The Racing Hub Round-up: the week’s top stories
The Racing Hub Round-up: your catch-up on the week’s top stories
Racing and Racecourses
Racing in Ireland, along with the state’s other elite sports, will be able to continue despite the imposition of Level 5 restrictions which are now in force until the end of November to try and stem the spread of Covid-19.
However, Ireland’s 800 betting shops will be closed for six weeks which BoyleSports said was “devastating after they’d spent over €1 million to create a safer environment for customers.
Suffolk Police have arrested a 44-year-old man following the alleged rape of a woman at Tattersalls in Newmarket last month. The man has been released under investigation
The incident is alleged to have taken place at the sales complex between 10.30pm-10.45pm on 19 September ahead of the rearranged Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, with officers arresting an individual in the early hours of 20 September.
The alleged victim is being supported by specialist officers and detectives from Suffolk Police, who are continuing their investigation. No one else is reportedly being sought in connection with the attack.
Hexham is to stage an extra fixture on Sunday 25 October, comprising seven races.
Racing People
Johnny Murtagh will join Dermot Weld and Michael Halford as a trainer in Ireland for the Aga Khan and will receive his first batch of yearlings the later this year.
Pat Downes, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in Ireland, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to have him train for the Aga Khan Studs and we will be sending him some yearlings in the coming weeks. His Highness and Johnny have enjoyed some great days in the past together and hopefully there will be good days to look forward to in the future as well.”
Murtagh, who rode many winners for the Aga Khan including Kalanisi, Sinndar, and Timarida, took out his training licence in 2013 and this year trained his first Group 1 victor when Champers Elysees won the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
Saffie Osborne, daughter of former jockey and now trainer Jamie Osborne, suffered a broken arm and broken ribs following a fall at Windsor on Monday and will be out of action for the rest of the year.
Her mount, Zeyzoun, clipped heels with the Marco Ghiani ridden Maykir coming to the first bend, and following the incident Osborne was taken to hospital aboard.
Maykir received a ten-day ban for careless riding, with the stewards’ reporting that Ghiani had manoeuvred right-handed towards the rail when insufficiently clear, causing Zeyzoun to clip heels and unseat Osborne.
Kieren Fallon has linked up with Wesley Ward in America to help put the finishing touches to some of Ward’s Breeders’ Cup prospects,
Ward said: “Kieren has come over to join is, which we’re all excited about. He’s going to help us take Campanelle and Golden Pal into the Breeders’ Cup.”
Fallon rode Campanelle and Golden Pal earlier this year head of their runs at Royal Ascot.
Horses and Big Races
Aidan O’Brien still has seven entries in Saturday’s Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster, a race he’s won four times in the last 10 years. Among those standing their ground for the Ballydoyle master are Bolshoi Ballet (7/1 with Paddy Power), who won a Leopardstown maiden by four-lengths, Van Gogh 7/1), who was beaten one-and-three-quarter-lengths by One Ruler in Newmarket’s Group 3 Autumn Stakes, and Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and Dewhurst runner-up Wembley, the 11/4 favourite.
The Autumn Stakes winner One Ruler (3/1) is one of two entries for Charlie Appleby-trained entries, the other being La Barrosa (11/2), who is two-from-two, most recently the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket.
Andrew Balding (pictured) will be hoping to follow up Kameko’s win last year, when the race was run on Newcastle’s all-weather, with King Vega (15/2), who has been second on two attempts, last time finishing behind Etonian in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown.
Joseph O’Brien is due to send over State Of Rest (9/1) from his County Kilkenny yard, a winner first time out in a Fairyhouse maiden, and third last time out, his fifth race, in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, a length behind the winner Chindit.
Baradar (20/1) has been supplement at a cost of £17,500. The Roger Varian-trained colt has won two of his three starts, including a seven-furlong novice event at York last time out, when he beat Capper Queen by two-and-a-half lengths on soft.
♦ 10-year stats for the Vertem Futurity Trophy http://wp.me/p8e3Dl-5aS
Tiger Roll (pictured), the dual Grand National winner, is to run on the Flat on Thursday at Navan in a 1m6f maiden at Navan.
It will be the first race for the Gordon Elliott trained 10-year-old since he was second to Easysland in the Gearcase Cross Country Chase at this year’s Cheltenham before third attempt at the National when the Aintree meeting was abandoned.
He will be ridden by 7lb claimer Sam Ewing.
The retirements have been announced of a trio of 2020 Group 1 winners: Ghaiyyath, who won three 2020 Group 1 races, the Coronation Cup, Eclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International; Golden Horde, winner of the Coronation Cup; and 2000 Guineas winner Kameko.
Media and Marketing
The Horserace Writers and Photographer’s Association annual awards ceremony is this year to be hosted and screened by Sky Sports Racing on Thursday 10 December rather than being the usual luncheon attended by around 600 guests.
Marcus Townend, President of the Association, said: “We are extremely grateful to Sky Sports Racing for agreeing to host the 2020 Derby Awards, and to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for their continued support. It has been a difficult year for racing but we felt it was important that the Derby Awards were still staged in some way so that we could recognise the achievements of the participants and those in the media who broadcast, report and photograph the sport.’
At the event the winners are announced of a number of awards including racing journalist of the year, racing writer of the year, racing photographer of the year and broadcaster of the year.
TV Racing
FRIDAY 23 OCT (1.30 – 4.00) ITV4
CHELTENHAM
- 1.50 BALLYMORE NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 2)
- 2.25 MATCHBOOK BETTER WAY TO BET NOVICES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2)
- 3.00 TWO FARMERS CRISPS HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 3)
- 3.35 OCTOBER HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2)
DONCASTER
- 2.35 VERTEM INVESTING IN THE FUTURE HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2)
- 3.15 FINAL FURLONG PODCAST HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2)
SATURDAY 24 OCT (130 – 4.30) ITV4
CHELTENHAM
- 2.05 MASTERSON HOLDINGS HURDLE RACE (CLASS 2)
- 2.40 BEST ODDS AT MATCHBOOK NOVICES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2)
- 3.15 PERTEMPS NETWORK HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 2)
- 3.50 MATCHBOOK BETTING EXCHANGE HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2)
DONCASTER
- 1.45 DONCASTER STAKES (Listed Race)
- 2.20 VERTEM VERY DIFFERENT STOCKBROKERS HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2)
- 2.55 VERTEM FUTURITY TROPHY STAKES (Group 1)
NEWBURY
- 3.35 MOLSON COORS BEVERAGE COMPANY STAKES (Registered as the Horris Hill Stakes) (Group 3)
- 4.00 PRAHVA STAKES (Registered as the St Simon Stakes) (Group 2)
