The prospect of Apple’s Jade taking on Buvuer D’Air in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham moving a step closer with owner Michael O’Leary leaning towards running her in the race after her clear-cut win in the Irish version
Sandown’s Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper’s team of ground staff making a massive effort by removing the covers before the snow came and then putting them back again to enable Saturday’s meeting to take place
Jockey Club ground staff working all hours to ensure the Lambourn and Newmarket gallops remained open during the wintery weather
Cliff Lines ending over 70 years in racing by training a winner with his final runner Catapult at Lingfield ridden by Hollie Doyle – it ended a winner-less 559 days for Lines who is 84 on Valentines Day
ITV Racing gaining approval to show three races from the opening day of the Dublin Festival of Racing at Leopardstown
Racing being described as a world-class day out by VisitEngland following last year’s results of the Racecourse Assocition Quality Assured Racecourse Scheme – the top 11 tracks were Aintree, Ascot, Beverley, Cheltenham, Chester, Newbury, Newmarket July Course, Ripon, Uttoxeter, Wincanton and York
Newbury honouring duel Hennessy Gold Cup winner Denman with a specially commissioned set of gates designed by sculptor Charlie Langton which will be officially opened by trainer Paul Nicholls and owners Paul Barber and Harry Finlay
Alastair Down of the Racing Post being nominated for Specialist Correspondent of the year in the British Sports Journalism Awards, with ITV Racing’s coverage of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in the broadcasting section, and Edward Whittaker, also of the Racing Post, in the photography category
Idol Deputy being retired by trainer James Bennett after making his 70th appearance at Wolverhampton, a track where he was a winner 12 times with one other victory to his name at Lingfield – Rachel Kneller won on the 13yo 11 times
STEWARDS ROOM
…and what hasn’t been so good
Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation undertaking a major global review of its marketing spend that has already led to the end of sponsorship of the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks, and redundancies, with Andy Wiles, global corporate director, and Bobby Brittain, marketing director, plus other staff members, leaving the organisation
Fran Berry fracturing his back in a fall at Wolverhampton
Noel Fehily hoping to return to race-riding in seven to ten days following a setback in his recovery after the removal of his appendix three weeks ago – he started to feel unwell at Cheltenham and was readmitted to hospital where it turned out he had a blockage in his small intestine and if surgery was needed he faced a six-week layoff but his condition started to improve of its own accord
Unusual weather patterns resulting in firm ground for the second day of the Dublin Festival of Racing causing numerous non-runners across the Leopardstown card, including the Unibet Irish Gold Cup which saw six withdrawals reducing the field to four for the €125,000 Grade 1 contest
Equine fatalities on racecourses last year reaching their highest level since 2014 when 201 deaths occurred, up from 167 in 2017, representing 0.22% of 93,004 runners compared to 0.18% of 91,360 runners in 2017 – the five-year average remained at its lowest at 0.20%
The BHA back-tracking in the face of extensive criticism on its statement that “we do not force horses to race and they do so of their own free will” following the £140 fine imposed on trainer Henry Oliver for waving his arms at his chaser Burrenbridge Hotel at the start of race to encourage him to participate
Arena Racing Company warning its 650 full-time staff to expect compulsory redundancies due to lost media rights revenue from the closure of betting shops caused by the cut in maximum stakes for FOBTs, from £100 to £2 – the group, which also employs over 3,000 casual staff, runs 16 courses including Chepstow, Doncaster, Lingfield, Newcastle and Windsor
Four members resigning from the board of trustees of the Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre, including Simon Holt and Brough Scott, following internal conflict at the charity
Ordering the Racing Post Cheltenham Festival 2019 Guide from Amazon and, based on the order, being recommended a related purchase of a 45-pack of Andrex toilet rolls
