Thursday, January 22, 2003
RYALUX TRYING TO KEEP BIG PRIZE IN YORKSHIRE
Andy Crook today revealed that Ryalux is "a definite runner" in Saturday's £50,000-added skybet.com Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster, when the 10-year-old will attempt to keep this valuable prize in Yorkshire for the Middleham-based trainer, just as Crook's former boss Micky Hammond managed to do with Heidi III two years ago.
Ryalux was a three-quarter length runner-up to Hugo De Grez on his last start in a handicap chase at Kelso in December, with Richard Johnson in the saddle. Crook disclosed that Richard McGrath will ride his charge for the first time at the weekend.
"Ryalux is absolutely brilliant - I've got him in great form and I've got Richard McGrath here now on the schooling ground giving him his final pop over a couple of fences, which he's just done now and all went well," said Crook.
"Richard said Ryalux feels in great form - although this will be the first time he's ridden him in a race, this is the second time he's schooled him and he couldn't be any happier with him, which is good as that makes two of us!
"I'd have liked to have given him a run in between [Kelso and now] but a lot of meetings were called off - however, I think that he is a better horse fresh."
On his only previous start at Town Moor, Ryalux finished runner-up, three lengths behind Gun'n Roses II in the Ernie Peterson Lifetime In Racing' Handicap Chase a year ago. That outing was over two miles three furlongs and Crook feels his charge has improved for a step up in trip.
"Ryalux has no problems running at Doncaster - he was second over a shorter trip and seems to be a better horse now I've stepped him up to three miles," explained Crook.
"My fellow is exposed now on a mark of 132/133 and it will be interesting to see how competitive we are off that mark. On Saturday there might be a couple of novices in there who are up and coming and who the handicapper hasn't got to yet.
"In contrast he's got us - this horse has been so consistent for me. He's only been out of the first three once and that was when he fell at Cheltenham."
Another Northern trainer aiming to have a runner in the skybet.com Great Yorkshire Chase, Doncaster's richest jump race, is County Durham-based Howard Johnson, who is hoping that the ground will not be too soft for his Ballybough Rasher.
The County Durham-based handler said today: "It just depends on the weather if Ballybough Rasher runs in the skybet.com Great Yorkshire Chase.
"I've been waiting for good ground all season for him - he's just not the same on soft. The skybet.com Great Yorkshire Chase has always been the plan for him this season - that's why we ran him at Doncaster (on December 14) last time, but the ground was just too holding and he couldn't handle it.
"We could do with some dry weather before Saturday if he is to run. If the wind got up that would help us as Doncaster dries out very quickly - probably more than any other track.
"He's certainly a nice horse when the conditions are right and I'd be very happy with his weight of 10st 11lb. This is his type of race. Graham Lee will ride if he runs."
Johnson went on to reveal that he could run Parsifal in the 08000 722 421 Freephone Betting From Sky Bet Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster on Saturday.
The four-year-old was previously trained by Luca Cumani and James Given on the Flat and will be making his hurdling debut on Saturday.
Johnson said: "I bought Parsifal at Doncaster sales and he has been held back by an operation. He'll maybe run on Saturday just to see how he goes.
"He's a nice Sadler's Wells horse but is very keen at home. He's a very free runner and must have been running away on the Flat. I think he must have been the lead horse for Luca Cumani!"
Steven Clarke, Doncaster's General Manager, reported the going at Town Moor at 1pm on Wednesday as good to soft on the chase course, soft on the hurdle course.
He said: "We've not had any rain since yesterday's drizzle and it's dry at the moment. We've got a bit of localised rain forecast and the going is likely to stay the same as it is at the moment for the next day or so."
Sky Bet spokesman Dale Tempest gave the latest betting moves. He explained: "We have seen further support for Gunner Welburn who has been cut to 6/1 (from 7/1). We have also seen money for Robbo and Tonoco but they have not been shortened yet."
Current Sky Bet odds for the skybet.com Great Yorkshire Chase: 7/2 Barryscourt Lad, 6/1 Gunner Welburn (from 7/1), 8/1 Joss Naylor, La Landiere, 9/1 Horus, 10/1 Carryonharry, 12/1 Bold Investor, Silver Steel, 14/1 Ryalux, Spendid, Tom Costalot, 16/1 Bobby Grant, Cool Investment, Delgany Royal, Dorans Gold, Ifni Du Luc, Iris Bleu, Robbo, Run For Paddy, 20/1 bar
THE SKYBET.COM GREAT YORKSHIRE CHASE ROLL OF HONOUR (1980 - 2002)
Year Name Age/Wgt Trainer Jockey Owner SP Runners
2002 MOOR LANE 10-10-04 Ian Balding Barry Fenton Bob Michaelson 4/1Fav 12
2001 HEIDI III 6-10-02 Micky Hammond Dean Gallagher Intercity Partnership 20/1 14
2000 BEAU 7-11-00 Nigel Twiston-Davies Tom Jenks Sylvia Tainton 16/1 14
1999 MAJOR BELL 11-10-00 Alistair Whillans Adrian Maguire Middlemiss, McAllan, Hutton 20/1 19
1998 SPEAKER WEATHERILL 9-11-11 Owen Brennan Martin Brennan Lady Anne Bentinck 4/1Fav 16
1997 GENERAL COMMAND 9-11-10 Gordon Richards Paul Carberry Robert Ogden 5/2Fav 12
1996 ADDINGTON BOY 8-10-08 Gordon Richards Mark Dwyer Gott Foods Ltd 11/2 12
1995 Meeting Abandoned
1994 CARBISDALE 8-11-04 Mary Reveley Peter Niven Mrs M Williams 13/2 10
1993 YOUNG HUSTLER 6-10-00 Nigel Twiston-Davies David Bridgwater Gavin MacEchern 9/2 14
1992 Meeting Abandoned
1991 DALKEY SOUND 8-10-09 Mary Reveley Peter Niven G Brown 9/1 19
1990 MAN O'MAGIC 9-11-10 Kim Bailey Mark Perrett James Greig 7/2 11
1989 PROVERITY 8-11-08 John Edwards Tom Morgan Mrs P Shaw 100/30 11
1988 BOB TISDALL 9-12-05 John Edwards Tom Morgan K Al-Said 16/1 21
1987 Meeting Abandoned
1986 Meeting Abandoned
1985 Meeting Abandoned
1984 Meeting Abandoned
1983 GET OUT OF ME WAY 8-10-00 Graham Thorner Paul Barton V Kilkenny 7/2 9
1982 BREGAWN 8-11-06 Michael Dickinson John Francome M Kennelly 11/8Fav 9
1981 TRAGUS 9-10-13 David Morley Bob Davies J Morley 6/1 10
1980 JER 9-10-00 Peter Bevan Phil Tuck G Wyse 9/2 8
BETFAIR TO SPONSOR FIGHTING BLINDNESS BALL
Betfair, the world's leading betting exchange, is to sponsor a ball in aid of Fighting Blindness, the only Irish charity funding research into blindness. The ball takes place at The Pavilion, Leopardstown Racecourse at 7pm on Saturday, 8th February.
On the night, which is the eve of the Hennessy Gold Cup, a panel of Irish racing experts including Edward O'Grady, Willie Mullins, Norman Williamson and Barry Geraghty will look forward to the 2003 Cheltenham Festival. This preview will be hosted by Brian Gleeson and Colm Murray from RTE Television.
All funds raised will go to the Fighting Blindness, an organisation that relies solely on charitable events for funding. The charity, now in its 20th year, continues to be made up of individuals affected by the condition. A project funded by the charity brought about the first discovery of the genes that are responsible for blindness.
Eamonn Carroll, spokesman for Fighting Blindness, said, "This is our inaugural racing ball in aid of the charity and we are very grateful to Betfair for their sponsorship. This evening forms part of their increased commitment to Irish racing-related causes, while for us it is the first of what we hope will become an annual fund-raising event."
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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