‘It means the world. He’s really taken us by surprise,’ says trainer Ann Hamilton, achieving her biggest win in her 70sThe romance of jump racing was on full show at Aintree as the plucky, prolific but nevertheless unsung Nuts Well battled his way to victory in the Old Roan Chase for the tiny Northumberland stable of Ann Hamilton.This was the biggest success in the long career of the 73-year-old Hamilton, who still schools horses over fences at her base in the village of Capheaton, about 20 miles north-west of Newcastle. Related: Frodon back in Gold Cup contention after Cheltenham success on soft Redcar 12.10 Finoah 12.40 Soapy Stevens 1.15 Turn On The Charm 1.50 Troll Peninsula 2.25 Fleetwood Pier (nap)...
Victory would take Aidan O’Brien to 10 wins in top-class Doncaster contest, matching Sir Henry Cecil’s recordIt looks like being a record-equalling 10th success in the Vertem Futurity for Aidan O’Brien, whose Wembley (2.55) is a convincing favourite in the contest formerly known as the Racing Post Trophy. Though he has managed just one win from six starts so far, he was arguably the one to take out of the Dewhurst, in which he was strong at the finish in second after a less than ideal run through.King Vega comes from the stable that won this last year and One Ruler will surely have a say but Wembley should come out on top. That would help O’Brien match Sir Henry...
Racing’s safeguards are aimed at preventing repeats of past mistakes but fell over when faced with a new oneWe all make mistakes. The great thing is to not make the same one twice and I would be happy to bet that Aidan O’Brien will find some means of ensuring he is never again in the unhappy position of watching a race and realising his two runners are carrying each other’s jockeys. Related: Talking Horses: owner's fury over winning rival's breach of whip rules Tips by Chris Cook Continue reading...
Kulbir Sohi, whose Tranchee was second at York on Saturday, has urged racing’s rulers to crack down on whip offendersRacing’s whip rules are once more to be the subject of heated debate, following the punishment meted out to Martin Harley for an obvious breach of them while winning on Gulliver at York on Saturday. Kulbir Sohi, owner of the runner-up, Tranchee, is outraged that a winner is allowed to keep the prize despite such significant rule-breaking and has written in complaint to the sport’s ruling body, urging a change in the rules and threatening legal action. Related: ‘She’s been a superstar’: tearful Dettori pays tribute to retired Enable Huntingdon 12.00 Perfect Myth 12.30 Vegas Blue 1.00 Peur De Rien 1.30...
More than £3m was paid on Tuesday for two descendants of the great mare Attraction, who was herself thought unsellableThe mighty mare Attraction, whose wonky legs made her unsellable but never stopped her on the track, enjoyed the latest victory of her long career on Tuesday when two of her descendants fetched huge sums at auction. Her 12th foal was knocked down for £1,155,000 during the Tattersalls Book 1 sale in Newmarket, while a colt out of her daughter Cushion went through the same ring for £2,205,000 a few hours later. Related: Talking Horses: BHA offer fast-track dope tests for Newmarket runners Tips by Chris Cook Continue reading...