The Derby proves that trainers and owners in this country are unwilling to use a female jockey when it matters mostPersonally, I don’t need to be persuaded that a female jockey can be as good as any male jockey. I’ve held that view for as long as I can remember thinking about the subject, so I was unmoved by Tuesday’s news of a study claiming to have found evidence that women ride as well as men. Related: Female jockeys as good as men but get fewer top rides, says report Leicester 1.15 I’m Always Trying 1.45 Head To The Stars (nb) 2.15 Stuccodor 2.50 Enola Gay 3.25 Triple Chief 3.55 Chandos Belle Continue reading...
Al Shaqab are to pay the famed jockey half as much this year, on the grounds that they expect to have fewer runners in BritainIt’s a terrible thing when middle-aged workers, having given their best years to a company, are tossed on the scrapheap because they’ve risen up the pay scale and become too expensive. Such are my thoughts as I contemplate this news that Frankie Dettori has had his annual retainer cut in half by Al Shaqab. Related: Finian’s Oscar faces breathing operation after dismal Cheltenham effort Lingfield 1.00 Behranell 1.30 Sixty's Belle 2.05 The Game Is A Foot 2.40 Veauce De Sivola 3.15 Lostnfound 3.45 Tara Bridge 4.15 Richardofdoccombe Newcastle 1.20 Cadeyrn (nb) 1.55 My Old Gold (nap) 2.30...
Owner says he has no grounds for concern that top-class hurdler could have been nobbled before Christmas defeatRich Ricci has dismissed fears that Faugheen may have been ‘got at’, or doped to underperform by some malign influence, when he ran so disappointingly at Leopardstown over Christmas. There was some loose chat at the time that the dismal efforts by both Faugheen and Sizing John (from another stable) that week were so bad as to be a cause for concern but Ricci says he has total faith in the security systems put in place by Faugheen’s trainer, Willie Mullins. Related: A £2 maximum stake for betting-shop machines will be boost for racing Donald McCain 42% (24) Nick Williams 33% (12) Warren Greatrex 29% (24) Nicky Henderson 27% (30) Harry...
The Cotswold Chase runner was short of his best when thumped by Bristol De Mai at Wetherby but that was his seasonal return and he was a lot sharper at AintreeBristol De Mai has a favourite’s chance in the Cotswold Chase, the Gold Cup trial which forms the centrepiece on Cheltenham’s last card before the Festival on Saturday. But the grey has something to prove after his King George flop and comes from a yard that seems to be going out of form.Definitly Red (2.25) blows hot and cold and he was well short of his best when thumped by Bristol De Mai at Wetherby in October. But that was his seasonal return and he was a lot sharper when...
The 2015 Gold Cup winner has been switched from Saturday’s Cotswold Chase to run at Newbury next monthCheltenham’s Trials day card on Saturday lost a significant name this morning with the news that Coneygree, the 2015 Gold Cup winner, has been ruled out of the Cotswold Chase, in which he was due to run for the first time since undergoing wind surgery following a disappointing run in the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap at Newbury in early December.Coneygree was reported to be on course for Saturday’s race earlier in the week, and had been quoted at around 8-1 to record his first win since November 2015. The testing ground at Cheltenham, though, means that he will now be an absentee. Related: Racing...