The week started with another jockey, albeit an inexperienced apprentice making a “real cock up” as the Major says, of his ride after failing to ride out his mount Blufferonthebus in the 3.15 at Leicester on Monday. The young jockey Matthew Lloyd Slater aged 22, was banned for 28 days for his failings on only his 10th career ride in the saddle. The Major insists “he’s not the first and he won’t be the last. Enough said and let’s move on”.
The midweek fayre on Tuesday and Wednesday came and went but on Thursday a proper “little tickle” was landed!! The 2.28 at Bath, the Dragon Bet – Born From The Betting Ring Handicap over an extended 5 furlongs was the race in question. A four-year-old gelding named HK Fourteen who originally changed hands for 220,000 Euros, and made his debut in June this year running 4 times between 7 furlongs and a mile. The drop back in trip worked the oracle and he won by 4 lengths having being backed at 40/1 on Wednesday evening into a starting price of 11/4 . The Tony Carroll trained and Jack Doughty ridden charge is now set for an All-Weather campaign over the winter. I would say “some layers must be a little wounded”.
Friday and the Weekend saw top class jumps action from Down Royal and Wetherby, while the Breeders Cup from Del Mar also provided lots of interest to followers of our passion that is called horseracing. Unfortunately, it’s not all good news. Alistair Down who in the Major’s opinion was the finest racing journalist ever, working for the Sporting Life and Racing Post, later being a terrific presenter of Channel 4 Racing has died aged 68. May he rest in peace.
Friday saw the Breeders Cup begin at Del Mar with 5 Juvenile races taking place. The Emerald Isle took 3 of these thanks to Magnum Force for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane. Aidan O’Brien won 2 others thanks to Lake Victoria and Henri Matisse, both ridden by Ryan Moore.
Saturday saw The Real Whacker under Brian Hughes take the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby beating Bravemansgame. Over the water Envoi Allen won the Ladbrokes Champion Chase from Hewick by half a length with 13 lengths back to the favourite Gerri Colombe. Gordon Elliot still managed 4 winners on the Down Royal card and he chipped in to take the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby too with Beacon Edge. Not forgetting to mention Daryl Jacob, who has said he will hang his boots up at the end of this season, rode his 1000th winner up at Ayr – “Congratulations from the Major”.
Saturday was all about the BC Classic and City Of Troy. His fate was known after ten strides where he missed the break and never looked likely to challenge, eventually finishing 8th of the 14 runners. Sierra Leone won from Fierceness for trainer Chad Brown and jockey Flavien Pratt. The home team didn’t leave empty handed with Starlust doing the business in the Turf Sprint for the Arc-winning combination of Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan, while Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick took the BC Turf over a mile and a half with Rebel’s Romance, who won the same race in 2022 at Keenland under James Doyle.
The Irish Flat turf season came to an end today 3rd November 2024 and the Group 3 Loughbrown Stakes over 2 c-miles was the highlight of the card. Dawn Rising trained by Joseph O’Brien got up on the line to snatch victory from Lily Hart. Looking forward to the 18th March 2025 at the Curragh for it all to start again…