2009 Stoute became the first
trainer to finish with a clean sweep of places in Ascot's King George
VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Conduit, Tartan Bearer and Ask. He
had further success at Ascot in 2013 training the Queen's Gold Cup
winner, Estimate.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He currently trains at Freemason Lodge
Stables and at Beech Hurst Stables, both in Newmarket.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-69461900351189727352020-08-19T04:51:00.002+01:002024-02-13T19:11:07.074+00:00Native River<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHuefOyB3zTVpuk8cVkhtwe4390TsYbrWFqcK9y1pwEsucvDTF3JJbnsoAvKmbFpD3pjhwVQNoQZfRJPt4kcd6ucl1BejQ_108Ly8UQ4FOyiKSv98b4vwZ06gSLGRChEo7wa0f8pBXpgknK_x7DTg_AQcbGPsL84BKnXgbbA50_FzgddFT0vE5d8dMHNy/s640/horse-art.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="640" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHuefOyB3zTVpuk8cVkhtwe4390TsYbrWFqcK9y1pwEsucvDTF3JJbnsoAvKmbFpD3pjhwVQNoQZfRJPt4kcd6ucl1BejQ_108Ly8UQ4FOyiKSv98b4vwZ06gSLGRChEo7wa0f8pBXpgknK_x7DTg_AQcbGPsL84BKnXgbbA50_FzgddFT0vE5d8dMHNy/w229-h219/horse-art.png" width="229" /></a></div>Owned by Garth and Anne Broom, under
the banner of Brocade Racing, and trained by Colin Tizzard in
Milborne Port, Dorset is a bay gelding, by Indian River out of a Be
My Native, best known for winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2018.
Having finished third, beaten 2¾ lengths and a short head by Sizing
Europe and Minella Rocco, in the Cheltenham showpiece in 2017, Native
River was involved in an epic duel with Might Bite in 2018,
eventually outstaying his main market rival in the last
half-a-furlong or so to win by 4½ lengths, with 33/1 outsider Anable
Fly a further 4 lengths away in third. In so doing, Native River gave
trainer Colin Tizzard his first winner in the race.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Immediately after the race, Tizzard
said, “It was unreal, wasn’t it? To win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
means everything to everyone’s life. Let's not pretend it’s not,”
adding, “We’ve had a wonderful preparation and you think
something could go wrong in the race, but it didn’t.”</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unlike in 2017, when the Cheltenham
Gold Cup was something of an afterthought after victories in the
Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow
and Betfair Denman Chase, also at Newbury, Native River was trained
with the “Blue Riband” event as his only major target of the
season in 2018. En route, he did win the Betfair Denman Chase for
second year running, jumping well for a ready 12-length win over
Cloudy Dreams.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup,
Native River achieved a Timeform rating of 172, still 10lb inferior
to that achieved by his stable companion Cue Card in his heyday, but
he is still only eight years old and remains relatively lightly
raced, so it remains to be seen where he ends up in the hierarchy of
staying chasers since World War II. Currently 8/1 third favourite,
behind Presenting Percy and Might Bite, for the Cheltenham Gold Cup
in 2019, Native River has stamina in abundance, but isn’t,
necessarily an out-and-out mudlark so, barring accidents, looks one
to keep on the right side wherever he goes.
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581483740744061701.post-84355987651423391962020-07-14T16:45:00.001+01:002023-07-27T14:36:52.572+01:00Frankie Dettori<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Lanfranco Dettori was born in Milan,
Italy on the 15th December 1970 and has a dazzling record in the
sport of flat horse racing, winning pretty much everything there is
to win. Thanks to his stellar record of wins, Dettori has become
something of a TV personality and will be most remembered by the
wider racing public as the jockey that managed to achieved 7 winners
in the same Champions day at Ascot in 1996. The combined odds of the
seven winners worked out at 25,051-1, earning one lucky punter
£500,000 on the day.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Career Success</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dettori has won so many major races on
the flat it would take too long to list them all here, but since the
age of 12, the jockey has had ‘the bug’, something he shares with
his son Rocco, who himself is just 13 years of age.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He began his career in the Britain in
1985 under the stewardship of Luca Cumani, who took on the young
Frankie as a stable jockey. His first senior win in Britain was in
1987 and he has since gone on to achieve more than 3,000 wins in an
amazing career.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Near Miss</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dettori had a lucky escape in 2000 when
the light aircraft he was travelling in crashed near Newmarket. A
crash that the authorities admitted he was lucky to walk away from.
Despite this, the wins kept coming and by 2007, the only British
Classic win not in the jockey’s back pocket was the Epsom Derby.
Frankie redressed the balance however, romping home later that year
on Authorized to claim the prize that had eluded him for so long.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Controversy</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After admitting to substance abuse to
keep down his weight on BBC’s Newsnight in 2010 and then failing a
drugs test in 2012 after having been found to have used cocaine,
there followed an acrimonious parting of the ways with the Godolphin
stable. After serving a 6 month ban and a brief period as a
freelancer, he joined the Stable of Sheikh Joaan Al Thani for whom he
continues to regularly ride winners.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When Frankie Dettori does eventually
hang up his whip and jockey’s uniform, the sport will be poorer for
it and his trademark jumping dismount will be sadly missed.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0