Monday, October 30, 2000

TOTE PRICES FOR EXETER TOMORROW

BEST PRICES FOR THE NOVEMBER HANDICAP

DIRECT ANSWERS HURDLE GETS FANTASTIC ENTRY

This figure compares favourably with the 31 entries made for the equivalent event in 1999, while Irish entries for this competitive handicap hurdle over two miles and half a furlong have more than doubled to nine, from last season's tally of four.

Champion trainer Martin Pipe saddled Rodock to win the 1999 running of what is now the Direct Answers Hurdle under a fine ride from Tony McCoy. This season the Nicholashayne-based handler has seven entries compared with four last year, including Copeland and Hit And Run, who were second and third respectively in the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury in February.

Pipe's other entries are Rainbow Frontier, The French Furze, who ran very well in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock on May 6, going down by half a length to Mirjan, Seebald, Mr Lamb, and Mr Cool, who has won seven of his eight outings for Pipe and looked a good prospect when winning by 18 lengths on his latest start at Uttoxeter on March 18

Fellow Somerset trainer Philip Hobbs has entered five compared with one last year, including Phardante Flyer, who finished fourth in last season's Capel Cure Sharp Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before winning a valuable hurdle at Aintree. Doctor Goddard ran fourth in the Tote Gold Trophy, while Reiziger gained his fourth success this season at Exeter on October 17. The consistent Rooster Booster and Polar Prospect make up the Hobbs quintet.

Another Somerset trainer, Paul Nicholls, also has a strong hand with recent winner Entertainer, Exit To Wave and Michel De Moeurs engaged, while the Venetia Williams-trained Milligan won well at Wetherby on October 27. Nigel Twiston-Davies has put in Mister Morose, who won four races last season, including the Martell Aintree Hurdle and the Scottish and Welsh Champion Hurdles.

Of the entries from the Emerald Isle, the Christy Roche-trained and J P McManus-owned High Stakes is particularly interesting in that he won at the equivalent of The Open 2000 last year. The same owner and trainer combination have also entered Vivo, a winner on his seasonal debut.

Any horses originating from Arthur Moore's powerful training base must be respected and he has Masalarian and The Gatherer. The former has a success in a novices' event at Leopardstown to his credit, while The Gatherer, with two hurdle victories to his name, finished runner-up to Magic Combination in the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown in March. The Tom Hogan-trained Penny Rich is enjoying a fine year while Noel Meade has two possible contenders in River Plot and Pillar Rock.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Geos, the impressive winner of the Tote Gold Trophy is another notable entry, as is stablemate Premier Generation, who disappointed on his recent chasing debut at Market Rasen on October 14, but is expected by his handler to win a big race when returning to hurdling.

Oliver Sherwood won the equivalent of the Direct Answers Handicap Hurdle in 1993 with Leotard, and his sole entry is Hulysse Royal. The Garde Royale gelding won on his British debut at Warwick in November, 1999, and on his latest start was beaten a neck in a Kempton handicap hurdle in January.

Peter McNeile, Commercial Manager at Cheltenham Racecourse, said today: "The increased number of entries for the Direct Answers Hurdle is very pleasing and the quality of the horses is excellent.

"Direct Answers is welcomed as the new sponsor of the highlight of the third and final day of The Open 2000, and we are looking forward to a very exciting race."

The Open 2000 takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 10, 11 and 12.

THE DIRECT ANSWERS HURDLE

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
F5111-6 MISTER MOROSE 10 Jenny Mould
Nigel Twiston-Davies
132102- GEOS 5 Thurloe
Finsbury Nicky Henderson
41141-2 PHARDANTE FLYER 6 Karola Vann
Philip Hobbs
515/230- HIT AND RUN 5 Gerry Scanlon &
Miss J Kirk Martin Pipe
5/3160-2 RAINBOW FRONTIER 6 Clive D Smith
Martin Pipe
2110P-2 THE FRENCH FURZE 6 Jim Ennis
Martin Pipe
110- SEEBALD 5 The Anfield Hombres
Martin Pipe
11202-3 COPELAND 5 Dr D B A & Mrs
Heather Silk Martin Pipe
23122-F4 BUDDY MARVEL 6 Robert Ogden
Mary Reveley
12162- SOLO MIO 6 Mrs David
Thompson Alan King
060/12-P CHAI-YO 10 Nick Viney
Jim Old
1/1F2F- MR LAMB 5 David Johnson
Martin Pipe
00420-4 ILAHABAD 5 Sir Peter
O'Sullevan Jimmy FitzGerald
0/402-05 PREMIER GENERATION 7 The Premier
Generators Nicky Henderson
111111- MR COOL 6 N G Mills
Martin Pipe
1F2- HULYSSE ROYAL 5 R K Carvill
Oliver Sherwood
2/2134- DOCTOR GODDARD 5 A Stennett
Philip Hobbs
5FP01-3 DHAUDELOUP 5 G H Leatham
Richard Fahey
126201- ROMERO 4 Fraser Miller
Jon Akehurst
2/1113-1 BHUTAN 5 Peter Savill
Mary Revelely
22-1 ENTERTAINER 4 Malcolm Pearce & Gerry
Mizel Paul Nicholls
11P344- EXIT TO WAVE 4 Malcolm Pearce &
Gerry Mizel Paul Nicholls
33210- HARIYMI 5 Jean R Bishop
Richard Rowe
102202- GOLDEN GOAL 4 The Winning Line
Venetia Williams
121131 REIZIGER 4 D Jones & B
Thomas Philip Hobbs
F1332-3 ROOSTER BOOSTER 6 Terry Warner
Philip Hobbs
2240-41 DONATUS 4 Michael A J Hall
& Miss M Shields Simon Dow
P/12324- FERRERS 9 J L Burt
Pam Sly
01-31 MILLIGAN 5 G H Leatham
Venetia Williams
252020/ POLAR PROSPECT 7 Mr & Mrs Don Last
and Bill Yates Philip Hobbs
212-512 HIGH STAKES 4 J P McManus
Christy Roche IRE
13123-0 SHINY BAY 7 W J Kane
Ted Walsh IRE
414-532 MASALARIAN 5 Conbrocaslaw
Syndicate Arthur Moore IRE
1/02222- RIVER PILOT 6 Clogher
Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
4134-10 TRYPHAENA 5 J J Ramsbottom
Willie Mullins IRE
F-55121 PILLAR ROCK 4 D P Sharkey
Noel Meade IRE
2/5120-1 THE GATHERER 6 J P McManus
Arthur Moore IRE
610132 PENNY RICH 6 C P McGuinness
Tom Hogan IRE
300-135 VIVO 7 J P McManus
Christy Roche IRE
225-314 MICHEL DE MOEURS 5 Derek Millard
Paul Nicholls

40 Entries
9 Irish-trained

BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES FOR THE DIRECT ANSWERS HURDLE BY TRAINER

EVA HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR CODES OF PRACTICE

Guidelines on the respiratory disease, Strangles, which can affect
studs during the season, are also included.

Launching the updated Codes, John Parker FRCVS, Chairman of the Levy
Board expert group responsible for the Codes, said: "The outbreak of EVA in
France this year underlines the need for breeders to observe the Codes.

"Three prominent stallions standing in France became infected. Early diagnosis of the disease in mares returning to England after covering in France prevented the spread of infection in our country, and alerted French breeders to the need to put urgent disease control measures in place.

"Incidents like these show that the Codes of Practice, if strictly observed by breeders, are effective in avoiding venereal disease and controlling the spread of infection should it happen.

"This year's outbreak was very costly to the French Thoroughbred industry and shows that disease prevention, as recommended by the Codes, is cost-effective.

"It also shows that there is no room for complacency among breeders - constant vigilance is needed to stop the occurrence and spread of venereal diseases."

The Levy Board expert Sub-Committee responsible for the Codes has met representatives of the French breeding industry twice since the EVA outbreak.

In particular, the risks to British horses and the measures put in place by French breeders have been looked at.

The recommendations in the EVA Code remain adequate - they worked well
in Britain this year. The French will continue to monitor the situation closely, and further information is expected to be available to breeders in time for the 2001 season.

The main change in the Codes for 2001 compared to 2000 is a new recommendation that EVA vaccinations and pre-vaccination blood tests should be recorded in the horse's passport.

New passports now being issued by Weatherbys include a new section called Laboratory Health Test where the blood test result can be recorded.

Holders of passports without this section should continue to keep their own records, as set out in the Codes, certified by a veterinary surgeon.

Both the full and abbreviated versions of all the Codes of Practice have been re-published this year.

Copies can be obtained from the Horserace Betting Levy Board, 52 Grosvenor Gardens London SW1W OAU. Please provide your name and address, stating whether you want the full Codes or abbreviated Codes.

NO RACING IN BRITAIN TODAY

Nottingham and Plumpton were lost due to waterlogging while Plumpton was called off due to the storm conditions damaging the track and dangerous travelling conditions.

Meanwhile, tomorrow's meetings at Newmarket and Catterick are already off due to rain and high winds. Exeter will hold an inspection tomorrow morning at 6.30am.

However, there are no reported problems at Warwick and no inspection is planned for tomorrow's meeting.

FLAT SEASON ENDS AT DONCASTER ON SATURDAY

The champion jockey will also be decided on Saturday. It seems almost certain that it will go to Kevin Darley, who will be the first Northern-based jockey to land the title for 95 years.

Lee Newman will be named as the champion apprentice.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

©Racenews 2000
designed and produced by Racenews Internet Services