This week is usually the calm before the storm of Christmas week and New Year fixtures. A couple of nice bulletins to start the week. Firstly, Tony Carroll has trained 100 winners in a calendar year for the first time; many congratulations. Secondly on Monday, Rachael Blackmore returned to race riding at Naas after nearly 3 months on the sidelines.
On Tuesday Rae Guest announced he has chosen to retire after 36 years with a trainers license. The 74 year old trained 4 Group 1 winners along the way, having also been a jockey. His family are all steeped in racing, with his brother Richard a Grand National winning jockey and one of his sisters was married to the late Sir Henry Cecil.
On the racecourse we saw quite a spectacle in the staying Handicap Hurdle for amateur riders up at Catterick. The Phil Kirby trained Be The Difference took the honors under Shay Halton, who after jumping four out found himself 30 lengths clear. He eventually hung on by just over a length. The stewards asked the questions of the placed horses pilots but decided no action was required.
Former owner John Dance, whose most famous horse Laurens a 6 time Group 1 winner, has been charged with fraud. It is alleged he transferred over 64 million pounds of his clients money to fund his racing empire and lavish lifestyle.
It was announced one of the major contributors to the formation of the BHB, Sir Thomas Pilkington died aged 90. He was also a successful owner and breeder. RIP.
Wednesday on the track saw two very diverse debuts but impressive all the same. In the Junior Bumper at Newbury, Chatty Girl owned and bred by Bloomsbury Stud, raced prominently and wide throughout staying on to win after looking beaten under Kielan Woods for trainer Alex Hales. At Kempton, Glittering Surf made an impressive debut brushing aside Godolphin owned Pearl Of Hope by 3 lengths in the one mile novice race. Trained by Owen Burrows for owner Peter Winkworth, this filly will be suited by this sort of trip on turf on a more galloping track according to winning jockey Richard Kingscote.
Trainer Alison Thorpe retired from the ranks in 2009 after becoming disillusioned with the sport. However she resumed her career from her South Wales base. On Thursday with her 14th runner back after her break, Alison saddled Karuma Grey to win at 100/1 in the 2 miles 5 furlong Handicap Chase. Congratulations from the Major! Michael Keady, who has just started out on his own having worked for the likes of Brian Ellison among others and jointly trained with Mike Murphy, started his training career with a winner when Currumbin took the 1 mile 6 furlong handicap by 4 lengths. This also brought up Kieran Shoemark’s 100th winner of the year to boot. Congratulations to both.
Friday saw Day 5 of the Dubai Carnival known as “Festive Friday” with the first Group races taking place. In the new year we will see more top class racing leading up to Dubai World Cup Day on April 5th.
In Bahrain Snellen took the Al Muharroc Cup for Gavin Cromwell and Garry Carroll to become the first Irish trained horse to ever win in Bahrain.
Over at Ascot, in the Grade 2 Novice Chase Mark Of Gold took the honours for Gary Moore and Caoilin Quinn. Perhaps the best performance on the card to many, was the bumper winner Windbeneathmywings, who brushed aside 7 previous bumper winners to win 14 lengths making all. Trainer David Pipe, jockey Jack Tudor and owners Professor Caroline Tisdall and Partner look to have a really smart horse on their hands. Finally Rossa Ryan rocked up to Dunstall Park in Wolverhampton for the umpteenth time this year and rode a four timer. His last winner Eagle Day brought up his 200 winners for 2024 to crown a fantastic year, to compliment success in the Arc and Breeders Cup.
Another Saturday, another Venetia Williams winner in the feature handicap on ITV. For consecutive years Victtorino came out on top in the Silver Cup at Ascot under Charlie Deutsch. Earlier on the card Crambo also repeated his victory of last year in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle, ending a frustrating spell for trainer Fergal O’Brien and jockey Johnny Burke. Crambo toughed it out to win by just a head from Irish challenger Hiddenvalley Lake.
At Haydock, the Betfred sponsored Tommy Whittle Chase was taken by Egbert for Alan King and Gavin Sheehan, who outstayed the opposition up the long home straight. The Listed Mares hurdle saw Holloway Queen win 15 lengths for Nicky Henderson and Nico.
Sunday saw Fakenham over the sticks and all-weather flat action from Lingfield. Nothing of note to report.
I send you all seasons greetings and hope your Christmas is full of joy. Merry Christmas!! Roll on Boxing Day…