We lost Ffos Las on Monday to the weather.
The Horse Race Writers and Photographers annual lunch took place as usual at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. An unusual winner in a sense, was amateur jockey and son of Willie, Patrick Mullins who took the Writing Award for his musings in the trade paper, the Racing Post. Ed Whitaker took the Photography Award, and not for the first time. Other notable winners were Lydia Hislop taking the Broadcaster of the Year, which in the Major’s opinion was a given. Lydia really is fantastic, is great for the sport and knows her stuff! After his retirement from presenting and raceday reporting, Bob Cooper was a worthy winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award too.
Tuesday saw news from the Tattersalls Mares Sale where Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me fetched 4.8 million guineas. She was snapped up by Amo Racing and may continue to race as a four year old in the care of exisiting trainer Ralf Beckett. Another headline from the sale was that of Believing being purchased by Coolmoore for 3 million guineas. Highclere Thoroughbreds, the previous owner, paid only 115,000 guineas as a breeze up and she achieved 6 victories and 6 Group I placings in their colours. She will stay on to race at four with existing trainer George Boughey, in all the major races over sprint distances.
Jumping news was the announcement of former jockey Dominic Elsworth taking out a trainers license and operating from a yard near Warwick, assisted by former weighing room colleague Ryan Hatch. Good luck in your new venture chaps.
The following day Cloudy Glen at eleven years young, easily took the veterans chase at Haydock in soft ground. Not seen since the Kim Muir last March it was a good return to the track, with his last win being way back in 2021 when he took the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, which is now known as the Coral Gold Cup.
The flat racing was all about the youngsters rather than the older horses. John and Thady Gosden had 3 two year old debutant winners on the day thanks to Go Go Boots at Lingfield, while Kieron Shoemark booted home two others namely Sand Gazelle and Bowmark at Kempton’s twilight meeting. However the most taking performance was that of First Principle, a son of Kingman for William Haggas and ridden by Richard Kingscote. The Major likes to see these late maturing types at this time of the year. Not to be outdone, the Crisfords had a double at Lingfield too for owner Rabbah Racing, but at Kempton they also took the Listed Hyde Stakes with Poker Face to round off a good day.
Thursday, it was announced that Fast Or Slow was ruled out for the season after sustaining an injury during his reappearance at Punchestown. Owen Burrows, ex jumps jockey who now trains on the flat predominantly for Sheikha Hissa and Shadwell Estate bred horses, went back to his National Hunt roots and trained the winner of the junior bumper at Wincanton. Marahaba Prince raced prominantly and crossed the line a length ahead. Probably the nicest news of the day was at Chelmsford in the evening. After 540 days off the track since its maiden win, By The Book owned by Godolphin won really nicely for Charlie Appleby and Dougie Costello. They must think something of this Frankel gelding to have persevered with him for so long.
Sandown the following day saw Grade 2 action over hurdles and fences on testing ground. The Esher Novices Chase was taken comfortably by Handstands for handler Ben Pauling and jockey Ben Jones. Half an hour earlier the Winter Novices Hurdle was taken by Bill Joyce for team O’Neil, Jonjo, AJ and Jonjo Junior.
We lost Aintree, Chepstow and Wolverhampton to Storm Darragh but fortunately Sandown got the green light to race. The first Grade I went to the Skelton operation with L’eau Du Sud taking the Henry VIII Novices Chase. Off the back of this victory he becomes second favourite for the Arkle behind Ballyburn. The Betfair sponsored Tingle Creek Chase saw Jonbon oblige for the punters repeating last years win in the race. He accountd for the Henry De Bromhead trained Quilixios by 8 lengths, with JPR One 2 lengths back in third. Winning trainer Nicky Henderson insists Jonbon can be rightly looked upon as similar to his past 2 mile chase hero’s Sprinter Sacre and Altior. Next stop is likely to be the Clarence House Chase at Ascot, then on to the Queen Mother in March. Lets hope so! Over at Navan Ile At Lantique made all and won the Beginners Chase by 9 lengths for Paul Townend. It was a very nice effort in the Major’s opinion and it will be interesting to see where he goes next.
EarlynSunday morning over in Hong Kong Romantic Warrior remarkably took his third Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin under Aussie James MacDonald. This victory took his career earnings close to £18m and his 9th Group I. There was also a UK success on the card when Marco Botti’s Giavellotto under Oisin Murphy took the Hong Kong Vase.
Huntingdon staged its most prestigeous race, the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase and attracted a five runner field. Djelo bolted up by 6 lengths for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch following his second place in the Haldon Gold Cuo at Exeter. Over the water at Cork, the card included two Grade 2 events. The Mares Novice Chase was taken impressively by Only By Night for Gavin Cromwell and Sean Flanagan. The Hilly Way Chase over 2 miles had six of the eight runner field trained by Willie Mullins. Not sure I understand why this would be the case and to the Major it doesnt look good for the sport. After 593 days off the track, Energumene the dual winner of the two mile chasing crown at the Cheltenham Festival reurned a winner by 10 lengths albeit helped by it’s only real challenger Banbridge falling at the last fence.
On to next week, I am heading for a few pints of the black stuff and bite to eat.