Champion Hurdle runner-up is sound and happy, new trainer assures us, and will be promptly re-retired if he’s not coping Arctic Fire is about to make a surprise return to the track, having been retired at the start of the year. A high-class horse for Willie Mullins and runner-up in Faugheen’s Champion Hurdle, the horse has been put back in training with the lower profile Denis Cullen and is being lined up for the Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary on Thursday. Related: Urban Fox and William Haggas throw Aidan O’Brien off Curragh scent Pontefract 2.00 Highly Sprung 2.30 Blown By Wind 3.00 Brockholes 3.30 Construct 4.00 Final Go 4.30 Intense Style 5.00 Mister Moosah Continue reading...
Beaten just half a length in last year’s Northumberland Plate, Natural Scenery (Newcastle 2.05) is taken to go one place better when they run the race once more on SaturdayBeaten just half a length in last year’s running of the Northumberland Plate, Natural Scenery (2.05) is taken to go one place better when they run the race once more on Saturday. The Godolphin mare has an excellent record on the Tapeta at Newcastle, having won on both her other starts here, and looks pretty well handicapped too.An arguably unlucky third in the Ebor in August, she is somehow 4lb below the mark she had that day, having raced just once in Britain since then. Her spring form in Meydan was...
If the programme, cleverly slotted in for the first rest day during the World Cup, is successful then expect more of the same in the schedulesOver 400,000 viewers tuned in for the first evening racing on terrestrial television for over 20 years last month when ITV broadcast the Brigadier Gerard meeting from Sandown, the first broadcast of a night card since the 1990s.If Friday night’s programme from Newcastle - cleverly slotted in for the first rest day during the World Cup - is similarly successful then expect more of the same in the schedules. ITV Racing editor Richard Willoughby has already signalled the channel’s interest in covering more night racing and the ITV4 programme at 6pm has benefited from plenty...
The British Horseracing Authority will grant riders an extra 1lb at the scales so they can wear improved protective equipmentA tip of the hat this morning to racing’s rulers, who have made another significant effort to protect our jockeys. From 1 October in Britain, jockeys will be given an extra 1lb allowance at weighing out to allow them to wear an upgraded version of the body protectors currently in use, the new version being slightly heavier. Related: Call for all racecourses to offer free meals to stable staff Cartmel 2.20 Lucky Lucarno 2.50 Apachee Prince 3.20 Prince Garyantle 3.50 Isle Road 4.20 Damiens Dilemma 4.50 St George’s Oval 5.20 Regulation Newcastle 1.30 Charava 2.00 Island Flame 2.30 Amadeus Grey 3.05 Daafr 3.40 Weather...
Ascot signal that a ‘few tweaks may be needed’ after closing day of the Royal meeting provided an unattractive betting cardExpect another reshuffle in the Royal Ascot line-up next year. Last weekend’s Saturday card was particularly badly affected by the changes made for this year’s meeting and the indications from Ascot are that a rethink is likely before the 2019 fixture.Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and communications, has already admitted to the Racing Post that “a few tweaks may be needed” following the disquiet expressed about the closing day card this year, and with Hong Kong punters joining in the fun next year to create an ‘Ascot World Pool’ it is unlikely the course will want to put on...