Brian Hughes notching up his 1,000th winner when he rode My Old Gold to victory at Wetherby – eight currently active jockeys have passed the 1000 mark and Hughes soon added more wins when he rode a treble the next day
The Sandown crowd raising the roof as Houblon De Obeaux put in a master-class of how the jump the Esher track, and seeing off all rivals from four out to take the Vetrans Chase Series final for an in-form Venetia Williams
Laurina (pictured on home page) having a walk in the Park at Sandown, beating one rival home in the Listed Mares Hurdle, but in reality, proving only that she is fit and well, beyond which there’s little to take away from the race for the Unibet Champion Hurdle
Harriet Tucker, once told she might lose the use of an arm after dislocating her right shoulder when winning the Foxhunters Chase at last year’s Festival, making an amazing recovery and comeback by winning on Monsieur Gibraltar at the Larkhill point-to-point – Tucker is aiming to ride Pacha Du Polder at Cheltenham
The Scoop 6 win fund growing to an estimated £2.5m when the final remaining ticket became a loser after Houblon De Obeaux won the Veterans Chase at Sandown
Former TV gameshow Countdown numbers guru Carol Vorderman joining the ranks of winning owners when the Kim Bailey trained Subway Surf, in which she has a share, winning the mares bumper at Ludlow – also a winner was TV rugby presenter John Inverdale who has a share in Muthabir which won the 3m handicap hurdle
Racing Welfare, who support all those in racing’s workforce, entering into a partnership with the Racing Foundation which sees £3.89m being made available to the charity over the next three years where it will be directed to the well-being strand, with emphasis on mental health support
The British Racing School at Newmarket, which provides training for young people entering the racing industry, being awarded an outstanding grade by Ofsted
STEWARDS ROOM
…and what hasn’t been so good
Various ailments either ruling out or jeopardising Cheltenham Festival appearances, including Might Bite, Mister Dino, Next Destination and Samcro
Champion apprentice Jason Watson out of action for up to eight weeks after fracturing his neck in a fall when his mount Teresita Alvarez clipped heels shortly after the start of a race at Kempton and jettisoned him into the ground
At The Races and SIS failing to agree a deal to make the video archive of Irish racing available following ATR’s loss of coverage rights brokered by SIS who awarded them to Racing TV – replays became unavailable as a consequence
Following the footsteps of The Time, the I newspaper cutting back its racing coverage to a handful races a day
RACE OF THE WEEK
In-running carnage for punters who invested in Point Break who attracted £1,400 at 1.05 only for it crash out at the last fence at Newcastle, seemingly leaving the race to the mercy of For Three who in turn attracted over £12,700 at only 1.01, only to be overhauled on the line by Mountain Hawk who flew home having been some 13 lengths adrift, and catching the eye of those who wagered £2.79 at 800
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“It was the best feeling ever, so good to be back in the saddle and he [Monsieur Gibraltar] jumped amazingly” – Harriet Tucker
