Jockey suspended after ‘failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing’Robert Havlin, the No 2 rider to John and Thady Gosden, has confirmed on Thursday morning that he will lodge an appeal against a 21-day ban for “failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing” on the Gosdens’ colt Stowell in a novice event at Lingfield on Wednesday.Stowell, who was making his racecourse debut, finished just a head behind his stable companion Polling Day, the 2-9 favourite with Frankie Dettori aboard, after staying on strongly and making up several lengths in the straight. This was despite, in the words of Timeform’s race-reader, “Havlin seeming at pains to give...
The first names, chosen by an independent panel of horse racing experts, will be announced next weekBritish Flat racing will have a hall of fame to celebrate the equine and human greats of the sport. The first names, chosen by an independent panel of horse racing experts, will be announced next week to mark the 10th anniversary of the Qipco British Champions Series, the organisation launching the initiative.Racing’s hall-of-famers will be selected from the period of the sport beginning in 1970 and will comprise the outstanding horses, jockeys and trainers along with those categorised as “major contributors” such as owners, breeders and other leading figures. Related: Talking Horses: rising star De la Sayette suspended over cocaine test Ludlow 1.00 Tinnahalla 1.35...
The jockey who took the Lincoln Handicap on his first professional ride on turf last month has licence taken awayThe burgeoning career of apprentice jockey Benoit De La Sayette, who took the Lincoln Handicap on his first professional ride on turf last month, came to an abrupt halt on Tuesday morning when it was revealed that the 18-year-old has tested positive for cocaine.Shortly after de la Sayette’s win on Haqeeqy at Doncaster, a video circulated on social media which claimed to show the rider at a party where cocaine was being used a few hours after his success. The rider, who is attached to the stable of champion trainer John Gosden, denied the allegation, claiming that the video was taken...
Trainer given Classics boost in early-season trials after pair triumph at NewburyFew trainers’ dreams of Classic success survive the early-season trials largely unscathed, but Richard Hannon came closer than most here on Sunday as wins for Snow Lantern and Chindit left him with credible contenders for both the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket next month.Snow Lantern’s success came in a maiden at the top of the card, but she won it so readily that she was cut to around 8-1 to emulate her mother, Sky Lantern, who won the Classic for Hannon’s father, also Richard, in 2013. Related: Jockey Lorna Brooke dies after fall at Taunton racecourse early in April Pontefract Continue reading...
Paul Nicholls can land prestigious Ayr prize before being confirmed as Britain’s jumps champion trainer next weekendPaul Nicholls will be confirmed as Britain’s champion trainer over jumps for the 12th time at Sandown next weekend and he can secure another big prize with Soldier Of Love (3.35) in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Sunday.Like Vincente, who gave Nicholls his first win in this race in 2016, the eight-year-old is still a novice and while he was pulled up on heavy going at Cheltenham in November, he was highly progressive on better ground earlier in the campaign. Related: Talking Horses: champion jockey race heats up at Scottish National meeting Continue reading...