The week started at Catterick where Phil Kirby had two winners, namely Asa and Achnamara. The concluding bumper won by the Donald McCain trained Count Of Vendome looked a smart type under Brian Hughes. The re-arranged Sussex National from January saw a great finish after three and a half miles. Last year’s victor, Dom Of Mary, was touched off close home by the locally trained winner Invisible Nao. Gary and Josh Moore will be relieved to get a good winner in the bag here, as by their own admission it’s been a difficult season to date. Jockey Caoilin Quinn rode as great wating race to take the prize. Chris Gordon managed three winners and two seconds on the card to continue his brilliant start to 2025.
Tuesday was low key but a few things to mention. At Ayr, trainer Ian Duncan, who would not have a massive string had a lovely double both over hurdles. The Jeweller’s Pet and Maura Jeanne won nicely and were not friendless in the market. The bumper to end the card was a four-runner affair and was won by Irish raider Royal Hillsborough from the Stewart Crawford yard. The four-length debut winner was very well handled to victory by Sean Flanagan. At Lingfield Olly Murphy’s yard continues to churn out winners and added to more via Pleasington and Double Oban. Oh, before I forget Frankel was born 17 years ago today!
Wetherby was the feature meeting on Wednesday and the first race, a novice hurdle was won easily by Wendigo for Jamie Snowden and jockey Gavin Sheehan. This gelding chased home The New Lion in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle last December and the winning jockey thinks stamina is his forte. and considers the Albert Bartlett as the best festival option. The rest of the card included a double for Harry and Dan Skelton. The winner of the juvenile hurdle named Live Conti won its only start in France and won three lengths without going into third gear making all. He is a Triumph Hurdle entry and received 20/1 quotes post-race for Cheltenham.
Hereford staged some competitive handicaps and Evan Williams and Adam Wedge teamed up with a double, both over fences with Puddlesinthepark and Everyonesacritic. The nine race card at Kempton’s evening fixture provided a maiden over a mile and the Major thinks we saw a nice one. Advancing trained by John Ferguson and ridden by Danny Muscutt was fancied by someone with his price contracting from 10/1-13/2 pre-race.
Sandown was the feature on Thursday with the Royal Artillery Gold Cup being one of the highlights on the card. The winner Frenchy Du Large trained by Venetia Williams and ridden by Sgt Nick Oliver won eased down by eleven lengths. The other highlight was the Grade 2 Mares Novice Hurdle. Jamie Snowden’s Hollygrove Cha Cha under Gavin Sheehan who just managed to hold on from a staying on That’ll Do Moss who came from last position 3 out for Fergal O’Brien and Johnny Burke. The two handicap hurdles which began and finished the card were both picked up by Gary and Josh Moore charges namely, Casa Loupi and Taita Hills. The all-chase card at Leicester saw Classic Maestro take the main event for Jennie Candlish and jockey Luke Scott making all in his usual style. Up at Newcastle Willie and Patrick Mullins teamed up to take a maiden hurdle while Jennie Candlish had a double both ridden by Sean Quinlan. Perhaps the most striking performance on the card was the bumper winner Upon Tweed. The Nicky Richard’s trained gelding won 8 lengths under Danny McMenamin. Over the water at Clonmel the Grade 3 Novice Hurdle went to Gordon Elliott’s Ballybow who now looks set for the Albert Bartlett next month.
Friday saw Sean Bowen chalk up his 1000th British winner at Fakenham when Kefir D’oudaires won the bumper. Olly Murphy was the winning trainer who in recent times has supplied many winning opportunities for Bowen. Many congratulations from the Major
At Southwell on the all-weather Leon Trotsky landed a punt when taking the staying handicap under Sean Levey. He completed a double taking the novice stakes for boss Richard Hannon with Left Over Love. Robert Havlin had two winners on the card too! Up at Kelso Lucinda Russell had a treble while the O’Neil’s had the first two winners on the card to pay for the diesel travelling up from the Cotswolds.
On to Saturday, the biggest day in the Qatari racing Calander needed to be rearranged to the following day after two horses slipped and were brought down on the home turn in the first race. UK jockeys including Luke Morris were quite vociferous in their criticisms of the track claiming they had raised concerns before racing and earlier in the week. Michael O’Sullivan is still reported to be in intensive care and we wish him well and is in our prayers. Another Irish jockey Jordan Gainford took a fall at Haydock riding Minella Sixo for Gordon Elliott and was taken to hospital too. Fingers crossed he is ok
On the track there was top class racing to enjoy all over. Starting at Gowran Park the Grade 2 Redmills Chase only attracted 3 runners and Willie Mullins second string according to the betting, Classic Getaway beat stablemate Saint Sam by six lengths under Danny Mullins. At Wincanton their feature was the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle. The Jeremy Scott trained Golden Ace saw off Burdett Road under Lorcan Williams in a good finish. Jingko Blue unseated Nico de Boinville in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novice Chase at Ascot at the third fence leaving the race on a plate to The Changing Man for trainer Joe Tizzard and jockey Brendan Powell. The most valuable race of the day, the Grade 1 Ascot Chase was a repeat of last year where Pic D’orhy made all, jumped the others into submission and won ten lengths. Well done to the Nicholls and Cobden combination.
Finally, up at Haydock two Grade 2 Hurdles took place. The Rendlesham Hurdle over three miles went to Gwennie May Boy for Dan Skelton and jockey Charlie Todd. The Prestige Novice Hurdle also over three miles was a great victory for trainer Mark Walford and jockey Jamie Hamilton. Battle Born Lad raced prominently and stayed on strongly to win by over five lengths. The Grand National Trial over three and a half miles went to Famous Bridge carrying the well-known Hemmings Racing colours. Trained by Nicky Richards and ridden by Sean Quinlan the nine-year-old gelding lead in between the last two fences and stayed on to win three lengths.
Early Sunday morning, the news the racing world was dreading arrived.
Michael O’Sullivan lost his battle in hospital and died aged just 25.
Rest In Peace, God Bless