The week started with Sean Bowen riding his 100th winner of the season on Dominics Fault for his trainer Olly Murphy at Lingfield. Awful news came from across the water when we learnt of the death of Ferny Hollow. The Cheveley Park Stud owned Champion Bumper winner of 2020 fell the previous day at Cork in the Hilly Way Chase. Very sad for all concerned; RIP.
Christian Williams sent runners to Musselburgh from his South Wales base for the first time and the cost of diesel wasn’t misplaced. His first runner Stringtoyourbow took the feature under Sean Quinlan, while his only other two runners picked up place money too.
Looks like Frankie Dettori is involved in a dispute with HMRC over a tax avoidance scheme he was involved in. His advisors are working closely with the tax authorities to resolve this, while those advisors who got him involved in the scheme in the first place received a straight red!
On Tuesday three times Grade I winner over hurdles, Dancing City, made a good start to life over the larger obstacles at Punchestown for Willie Mullins.
Wednesday was a pretty ordinary day’s fayre apart from the Listed Wild Flower Stakes over a mile and a half at Kempton. The Jane Chapple-Hyam trained Champagne Prince ridden by William Buick made every yard to take the prize by three quarters of a length from the favourite Eydon. Something to mention here, was the owner of the winner Peter Harris, who almost to the day eight years ago tragically lost his son-in-law. His name was no other than Walter Swinburn.
On to Thursday, and Warwick saw a Listed Mares Novices Chase as the highlight. The Skeltons Dan and Harry took the honours with Cherie D’am who despite missing the second last won 7 lengths.
Cheltenham took centre stage on Friday and Saturday. King Turgeon notched up his hat trick in the Premier Handicap following up his victory over the National fences at Aintree off a career high mark. He looks to be still improving. The Cross Country Chase winner Stumpstown made it four wins in 2024 and took this different jumping test very cosily.
Not for the first time the Saturday race of the day was mopped up by Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch. The December Gold Cup was reward for Gemirande after some nice previous efforts at Prestbury Park. Clear after 8 fences he was hard pressed from 4 out, however he ground it out and had a length to spare at the jam stick. Later on the card Skyjack Hijack was chasing his 7th consecutive win in the staying novice hurdle but the winning sequence came to an end, with the French trained Jet Blue taking the prize, being well ridden by ex pat James Reveley.
After 26 years National Hunt Racing returned to Windsor on Sunday. The card was sponsored by Fitzdares and a bumper crowd enjoyed a good afternoons sport. Over at Navan a listed bumper was taken by Gordon Elliot trained Kalypso’chance with a lovely performance. One to follow and goes into the Major’s notebook for sure.
start over fences at Punchestown. The Mullins-Townend outfit are truly blessed with talent.
The following day’s highlight was the Listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton. Champagne Prince trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam and ridden by William Buick made all over the mile and a half trip in the famous colours of Peter Harris. Maybe there was some intervention from above here, as Peter’s son-in-law died almost to the day 8 years ago, His name was Walter Swinburn.
The Listed Lady Godiva Mares Chase at Warwick on Thursday was the feature race of the day. Team Skelton took the honours with Cherie D’am who made
all, despite a howler two out and went on to win 7 lengths. Sterling Knight took the valuable handicap at Chelmsford sponsored by SkyBet for owner Paul Turner, trainer Ed Dunlop and jockey Adam Farragher.