In the wake of a nasty fight at Goodwood, Chester’s chief executive discusses how his team tackles antisocial behaviourThe encouraging news, for those of us worried about antisocial behaviour at the racecourse in the wake of what happened at Goodwood, is that such issues are evidently taken very seriously by officials at Chester, which will be a very busy venue for the next three days. Richard Thomas, Chester’s chief executive, tells me they will have 16 police officers on site as well as “very visible, very obvious security”, involving 350 security guards by his estimate. Related: Goodwood hopeful of arrests after handing police CCTV of 50-person brawl Chester Continue reading...
‘It gives me an opportunity to spread my wings,’ says jockey who has given up his post as Paul Nicholls’s main riderSo, as it turned out, Paul Nicholls’s first few runners of the new jumps season were ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, despite their sort-of split that was announced on Friday. Twiston-Davies has decided to go freelance but both sides say he will continue to ride for the Ditcheat yard, though Harry Cobden has now been named as Nicholls’s first jockey. Related: Enable’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe odds drift after training setback Related: Horse-racing doping scandal: eight found guilty of taking part in Aquanita 'conspiracy' Brighton 2.00 Upavon 2.30 Haylah 3.00 Prezzie 3.35 Black Caesar 4.05 Archimento 4.35 Captain Kissinger...
Irish trainer accepts he must prepare future US dirt runners to cope with a high level of aggression from the startThe aggression of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby approached the level of savagery, Aidan O’Brien has said as he reflected on the defeat suffered by his Mendelssohn, who was eased down to finish last. But rather than complain about the interference suffered by his horse in the early stages, the Ballydoyle trainer is now concerned with how he can train a horse to cope with that level of aggression in future and perhaps even show it himself. Related: Billesdon Brook’s 1,000 Guineas win gives Sean Levey his biggest triumph Warwick 1.30 Hidden Glen 2.05 Simply The Betts 2.40 Free Stone Hill 3.15...
The selection has the class and turn of foot to give Aidan O’Brien his ninth 2,000 Guineas winner at NewmarketThe abrupt emergence of Masar as a potential Classic winner gives the 2,000 Guineas today at Newmarket a familiar Godolphin versus Ballydoyle look, but one of the more open renewals of recent years has several more genuine contenders in the field. Expert Eye and Elarqam have serious claims on the pick of their juvenile form, while James Garfield beat Expert Eye in the Greenham and will have his backers with Frankie Dettori taking the reins. There is also market confidence behind Mark Johnston’s Elarqam, which has not been the case for Saxon Warrior, one of Aidan O’Brien’s two main contenders. Related:...
We mark the passing of Stan Murphy, who reckoned he could have won Foinavon’s Grand National, despite broken tackI’m sad to report the loss of Stan Murphy, a jump jockey of the 60s and 70s, who died on Wednesday in a Waterford hospital after surgery for cancer. His major wins included the Mackeson on 1973 on Skymas and the Thyestes five years earlier aboard Great Lark. Related: Uncharted waters with Classic runner Tip Two Win has Roger Teal all at sea Lingfield 1.50 Chelwood Gate 2.20 Fitzrovia 2.50 Crossing The Line 3.20 Al Barg 3.50 Accomplice 4.20 Waneen 4.50 Storm Again Continue reading...