Wednesday, January 21, 2009

MANN HOPING TO BE OVER THE MOON ON FESTIVAL TRIALS DAY AT CHELTENHAM

The eight-year-old, a Grade Two scorer over hurdles at Cheltenham in November, 2006, proved himself as one of the leading novice two-mile chasers last season with victory in the Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase at The Open in November prior finishing sixth in The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at The Festival in March.

Moon Over Miami began the current season with a creditable sixth in a competitive Listed handicap chase at Ascot at the start of November, before finishing fourth in the paddypower.com Handicap Chase at The Open. On his latest appearance, he was runner-up to Santa’s Son when carrying top-weight in the skybet.com Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby on December 27.

Mann commented: “Moon Over Miami holds an entry in the Betchronicle.com Trophy Chase and he’s more than likely to run in the race. He’s also been entered at Doncaster on the same day, but I would prefer to see him go round Cheltenham once more.

“We will be stepping him up to two miles and five furlongs for the first time because he ran as though he needed further when he was second at Wetherby and there’s also the fact that he loves Cheltenham.

“He’s been running well in handicap chases and he’s been dropped a little bit in the weights, which would help, but I think that he has been crying out for a step up in trip. He loves soft ground and I am hopeful that he will run his race.

“He has been entered in both the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase (at The Festival in March). Saturday’s race will give us an indication as to which way to go with him and he’ll also be given some entries in a few of the handicaps at The Festival.”

Moon Over Miami is set to carry 10st 10lb in the Betchronicle.com Trophy Chase. The weights are currently headed by this season’s Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup scorer Imperial Commander, stablemate Knowhere, who took the Grade Two Letheby & Christopher Chase on Festival Trials Day 12 months ago, and last year’s Racing Post Plate winner Mister McGoldrick, who are all set to carry 11st 12lb.

Other notable entries include Stan (11st 10lb), who has twice been successful over this course and distance in the Grade Two Mears Group Silver Trophy Chase Limited Handicap in April and more recently in the Grade Three skybet.com Handicap Chase on New Year’s Day, the J P McManus-owned pair of the 2006 Jewson Novices Handicap Chase winner Reveillez (10st 8lb) and Irish Champion Hurdle victor Foreman (10st 8lb), as well as last year’s winner Maljimar (10st 8lb).

Festival Trials Day also features the £100,000 Grade Two Letheby & Christopher Chase (2.35pm), one of the key pointers for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. An entry of 16 includes Halcon Genelardais, Exotic Dancer and Knowhere, who were fourth, fifth and sixth respectively in chasing’s Blue Riband last year, as well as previous Festival winners Monkerhostin, Tidal Bay, Albertas Run and Star De Mohaison.

The Grade Two Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle (3.45pm) is also a leading trial for the Festival with last season’s winner Inglis Drever going on to an unprecedented third success in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

This year’s contest has attracted some of the leading staying hurdlers, including current Ladbrokes World Hurdle ante-post favourite Punchestowns, recent Cheltenham winners Fair Along and Big Buck’s, and the 2007 Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle scorer Blazing Bailey, who was second to Inglis Drever in the race 12 months ago.

Some of the leading novice hurdlers will also be hoping to further their Festival ambitions in the £30,000 Grade Two Racecourse Of The Year Classic Novices’ Hurdle (12.55pm), and the £30,000 Grade Two Wragge & Co Finesse Juvenile Novice’ Hurdle (3.10pm).

The seven-race card is completed by the £25,000 Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase (1.30pm) and the £25,000 Brightwells Cheltenham Bloodstock Auctions Handicap Hurdle (4.20pm).

GROUND
The going at Cheltenham remains SOFT, with rain forecast for Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

MONTGERMONT COMEBACK CONTINUES IN THE SKY BET CHASE

The Northamptonshire trainer revealed today: “If we get the rain that is forecast, Montgermont will run in the Sky Bet Chase on Saturday. The owners have Laskari (10/1) entered as well and while that one wants good ground, mine wants soft. I think it will be soft so we are planning to go.

“He is fine after his antics at Haydock at the weekend - that was very frustrating. He was almost too fresh - he was full of himself. He tanked into the first, threw himself at it and just didn’t get high enough.”

Montgermont pleased connections on his return from a two-year absence on November 29, when staying on to take third behind Classic Fiddle in a Newbury handicap chase. December brought a close fourth in the two and a half-mile Northumberland Chase at Newcastle, before that frustrating blunder last Saturday saw hopes of victory in Haydock’s Grade Two Peter Marsh Chase disappear at the first fence.

The nine-year-old heads to the Sky Bet Chase with high-class form in the bag, having defeated the likes of The Listener, Bob Bob Bobbin and Idle Talk when winning the Grade Two Reynoldstown Chase as a novice in 2006 for his then trainer Lavinia Taylor. Montgermont was switched to the care of Charles Egerton to finish seventh behind State Of Play in the Hennessy at Newbury in November of that year before injuries temporarily curtailed his promise.

Bailey continued: “He came to us in the autumn and before Haydock he had pleased us with two nice runs after a long time off the track. He had a slight leg injury and a few back problems - he was just generally not quite right. He was put back together and then sent to me to get him going again.

“He was a classy novice and I think he still has the ability. He’s not a natural jumper, it doesn’t come easy to him because he’s very tall and narrow. We have done as much as we can with him at home so now we’ll keep our eye on the weather and hope for the best.”


The Malcolm Jefferson-trained novice According To Pete and Big Fella Thanks, trained by Paul Nicholls, are the 8/1 joint-favourites for the Sky Bet Chase which was won by An Accordion in 2008. Runner-up last year was the Keith Reveley-trained Ungaro (12/1), who will again take his chance. There were 41 entries made on Monday for this year’s Sky Bet Chase, for which the safety limit is 22 runners.

The 9/1 shot Possol is one of three possible runners for trainer Henry Daly, the others being Billyvoddan (28/1) and Alderburn (14/1).

LATEST GOING UPDATE
Doncaster Clerk of the Course, David Williams, is looking forward to Saturday’s exciting card and revealed today: “The going is still GOOD TO SOFT following one millimetre of rainfall last night. We are still forecast a substantial band of rain coming through Thursday night and continuing into the early hours of Friday.”

LATEST SKY BET PRICES FOR THE SKY BET CHASE
According To Pete 8/1
Big Fella Thanks 8/1
Possol 9/1
Alexanderthegreat 9/1
Laskari 10/1
Fier Normand 12/1
Ungaro 12/1
Alderburn 14/1
Battlecry 14/1
Aimigayle 16/1
Montgermont 16/1
Native Coral 18/1
That's Rhythm 18/1
Ellerslie George 20/1
Flying Enterprise 20/1
Noir Et Vert 20/1
Aleron 20/1
Thunder Rock 20/1
Without A Doubt 20/1
Yardbird 20/1
Boychuk 20/1
Turko 22/1
Crozan 25/1
Hot Weld 25/1
Ice Tea 25/1
L'Aventure 25/1
Lacdoudal 25/1
Lysander 25/1
Tom Sayers 25/1
Verasi 25/1
Irish Raptor 28/1
The Dark Lord 28/1
Always Waining 28/1
Billyvoddan 28/1
My Immortal 33/1
You're Special 33/1
Morgan Be 40/1
Raining Horse 50/1
Rare Society 50/1
Silly Wupple 50/1
Sweet Diversion 66/1

Each Way terms: 1/4 of odds for 1st 4 places

OAKEY HEADS WEIGHTS FOR WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN - FIRESIDE ON COMEBACK MISSION

Trained by Mark Tompkins, the five-year is owned by Dame Judi Dench and her chauffeur Bryan Agar and was successful by a length and a quarter from the 2006 victor Blythe Knight (9st 5lb) in the 2008 running of the William Hill Lincoln. Smokey Oakey will have to carry an extra 15lb if he is to become the first horse to win back-to-back renewals of the famous handicap on Town Moor - the two previous dual winners Babur (1957 &1958) and Obb (1906 & 1907) were successful at the contest’s former home, Lincoln.

A horse on the comeback trail is Fireside (8st 6lb), who was last seen out in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket over eight months ago, when he finished last behind Henrythenavigator. However, he showed good form as a juvenile, coming home sixth on his debut in the valuable Goffs Million at the Curragh in Ireland and subsequently landing a seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket. Previously trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, he is now under the care of fellow Newmarket handler Michael Jarvis and is currently a 20/1 chance with William Hill. Fireside is owned by a Victor Chandler-organised syndicate run by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

Harry Herbert, Managing Director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, commented: “Fireside has been give an entry in the William Hill Lincoln and the plan is very much at the moment to run him in the race. I saw him on Tuesday morning and he looks fantastic. Michael has been really pleased with him and he will be stepping up his exercise in the next couple of weeks.

“He knocked into himself in the 2,000 Guineas and then he had an issue so he hasn’t raced for a long time. He’s a horse who we’ve always thought a great deal of and it is almost like we are back to square one with him. He seems a much fuller horse and he has matured well, but we’ve still got a bit of a way to go with him.

“He was very unlucky on his debut in the Goffs Million and then he idled in front when he won his maiden. He ran freely in the 2,000 Guineas but I would hope that he will learn to settle more with experience. He’s got a tremendous stride on him and I’ve never seen him look better.”

Jointly-heading the ante-post market at 10/1 with sponsor William Hill are Swop (9st), trained by Luca Cumani and the John Gosden-trained Expresso Star (8st 11lb). Swop has only made six appearances during his career and finished an excellent third in the competitive Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket in October, while Expresso Star also has very few miles on the clock and ended last season with a hat-trick of successes at Nottingham and Hamilton. Gosden also has another leading contender in Charm School (8st 10lb), who was last seen out when a fast-finishing third in a seven-furlong handicap at Doncaster on the final day of the turf season in November.

William Haggas was triumphant two years ago with Very Wise and has a fancied contender this time around in the shape of Roaring Forte (8st 7lb), who could not have been more impressive when winning his final start of 2008 on the Polytrack at Great Leighs.

David Pipe is obviously best-known as a trainer of jump horses and landed last year’s Grand National - the second leg of the Spring Double following on from the William Hill Lincoln - with Comply Or Die. However, this year the master of Pond House has a realistic chance in the William Hill Lincoln with Master Of Arts (9st 4lb). The four-year-old has not yet raced for Pipe but won six races consecutively when last seen out in 2008 for his former trainer Sir Mark Prescott.

Another former Sir Mark Prescott-trained horse, Spectait (8st 1lb) won a competitive mile handicap at Glorious Goodwood in 2006. Now trained by Jonjo O’Neill, the five-year-old has won over hurdles at Aintree but demonstrated he still has plenty of ability on the level when scoring twice at Wolverhampton earlier this month.

The first forfeit stage for the William Hill Lincoln is on Tuesday, February 3.

There is a safety limit of 22 runners for the William Lincoln and the owners of horses that fail to make the cut have the option of declaring to run in the consolation race, the £50,000 William Hill Spring Mile, also run on Saturday, March 28.

The Lincoln Meeting at Doncaster takes place this year on Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29.

William Hill Lincoln: (sponsors bet) 10/1 Expresso Star, Swop, 12/1 Charm School, 14/1 Roaring Forte. 16/1 Harald Bluetooth, Master Of Arts, 20/1 Bencoolen, Blythe Knight, Decameron, Don’t Panic, Extraterrestrial, Fireside, Mangham, Orientalist Art, Smokey Oakey, Spectait, Suits Me 25/1 Arabian Spirit, Benandonner, Charlie Tipple, Cobo Bay, Docofthebay, Dunn'o, European Dream, Eva's Request, Flipando, Huzzah, Ile Nastase, Jack Junior, Lady Deauville, Mia's Boy, Pravda Street, Rock And Roll Kid, Royal Power, The Osteopath, Whistledownwind 33/1 Big Noise, Bolodenka, Dabbers Ridge, Dream Lodge, Dubai Dynamo, Fathsta, Flawed Genius, Invincible Force, Kavachi, Kings Point, Kingsdale Orion, Lady Rangali, Majuro, Manassas, Markab, Medici Pearl, Minority Report, Mister Ross, Nanton, Opus Maximus, Osteopathic Remedy, Philario, Slugger O'Toole, St Jean Cap Ferrat, The Fifth Member, The Snatcher, Thebes, Titan Triumph 40-1 BAR EW 1/4 - 1,2,3,4

THE WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN
Class 2, Heritage Handicap, £125,000 Total Prize Fund. Doncaster, Saturday, March 28, 2009. For four-year-olds & upwards, one mile (straight course). Entries closed January 13, entries revealed January 14 (115 entries), weights revealed January 21. Highest weight not less than 9st 10lb; minimum weight 7st 12lb. Penalties: after January 17, a winner 5lb. First forfeit stage February 3, second forfeit stage March 10, six-day confirmation stage March 23, final declaration stage 10.00am, March 26. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Tuesday, January 20.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
161660- SMOKEY OAKEY (IRE) 5-9-10 Dame Judi Dench and Bryan Agar Mark Tompkins
102014- LADY DEAUVILLE (FR) 4-9-09 P J Hughes Developments Ltd Roger Curtis
310205- BLYTHE KNIGHT (IRE) 9-9-08 Maxilead Limited John Quinn
21(1)(1)(1)(2)- SUITS ME 6-9-07 D E Cook Tom Tate
3/0150(1)- WITHOUT A PRAYER (IRE) 4-9-05 McDonagh Murphy And Nixon Ralph Beckett
602251- EVA'S REQUEST (IRE) 4-9-04 Liam Mulryan Mick Channon
(1)11(1)(1)(1)- MASTER OF ARTS (USA) 4-9-04 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe
12240R- DON'T PANIC (IRE) 5-9-04 Mr A B S Webb Peter Chapple-Hyam
4205(2)0- DOCOFTHEBAY (IRE) 5-9-03 Paul Dixon Jamie Osborne
(3)165(5)0- MIA'S BOY 5-9-02 Iraj Parvizi Chris Dwyer
104(5)(3)(0)- JACK JUNIOR (USA) 5-9-00 Martin Love David Nicholls
(1)/(2)1233- SWOP (IRE) 6-9-00 Angie Silver Luca Cumani
63000(1)- ROYAL POWER (IRE) 6-8-13 David Nicholls David Nicholls
4000(3)-(4) WHISTLEDOWNWIND 4-8-13 Mrs Susan Roy Jeremy Noseda
(4)0(0)(1)(2)(2)- MARKAB 6-8-13 Tight Lines Partnership Kevin Morgan
010/000- EUROPEAN DREAM (IRE) 6-8-12 You Trotters Richard Guest
106530- HUZZAH (IRE) 4-8-12 J Gale, J Finch, D Cole, R Dollar, D Powell Barry Hills
0120(6)0- DREAM LODGE (IRE) 5-8-12 The G-Guck Group James Given
242111- EXPRESSO STAR (USA) 4-8-11 H R H Princess Haya of Jordan John Gosden
0300(0)(2)- PHILARIO (IRE) 4-8-11 Philip Richards Karl Burke
300635- COBO BAY 4-8-11 The C H F Partnership Kevin Ryan
12(0)33- CHARM SCHOOL 4-8-10 H R H Princess Haya of Jordan John Gosden
431000- ZAAHID (IRE) 5-8-10 Hamdan Al Maktoum Barry Hills
422242-(5) ACE OF HEARTS 10-8-09 Archangels 1 Chris Wall
400163- BOLODENKA (IRE) 7-8-09 Enda Hunston Richard Fahey
260003- BENANDONNER (USA) 6-8-08 J C Parsons & Sinead Parsons Richard Fahey
2/(1)(2)0- ORIENTALIST ART 4-8-08 Matthew Green Peter Chapple-Hyam
231012- MANGHAM (IRE) 4-8-08 Mr Ron Hull David Brown
404600- ALAN DEVONSHIRE 4-8-08 Russell Trew Ltd Mark Tompkins
10025(1)- NANTON (USA) 7-8-08 J S Morrison Jim Goldie
000103- SLUGGER O'TOOLE 4-8-08 Stuart Williams Stuart Williams
4520(0)1- INVINCIBLE FORCE (IRE) 5-8-07 Terry Cummins Paul Green
0(0)3125- KINGS POINT (IRE) 8-8-07 W R B 61 (Claire King) David Nicholls
4(1)/322(1)- ROARING FORTE (IRE) 4-8-07 Flying Tiger Partnership William Haggas
3036(4)(1)- FLIPANDO (IRE) 8-8-07 Mrs J Hazell David Barron
606410- LUCKY DANCE (BRZ) 7-8-06 Joshua Snellings George Foster
113160- OSTEOPATHIC REMEDY (IRE) 5-8-06 Kevin Kirkup Michael Dods
04304(2)- EXTRATERRESTRIAL 5-8-06 G J Paver Richard Fahey
61/0- FIRESIDE 4-8-06 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (VCI) Michael Jarvis
000(1)(3)-(2)(2) MAJURO (IRE) 5-8-06 N Cable & M Smith Kevin Ryan
310/5- MANASSAS (IRE) 4-8-06 Mrs R Philipps Brian Meehan
30032(0)- FATHSTA (IRE) 4-8-06 Dr Marwan Koukash David Nicholls
0(1)(1)(1)(1)-(2) TITAN TRIUMPH 5-8-05 Canisbay Bloodstock William Knight
24604(0)- FLAWED GENIUS 4-8-04 Mrs J Ryan Kevin Ryan
501130- MEDICI PEARL 5-8-04 Ryedale Partners No 3 Tim Easterby
1(2)32(2)(1)- ARABIAN SPIRIT 4-8-04 P A Deal A L Deal & G Holland-Bosworth Ed Dunlop
(1)(2)(1)4(1)(0)- MAHADEE (IRE) 4-8-04 Saeed Manana Clive Brittain
6/110-(1) HARALD BLUETOOTH (IRE) 4-8-04 Ahmad Al Shaikh David Simcock
2(2)12(0)1-(6) WILLOW DANCER (IRE) 5-8-04 Mrs G Godfrey & Mrs A Horner Walter Swinburn
(5)(6)306(0)- KAY GEE BE (IRE) 5-8-04 Par Jeu Partnership William Jarvis
650000- RAPTOR (GER) 6-8-04 Mark Gittins Karl Burke
00(1)(5)2(3)- FINAL VERSE 6-8-03 Mrs N L Young Taffy Salaman
502420- THE SNATCHER (IRE) 6-8-03 Mrs R Ablett Richard Hannon
3004(2)0- BIG NOISE 5-8-03 Theme Tune Partnership Dr Jon Scargill
(1)(1)32(4)1- THE FIFTH MEMBER (IRE) 5-8-02 Chris Simpson, Elizabeth Ross Jim Boyle
46440(0)- BALLINTENI 7-8-02 David Cohen Tim Easterby
042020- EXIT SMILING 7-8-02 Peter Mee Paul Midgley
54300(0)- THEBES 4-8-02 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston
020D42- THE OSTEOPATH (IRE) 6-8-01 Kevin Kirkup Michael Dods
600000- DABBERS RIDGE (IRE) 7-8-01 M Shirley Ian McInnes
10(6)164- OPUS MAXIMUS (IRE) 4-8-01 Jim McGrath & the late Reg Griffin Mark Johnston
402253- ST JEAN CAP FERRAT 4-8-01 Richard Green Philip Hobbs
002101- ROCK AND ROLL KID (IRE) 4-8-01 Barry Connell Tony Mullins IRE
114400- KAVACHI (IRE) 6-8-01 Bryan Pennick & Roy Martin Gary Moore
(3)(1)(5)(0)(6)-(5) MY GACHO (IRE) 7-8-01 Grant Mercer Mark Johnston
000(4)(5)-(1)(1) SPECTAIT 7-8-01 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
25(0)136- RAINBOW MIRAGE (IRE) 5-8-01 R L Bedding Eddie McMahon
5510(0)1- BENCOOLEN (IRE) 4-8-01 Eamon Maher David Nicholls
0406(0)(0)- DUBAI DYNAMO 4-8-00 Fitri Hay Paul Cole
251462- DUNN'O (IRE) 4-8-00 Dennis Shaw Clive Cox
(6)2410(2)- ILIE NASTASE (FR) 5-8-00 Dr Marwan Koukash David Nicholls
(2)10120- ANSELLS PRIDE (IRE) 6-8-00 Ansells of Watford Bryan Smart
210(3)60- GREEN PARK (IRE) 6-8-00 G A Fixings Ltd Declan Carroll
120(5)6(6)- DECAMERON (USA) 4-7-13 Gainsborough Sir Michael Stoute
000(6)(6)0- PRIDE OF NATION (IRE) 7-7-13 Gary and Linnet Woodward John Hills
(2)/10- PRAVDA STREET 4-7-13 R A Instone Paul Cole
605000- STEVIE GEE (IRE) 5-7-13 Steve Gray Alan Swinbank
(0)(1)(2)-(1)(5)(1) NIGHTJAR (USA) 4-7-13 Crone Stud Farms Ltd Mark Johnston
(4)/03RRR- GUNFIGHTER (IRE) 6-7-13 M Sawers Rodney Farrant
2056(0)0- SUDDEN IMPACT (IRE) 4-7-13 Terry Cummins Paul Green
301651- CHARLIE TIPPLE 5-7-12 Norman Jackson Tim Easterby
6/(6)06(2)(0)- MUJAADEL (USA) 4-7-12 W R B Racing 49 David Nicholls
(1)(1)(1)-(4)(1)(3) MOZAYADA (USA) 5-7-12 Mel Brittain Mel Brittain
4202/06- FLOWING CAPE (IRE) 4-7-12 John Marriott Reg Hollinshead
1151/32- LADY RANGALI (IRE) 4-7-11 Mrs Sarah E Woodhead Ann Duffield
331106- LIGHT FROM MARS 4-7-11 R K Arrowsmith Rod Millman
1104- MAGNITUDE 4-7-11 Gary Moore Gary Moore
43/(0)610- ARIZONA JOHN (IRE) 4-7-11 B Plows PM Watson J Owen Noel Wilson
3(1)(5)(3)(3)-(6) WILLKANDOO (USA) 4-7-10 Dr Marwan Koukash David Simcock
00(0)/(4)(5)(6)- REGIONAL COUNSEL 5-7-10 A S Helaissi Alex Hales
6(3)(3)(1)(1)(5)- INTABIH (USA) 4-7-10 Saeed Manana Clive Brittain
306520- KINGSDALE ORION (IRE) 5-7-10 Black and White Diamond Partnership Brian Ellison
00243(2)- FREMEN (USA) 9-7-10 Miss C King, Mrs A Seed, Ms Finola Devaney David Nicholls
(3)(1)(3)(1)(4)-(2) ELECTRIC WARRIOR (IRE) 6-7-09 Market Avenue Racing Club Ltd Karl Burke
313043- WIGWAM WILLIE (IRE) 7-7-09 Neil & Anne Dawson Partnership Kevin Ryan
250(4)(0)0- CAPTAIN JACKSPARRA (IRE) 5-7-09 J Duddy, B McDonald, A Heeney, M McMenamin Kevin Ryan
0341(1)(0)- MISTER ROSS 4-7-08 Patricia Pink Gary Moore
013120- HORATIO CARTER 4-7-08 T Alderson Kevin Ryan
030001- MINORITY REPORT 9-7-08 R J Stevenson David Nicholls
201060- CARLITOS SPIRIT (IRE) 5-7-07 Karmaa Racing Limited Rod Millman
131442- WIND SHUFFLE (GER) 6-7-06 Mrs S E Bruce Jim Goldie
(1)(1)/(2)0(0)(0)- ALPES MARITIMES 5-7-05 Richard Green Gary Moore
006050- GEOJIMALI 7-7-05 Fyffees 2 Jim Goldie
2555(3)(6)- WHITE DEER (USA) 5-7-03 Ian Bellamy David Nicholls
06040(0)- TIGER DREAM 4-7-03 J Duddy A Bailey T Marnane B McDonald Kevin Ryan
(2)30(0)31- LAST SOVEREIGN 5-7-03 Howard Spooner Jane Chapple-Hyam
(3)(2)214-(0)(6) YES ONE (IRE) 5-7-03 Mrs J Ryan Kevin Ryan
(0)0/(5)(0)44- FREELOADER (IRE) 9-7-01 Enda Hunston Richard Fahey
001(1)6(1)- SMARTY SOCKS (IRE) 5-7-01 R G Fell Paul Midgley
3/6(0)0(0)(6)- MOUNT HADLEY (USA) 5-7-00 Michael Tabor Gerard Butler
400/000-(5) KESTREL CROSS (IRE) 7-7-00 Group 1 Racing (1994) Ltd Tony Carroll
443(1)(3)(6)-(3) OURS (IRE) 6-6-12 Peter Smith P C Coaches Limited John Harris
16(6)(1)35- GREY BOY (GER) 8-6-12 Paul Downing Tony Carroll
(3)(0)(6)(1)(5)-(4) DINNER DATE 7-6-10 Mrs H Keddy Tom Keddy
1/- SAMMY THE SNAKE (IRE) 4-nq Joe Duke Brendan Duke

115 Entries
1 Irish-trained

CURTIS HOPING MARODIMA CAN MAKE PERFECT START IN williamhill.com HANDICAP CHASE AT DONCASTER

Heading the weight for the 2009 renewal of the williamhill.com Handicap Chase is Voy Por Ustedes (11st 12lb), who could attempt to give Alan King a second victory. The eight-year-old boasts form at the very highest level having landed the Grade One Melling Chase at Aintree last season to add to his earlier Grade One successes in the 2007 Queen Mother Champion Chase and the 2006 Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.

Pembrokeshire-based Rebecca Curtis has made a promising start to her training career and has a live contender for the williamhill.com Handicap Chase with Marodima (10st 3lb). The six-year-old was previously under the care of champion trainer Paul Nicholls and enjoyed his finest hour when landing the Grade Two Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December, 2007.

Rebecca Curtis said: “Marodima has been given an entry in the williamhill.com Handicap Chase and he is an intended runner at the moment. He’s also been entered in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury but I think we will go to Doncaster with him, especially if Voy Por Ustedes is carrying top-weight.

“He was an intended runner in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot last weekend but I thought that it would be too much for him to go straight into a Grade One contest on his first appearance for us.

“He’s been with us since the end of November and we are still finding out a bit about him so it seemed sensible to give him a couple more weeks before he ran.

“He’s started to settle nicely in his work and I am happy with his fitness. We have spent a lot of time schooling him and getting him to relax more. He has had a tendency to make the running and it would be nice to get him to drop the bit in his races.

“He seems to have won on all types of ground so I don’t think that he will have any problems in terms of the going. The ground was really testing on his last start for Paul at Limerick in October and he still ran well to finish third.

“If he runs a big race at Doncaster, then hopefully he can take his chance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.”

Paul Nicholls himself has a formidable team among the 38 entries with five possible contenders. These include Andreas (10st 13lb), successful in the Grade Two Celebration Chase at Sandown last season, last season’s Grade Three Connaught Cup victor Natal (10st 8lb), the promising novice I’msingingtheblues (10st 1lb), Medicinal (9st 11lb), another novice and a comfortable winner last time out at Haydock in November and Poquelin (9st 10lb), triumphant in novice company at Cheltenham in October.

Petit Robin (10st 11lb) beat all bar the imperious Master Minded in the Grade One Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on January 17 and could represent Nicky Henderson while Santa’s Son (10st 6lb), trained by Howard Johnson, looked to be an improving horse when landing the skybet.com Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby on December 27.

The williamhill.com Handicap Chase is part of a six-race programme at Doncaster on Saturday, December 31, when the entire card will be sponsored by William Hill.

THE williamhill.com HANDICAP CHASE
Class 2, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. Doncaster, Saturday, January 31, 2009. For five-year-olds and upwards, two miles about half a furlong. Penalties: after January 18, a winner of a chase 5lb Entries closed Tuesday, January 13, entries revealed Wednesday, January 14 (38 Entries). Weights revealed Wednesday, January 21. Six-day confirmation stage Monday, January 26, final declaration stage 10.00am, Thursday, January 29. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, January 19.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
1221-43 VOY POR USTEDES (FR) 8-11-12 Sir Robert Ogden Alan King
04621-5 ANDREAS (FR) 9-10-13 Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls
1/61-122 PETIT ROBIN (FR) 6-10-11 Mr & Mrs John Poynton Nicky Henderson
F2-3U65 NATAL (FR) 8-10-08 Monica Hackett Paul Nicholls
3500-13 PABLO DU CHARMIL (FR) 8-10-07 Joe Moran David Pipe
P0-1051 SANTA'S SON (IRE) 9-10-06 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
5-23403 MAHOGANY BLAZE (FR) 7-10-05 Lorna Berryman Nigel Twiston-Davies
P32-264 LORD HENRY (IRE) 10-10-04 Karola Vann Philip Hobbs
4011-13 MARODIMA (FR) 6-10-03 M A Sherwood Rebecca Curtis
503-121 I'MSINGINGTHEBLUES (IRE) 7-10-01 John Hales Paul Nicholls
001-311 DOCTOR DAVID 6-9-12 Dr D S Myers & A S Reid Caroline Bailey
346-331 MEDICINAL (IRE) 8-9-11 S C Botham Paul Nicholls
21-1155 CHEATING CHANCE (IRE) 8-9-11 M Tedham Andrew Turnell
2-2F112 I'M SO LUCKY 7-9-11 Mrs S Brookhouse David Pipe
6P21-55 THREE MIRRORS 9-9-10 Sean Murphy Ferdy Murphy
U01-113 POQUELIN (FR) 6-9-10 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
1P6-642 MOON OVER MIAMI (GER) 8-9-08 Anne Fulton & Michael Lynch Charlie Mann
PP-3026 CLEW BAY COVE (IRE) 9-9-07 J P McManus Colm Murphy IRE
6/141F/1/- RUBBERDUBBER 9-9-05 Susan Orton Charles Egerton
630-052 ONEWAY (IRE) 12-9-05 Mark Rimell Mark Rimell
31/121P/- KILLAGHY CASTLE (IRE) 9-9-03 Mrs S N J Embiricos Nick Gifford
232/1-03 LOCKSMITH 9-9-01 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
00-50P0 LESLINGTAYLOR (IRE) 7-9-01 Marie Taylor John Quinn
240100 LORD JAY JAY (IRE) 9-9-00 Jan Johnson Venetia Williams
44P05-0 BAMBI DE L'ORME (FR) 10-9-00 Mr & Mrs John Poynton Ian Williams
P/1340-1 KILMACKILLOGE 10-8-13 S Currie Martin Todhunter
506006 KING DANIEL 8-8-12 A Slack Evelyn Slack
F1-0000 ELA RE 10-8-12 Keith Nicholson Sue Smith
2/23U11- VINMIX DE BESSY (FR) 8-8-12 P W Middleton & Frank McHugh Gary Moore
051130 LAOCH DUBH (IRE) 10-8-10 J Davies, P Merritt & J Sunley Charlie Mann
1-04162 I HEAR A SYMPHONY (IRE) 7-8-09 Alan Peterson Philip Hobbs
PP-13P5 IN TECHNICOLOR (IRE) 10-8-08 Dominic Jones Arthur Moore IRE
326/6-11 LORIENT EXPRESS (FR) 10-8-07 Suzanne & Nigel Williams Venetia Williams
P0P-56P TIDAL FURY (IRE) 7-8-07 Lindsey J Shaw Ferdy Murphy
311P-P1 BEGGARS CAP (IRE) 7-8-07 Trevor Hemmings Ferdy Murphy
225/-332 CAMDEN GEORGE (IRE) 8-8-06 M B Scholey & R H Scholey Sue Smith
U/03030- MR PRICKLE (IRE) 9-7-10 Dr Richard & Mrs L Newland Dr Richard Newland
5/3-1132 PICOT DE SAY 7-7-07 Irish Legend Racing Team Craig Roberts

38 Entries
2 Irish-trained

THE CHEKA HOLDS TATTERSALLS TIMEFORM 3-Y-O TROPHY OPTION

The race is open to horses that were catalogued in Book One of the 2007 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Xaar colt made a hugely impressive winning debut at Ascot in July, scoring by 10 lengths from Pegasus Lad, before finishing runner-up to Sri Putra in the Group Three Solario Stakes over seven furlongs at Sandown on August 30.

The imposing bay, owned by Anthony Pye-Jeary and comedian Mel Smith, was forced to miss his intended autumn engagements such as the Tattersalls Timeform Million and the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes due to a slight setback, but Johnson Houghton has the colt on schedule for a spring campaign.

The Oxfordshire handler revealed today: “Everything is fine with The Cheka. He’s progressing well through the winter and I’m absolutely delighted with him - he has filled out his frame nicely.

“He had a very minor problem after Sandown that just meant I would have had to rush him to get him to a race. He’s too good and is such a big horse that it just was not worth doing that.

“The idea at this stage is to go for the Stan James 2000 Guineas but if at any time we think he wants further than the mile, we have this race as a tempting option. We’re really looking forward to seeing him race as a three-year-old - we think he is a very good horse.”

Johnson Houghton is also responsible for the Marju filly Jewelled Reef, whose last start came in the Watership Down Stud Sales race at Ascot in September.

“We left the filly in the Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy because it didn’t cost us anything but she would have to improve hugely. She has done really well over the winter but she has to improve a lot to even get in the race. We’ll just see how she progresses.”

Among the acceptors for the Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy are the top-flight winners Donativum and Crowded House, first and second respectively in the Tattersalls Timeform Million last October, a race also restricted to horses catalogued in Book One of the 2007 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Donativum, now with Godolphin having left trainer John Gosden, could once again lock horns with the Brian Meehan-trained Group One Racing Post Trophy victor Crowded House in the ground-breaking race. Crowded House is currently ante-post favourite for the Derby at Epsom.

The Tattersalls Timeform Million was one of the most informative, not to mention high-class, juvenile contests of 2008 and the next four home in that race are also still in the Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy. Third-placed Nasri is another in Meehan’s care, while Gosden is responsible for the fifth horse home, Mafaaz, and Mark Johnston may saddle Liberation, who was the fourth-placed favourite in the lucrative seven-furlong race. Monitor Closely, from the Peter Chapple-Hyam yard, took sixth in the race and subsequently landed the spoils in a Newbury maiden.

Skanky Biscuit, now in the care of Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, won a Newbury maiden for Meehan last term before taking third in the Group One Racing Post Trophy.

Meehan also has Gallagher among the 17 acceptors in his care. The Sangster family-owned colt was a model of consistency in Pattern company last season, his best effort coming when second to Bushranger in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville in August.

There are 35 entries from Ireland remaining, including 13 from Aidan O’Brien’s mighty Ballydoyle stable. The O’Brien contingent includes Group Two Futurity Stakes third Grand Ducal and the 1,000,000 guineas colt Yankee Doodle, by Dalakhani out of Bella Lambada.

Commenting on the acceptors for the inaugural £400,000 Tattersalls Timeform 3YO Trophy, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said: “The number and quality of the remaining entries for the inaugural £400,000 Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy show that this unique race has immediately captured the imagination of owners and trainers.

“To have the likes of current Derby favourite and Group One Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House amongst the leading contenders is a tremendous prospect.”

Michael Prosser, Newmarket’s Director of Racing, added: “To have over 200 horses - including a host of major players - left in at this stage is magnificent.

“The race has all the makings of a significant addition to our season-opening Craven Meeting.”

The two-day Craven Meeting at Newmarket takes place on Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16.

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

©Racenews
designed and produced by Racenews Internet Services