There is much more to a memorable racehorse and performance than a number on a handicapper’s spreadsheetBaaeed was back home in Newmarket, Christophe Soumillon did his best to spoil the build-up and Alpinista, the winner, could struggle to make the top 10 when the international handicappers’ annual ratings are published in January. And yet, many racing fans will fondly recall the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe long after a few of those to come have started to merge together just a little in the memory.There was a time, even within the living memory of older generations of racegoers and punters, when a 50-horse yard such as Sir Mark Prescott’s Heath House, with the backing of a wealthy and committed...
French rider apologises after being banned two months
Keeps ride on Vadeni in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Christophe Soumillon has been banned for two months for appearing to elbow Rossa Ryan out of the saddle at Saint-Cloud on Friday.Soumillon was riding Syros in the Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie and just before the field turned for home he moved towards Ryan on Ralph Beckett’s Captain Wierzba before elbowing his fellow rider. Continue reading...
Inviting punters to the top table would be a more radical move as the sport faces up to serious financial challenges The air was thick with good intentions when the sport’s movers and shakers emerged from two days of what looked suspiciously like crisis talks in central London last week. Specifics, on the other hand, were in very short supply.“Shared acceptance of the challenges”, “serious and radical changes” and “agreement of areas of focus for a strategy” were among the phrases in a joint statement issued by those in attendance, which ensured that most corporate-speak bingo cards were full well before halfway. And when a few snippets of detail did emerge on Sunday, these seemed not so much radical as...
French racing’s greatest showman, Christophe Soumillon, rides the favourite Tarnawa with 14 horses left in the raceThe 100th running of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Sunday looks certain to have a lineup worthy of the occasion after 14 horses were left in the race at the first forfeit stage on Monday with both of this year’s Epsom Classic winners, Adayar and Snowfall, also due to be added to the field at the supplementary stage on Wednesday.Following news that Hurricane Lane, the St Leger winner, is expected to take his place in the field thanks to the arrival of some much-needed rain at Longchamp, we can now look forward to at least seven runners with a Timeform...
The progressive Chichester looks the value bet in a crowded field for the Cambridgeshire Handicap at NewmarketJohn Gosden has saddled four Cambridgeshire Handicap winners this century and two of his runners – Uncle Bryn and Magical Morning – are among the market leaders for this year’s renewal at Newmarket on Saturday.Unlike Lord North, Gosden’s winner from two years ago, neither looks like a Group One horse in a handicap, however, and the value may lie elsewhere. Astro King might have benefited from a stronger gallop when third at York last time so a step back up in trip in Saturday’s huge field should see him run up to form. Continue reading...