Monday saw the return of Billy Loughnane to the track in the UK after 2 months spent down under in Australia. At Lingfield, Stage Winner was his first ride back and the very short priced favourite obliged for owner Qatar Racing and trainer George Boughey. Regarding the trainer, it was announced he had purchased a larger yard to operate from, having spent his training career to date at Saffron House in Newmarket where over 480 winners were trained. Craven House stables were previously owned by Godolphin and used as a pre training facility. The best of luck to George in his new yard.
Tuesday came and went with little to report. However at Southwell we saw a workman like rather than spectacular winner of the 3 year-old maiden over 7 furlongs. Cavalo Nero trained by John Ferguson and ridden by Danny Muscutt showed tenacity on his debut to see off the favourite Invited by half a length and will improve on that.
Wednesday saw all the jumps racing in the UK and Ireland go ahead but it was pretty mundane midweek fayre. Off the track SDS, otherwise known as Sylvester De Sousa was appointed as retained jockey in the UK for owner Nurlan Bizakov the owner of Champion Miler Charyn. Tom Marquand and wife Holly Doyle returned to our shores after a spell in Japan where Tom rode 21 winners. On his firat ride back he steered the Mick Appleby trained Coul Angel to victory. and then followed up with a winner for his boss William Haggas owned by King Charles called Purple Rainbow. Holly, not to be out done rode a winner Sweet Fantastic for trainer Hugo Palmer.
Ludlow passed an early morning inspection on Thursday and it was announced the meeting would go ahead. However some jockeys expressed concern about frozen patches of ground and they inspected again while also putting the first race back half an hour to allow the temperatures to rise. They didn’t and the meeting was eventually abandoned. Not great… Up at Newcastle Dan Skelton and Lucinda Russell both saddled two winners. Back down at Wincanton Collectors Item took the Somerset National for the O’Neils and Kevin Brogan.
On the first day of the Berkshire Million meeting, the Grade 2 Lightening Novice Chase went to the Harry Fry trained Gidleigh Park under Bryan Carver, while the most valuable race went to Secret Squirrel in the Sovereign Hurdle for Hughie Morrison and Nico de Boinville. The Veterans Chase Final took place at Market Rasen up in Lincolnshire with over £38k to the winner and Copperhead took the honours for Joe Tizzard and Freddie Gingell. In warmer climes a mention for George Scott and Callum Sheppard who combined with 3 winners over in Bahrain namely Touch The Moon, City House and Phantom Flight. Well done both!
Not to be out done at Meydan Slivester De Sousa booted home 3 winners too.
That’s me. I am having a week or so of winter sunshine. Best of luck and I will be back in the chair on the 27th January.