Irish jockey added another major contender to her mounts at the Festival when Bob Olinger impressed at NaasRachael Blackmore added another major contender to her book of rides at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday when Bob Olinger, the 6-4 favourite, burst clear to win the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle at Naas, marking himself out as Ireland’s leading contender for the Ballymore Novice Hurdle on 17 March as he did so.Bob Olinger went into Wednesday’s race with only one win over hurdles to his name, but had previously finished a close second to Ferny Hollow, last year’s Champion Bumper winner, on his debut over timber in November. Related: Talking Horses: weighing room spat behind Bryony Frost investigation Catterick...
Lucy Barry failed to weigh in at Doncaster on Monday, becoming the 11th jockey to make that mistake since JuneRacing’s rulers are to take a fresh look at what can be done to ensure jockeys weigh in when required, following yet another case this week of a placed jockey failing to do so. Lucy Barry finished second on Hawthorn Cottage at Doncaster on Monday but her mount was disqualified because Barry did not immediately return to the weighing room, which is now in a separate part of the grandstand building from the jockeys’ changing rooms, to allow for social distancing. Related: Khalid Abdullah, celebrated racing owner and breeder, dies R6 @DoncasterRaces placings revised as follows: Second RUNASIMI RIVER, Third KESTREL...
A letter to MPs is circulating within the sport, expressing concern over the possibility of affordability checks in gamblingThe prospect of a £60m hit to horse racing’s already struggling finances is conjured up by a template letter to MPs now being distributed within the sport, complaining about the potential impact of affordability checks on gamblers and calling on lawmakers to pressure the Gambling Commission into a rethink. The letter’s author is not known, but it was evidently drafted after agreement among the sport’s most senior power-brokers that some pushback was necessary.The GC is consulting on possible changes to its regulations in the area and has extended the deadline for feedback until 9 February, having experienced “high engagement” since the consultation...
The great skill with which Evan Williams has guided young chaser’s career may be rewarded with Chepstow gloryEvan Williams has done an excellent job with Secret Reprieve (3.10), guiding the talented seven-year-old through the early stages of his chasing career so that he lands right at the foot of the weights for today’s Welsh Grand National. It will be a crying shame if the race is abandoned for a second time because otherwise the Vale Of Glamorgan trainer seems very well positioned to get his first victory in the Chepstow feature.There is plenty that can go wrong, of course, and Secret Reprieve is not generously priced at 4-1 but it is hard to identify a potent, reliable threat. Truckers Lodge...
Nick Rust, the recently departed chief executive of racing’s ruling body, made the claim during an appearance on SkyRacing’s ruling body has denied that any of its London-based staff are earning less than the city’s living wage, contradicting a claim made by its outgoing chief executive, Nick Rust, in a valedictory TV show broadcast several times over the Christmas period. Rust made the claim in order to back up an assertion that the British Horseracing Authority is “considerably cheaper” than equivalent bodies in other major racing nations. Related: Talking Horses: why the Irish will still dominate at Cheltenham in March Lingfield11.50 City Derby (nap) 12.20 Rose Of Aghaboe (nb) 12.50 Legendary Grace 1.20 Ferrobin 1.50 Glory And Honour 2.20 Hasanabad 2.50 Quick Grabim...