Victory would take Aidan O’Brien to 10 wins in top-class Doncaster contest, matching Sir Henry Cecil’s recordIt looks like being a record-equalling 10th success in the Vertem Futurity for Aidan O’Brien, whose Wembley (2.55) is a convincing favourite in the contest formerly known as the Racing Post Trophy. Though he has managed just one win from six starts so far, he was arguably the one to take out of the Dewhurst, in which he was strong at the finish in second after a less than ideal run through.King Vega comes from the stable that won this last year and One Ruler will surely have a say but Wembley should come out on top. That would help O’Brien match Sir Henry...
The Cheltenham track looks in sufficiently good shape to avoid Saturdays card being called off on Friday afternoonThe sacred turf here at Cheltenham has been having a good, long drink. An area of surface water at the far end of the home straight, by the two-mile start, has completely drained away, giving sustenance to hopes that we may be able to have some actual racing here on Saturday and Sunday. Related: Legal team optimistic for Kemboy despite owners being kicked out of racing The surface water I saw yesterday has gone pic.twitter.com/veRMbRBNbdNewcastle12.00 Mr Love 12.30 Speak Of The Devil (nb) 1.05 Chanting Hill 1.40 Skipping On 2.15 Royal Claret 2.50 The King Of May 3.25 Wetlands Continue reading...
Owners have a right to pick and choose where and when their horses run but this decision looks founded on very limited dataFour days after it emerged that Paul and Clare Rooney, who have one of the largest strings of jumping horses in the UK, have instructed their trainers to boycott Cheltenham until further notice, both the track and the wider racing public are still waiting for further details about the “safety concerns” that apparently prompted the owners’ decision.All that is clear thus far is that the Rooneys feel that their runners face an increased risk of injury when racing at Cheltenham, and believe that they have statistical evidence to back them up. Paul Rooney seemed to suggest this week...
The first ever McCoys Awards night proved an enjoyable part of the build-up to the new jumps seasonTimeform have waded into the debate over Kempton’s future, saying it is “astonishing” that the Jockey Club could contemplate building on the site and moving the King George VI Chase to Sandown. You can read the full story here. Related: Timeform lambasts Jockey Club for plan to close down Kempton racecourse Continue reading...
Friday’s cross-country race looks sure to go ahead, though Cheltenham will favour fast horses this weekendFans of cross-country races at Cheltenham, among whose number I count myself, will be pleased to learn that there is no evident threat to Friday’s race. The cross-country race scheduled for November’s race-meeting had to be abandoned because the going was hard in places after a dry autumn and it remains fast but, crucially, not quite as fast. Continue reading...