Buveur D’Air getting the better of Samcro in Newcastle’s BetVictor Fighting Fifth Hurdle by eight-lengths to earn the Nicky Henderson charge odds-on quotes for winning the Champion Hurdle for the third time
Colin Tizzard training the first two home in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury, with Sizing Tennessee finishing a commanding ten-lengths ahead of stablemate Elegant Approach on testing ground
Apple’s Jade, ridden by Jack Kennedy for trainer Gordon Elliott, winning the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse for the third consecutive time, putting twenty-length between herself and runner-up Supasundae, with the Mares Hurdle at the Festival a likely target
Unowhatimeanharry, ridden by Barry Geraghty, winning his second Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, the first victory for over a year for the Harry Fry trained ten-year-old
Joseph O’Brien bagging a 714/1 four-timer at Fairyhouse meaning he’d trained nine winners over two days
Richard Pitman receiving the George Ennor Outstanding Achievement Award at the 52nd annual Horserace Writers and Photographers lunch – the President’s Award went to Mark and Deidre Johnston; Jump Trainer of the Year, Nick Henderson; Flat Trainer, John Gosden; International Trainer, Charlie Appleby; Flat Jockey of the Year, Oisin Murphy; Jump Jockey, Richard Johnson; and Owner of the Year, John Dance
Stable staff and trainer representatives signing an agreement to address work-life balances, which introduces greater working hours flexibility where the previous calculation of rotas based on 85 hours over a two-week period is replaced by a 40-hour week, and sees the minimum rate increased by four per cent
ITV Racing audience figure edging ever-close to the one-million mark with 977,000 watching the Ladbroke Trophy, a 20% increase on last year
Newbury unveiling its new parade ring and winners’ enclosure
STEWARDS ROOM
…and what hasn’t been so good
Slippery ground leading to the abandonment of racing at Doncaster with two races to go – the cancellation followed Jouer Bresilien slipping on the bend after the winning-post, without injury to the horse or rider Aiden Coleman, and the decision was made not to run the remaining chase and bumper
Leicester being hit with a walkover when Bailarico trained by Warren Greatrex was the only declared runner for a £15,000 novice hurdle – it was the second uncontested race this year following a walkover at Warwick in October
Ante-post favourite for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, Malone Road, picking up a knee injury which makes him a doubtful runner
Trainer John Butler receiving a three-month suspension of his licence after he was found to have misled officials regarding an injury sustained by a horse in his care – a disciplinary panel concluded that he had or endeavoured to mislead investigating officers as to when he knew that the three-year-old National Anthem, who was withdrawn from a race at Redcar on veterinary advice, had sustained an injury. Butler was also fined £1,000 for having incomplete medical records
Serious overcrowding on Great Western Railway services to Newbury
