Jockeys’ appeals against bans for racing despite a yellow flag has brought under scrutiny the approach to stopping a raceThere is every chance that a new government will be in place before racing finally draws a line under the chaotic scenes at the end of the Sandown card on Saturday, when seven jockeys were banned for 10 days each for continuing to the finish despite a yellow “stop racing” flag being waved on the approach to the third last. Their route took them past the screens erected around the stricken Houblon Des Obeaux, who had collapsed after suffering a heart attack on the first circuit, prompting the decision to abandon the race.The Professional Jockeys’ Association said on Sunday that all...
The step back in distance helped Janika score at Exeter and he ilooks ready for a step up to the highest level at SandownIn the absence of Altior the Tingle Creek at Sandown has a very competitive look and there is hope for fans of the veteran Un De Sceaux, the upstart Defi Du Seuil and the rarely spotted Waiting Patiently. But all three may be outdone by Janika (3.00), whose form over the past year looks all the more solid because it has often been in handicaps.After joining Nicky Henderson from France he was a beaten favourite in all four starts last winter but there was no shame in twice failing narrowly to give lumps of weight to Sirruh...
Horse won easily and his owner cleaned up, one month after his beaten effort at Warwick caused concern from the stewardsAn absolute sensation was caused in racing’s corner of Twitter on Thursday by the victory of Little Rory Mac at Market Rasen and the before and after comments of a Twitter account belonging to the horse’s owner, Adam McCormack. Little Rory Mac was sent off as the 15-8 favourite after opening on course at 13-8 but won like an odds-on shot by an easy seven lengths.That provoked complaints from some who had backed the horse when he last ran, at Warwick last month, when he was settled out the back and ran on to be a never-nearer sixth. Liam Heard...
After working at Jockey Club tracks around Britain, the 34-year-old is ready for the most high-profile job of its kindThe job of looking after the Grand National course falls vacant about four times a century, on recent trends, so Sulekha Varma is counting herself very lucky to get it at the age of just 34. “I’m over the moon,” she said on Thursday as the news began to sink in. “I’m fully aware of what a big challenge the job will be but I know how things operate there.”That’s because running Aintree during the National meeting is not a one-man job. For those three days, the Jockey Club brings its clerks of the course from around the country to Liverpool...
The bad injury to Buveur D’Air has highlighted the need for safer hurdles which are set to be rolled out in a ‘couple of years’The large splinter of wood from the second-last hurdle which became embedded in Buveur D’Air’s hoof during the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday probably cost him the race and may well see him ruled out for the remainder of the jumps season.And yet, birch hurdles of the type which injured the dual Champion Hurdle winner are likely to be a feature of British (and Irish) jumping for several years yet, despite the padded alternative having been successfully trialled as long ago as 2013. Related: Talking Horses: Royal Ascot to defy odds by staging its...