Monday, November 8, 2004

BOWEN AIMS TAKE THE STAND AT PADDY POWER GOLD CUP

Last year's hero Fondmort is set to bid to retain his crown and become the first horse to record back-to-back victories since Bradbury Star in 1993 and 1994.

Martin Pipe, seeking his seventh Paddy Power Gold Cup has It Takes Time and Celestial Gold to rely on while fellow West Country handler Philip Hobbs, successful in 1989 with Joint Sovereignty, also has a strong hand with recent impressive Aintree winner Farmer Jack and Monkerhostin, triumphant last season in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Paul Nicholls has yet to add to Paddy Power Gold Cup to his CV but has two possibles in Thisthatandtother and Le Duc, while the Gary Moore-trained Tikram, successful over the course and distance in last year's Mildmay of Flete Chase at the Festival, is another leading contender along with Nigel Twiston-Davies' Ollie Magern, an impressive winner at Cheltenham last month.

Ireland has not landed the extended two and a half mile contest since Bright Highway in 1980 and this year could be represented by Colca Canyon, fifth to Beef Or Salmon in last Saturday's James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal, and the Charlie Swan-trained Ground Ball, runner-up in the 2004 Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham.

Peter Bowen is planning to send a strong team to Prestbury Park this weekend with Take The Stand and Ballycassidy likely to run at the championship course.

The Pembrokeshire trainer revealed today: "I would say that Take The Stand will definitely go for the Paddy Power Gold Cup."

Take The Stand won this year's English Summer National at Uttoxeter in June and followed up on his next start in a handicap chase at Newton Abbot in August.

On his most recent start, he was the 11-length runner-up to Farmer Jack in the totesport Wigan Chase at Aintree last month. If the winner lines up on Saturday, Take The Stand will meet his rival on 10lb better terms.

"Take The Stand will be a lot better horse than when he went to Aintree anyway," enthused the handler. "I would say that there's definitely another big handicap in him. He came back from Aintree with a bit of a problem to his back and he's had a fair bit of treatment since and that's all fine now.

"Take The Stand probably came up against a well-handicapped horse at Liverpool but he'll be a totally different horse this time and Seamus [Durack] will ride him again."

The Paddy Power Gold Cup and the other Graded events at Cheltenham this weekend are among the 63 races involved in the British Horseracing Board's new Order of Merit bonus scheme. The connections of the overall winner with the most points throughout the season will receive £200,000 - 75% to the owner, 12.5% to the trainer and the same again to the stable staff.

Stable companion Ballycassidy is also among the 17 remaining entries for the Paddy Power Gold Cup although Bowen revealed that the eight-year-old will probably make his seasonal debut in Saturday's main supporting event, the £65,000 Grade Three Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase (3.20pm), over an extended three miles and three furlongs, which has attracted 17 leading staying chasers at the five-day stage.

Last season Ballycassidy won seven chases, including a Grade Two novices' chase at Newbury in November when getting the better of Native Emperor by a head.

"I would think that Ballycassidy will go for the Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase," he said. "He's has done well over the summer. He had a bit of a blood problem early on when he was entered up and didn't run. But he's perfect now and is in good form.

"You never know until you take the handicappers on second season whether you're well handicapped or not, but I would hope that he would improve a fair bit.

"You'd hope that there will be some big handicaps in Ballycassidy - on the work that he does with Take The Stand, you would think that he would be well handicapped.

"The trip wouldn't be a problem to Ballycassidy especially around Cheltenham as he's going to get better ground there than anywhere else which is what he wants.

"Richard [Johnson] normally rides him and as he knows him so well, that would be ideal but if Richard can't ride him then obviously Seamus will."

The feature hurdle event on Saturday is the £55,000 Listed Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle (2.05pm), over an extended three miles and one furlong, with 20 possibles including the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Mistanoora and Bowen's Mr Ed, first and third respectively in a handicap hurdle at Chepstow at the end of last month.

There is also Ad Hoc, trained by Paul Nicholls, the dual winner of Sandown's betfred Gold Cup who could revert to the smaller obstacles, and the Philip Hobbs-trained Grey Report, who deserves another victory over timber having been placed in the first four on his last five starts.

Cheltenham's quality six-race Saturday programme is completed by the concluding £30,000 Grade Two Jet UK Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (3.50pm), over an extended two miles, which has attracted 18 entries including Patrick Haslam's facile Sandown winner this weekend Yankeedoodledandy, the opening £20,000-added Racing UK Novices' Handicap Hurdle (12.55pm), over an extended two miles, with an amazing 62 possibles, and the £20,000-added Jim Brown Memorial Novices' Chase (1.05pm), over an extended two miles and four furlongs, whose 16 entries include Martin Pipe's Comply Or Die, who put in such an excellent effort to win a similar event at Wincanton on Saturday.

Rooster Booster, the 2002 Smurfit Champion Hurdle hero, heads the 17 five-day confirmation in the £70,000 Greatwood Hurdle, the highlight of the final day of The Open, Sunday, November 14.

Philip Hobbs' popular grey, also second in this year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle, won this race under top weight in 2002 en route to glory at the Festival and could be joined by last year's winner Rigmarole, as well as the 2001 victor Westender. Rigmarole's trainer Paul Nicholls could also run Sporazene, last season's Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle scorer, as well as Perouse, an impressive winner of the Grade Two totesport Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last Saturday.

There is a strong Irish challenge for the Greatwood Hurdle, headed by the 2003 Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Back In Front, who recently confirmed his well-being with a win on Flat at Navan. The two other entries from Ireland are the Paul Nolan-trained Accordion Etoile, second to Solerina in a Grade One contest at Tipperary last time out and Noel Meade's Power Elite, one of the leading Irish juvenile hurdlers last season and a recent dual winner on the Flat.

Other leading contenders including dual totesport Gold Trophy victor Geos, Trouble At Bay, twice a winner at Cheltenham last season and Dalaram, an impressive winner of the Free Handicap hurdle at Chepstow on his latest appearance.

Sunday's main supporting event is the £50,000 Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase (2.05pm), over two miles, which could feature up to 11 stars of the future including the Paul Nicholls-trained Sporazene, who will be bidding to make amends after his huge reputation took a dent when coming down at Exeter.

The £25,000-added Paddypower Casino Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (1.35pm), over two miles and five furlongs, with 34 possibles is sure to be a fiercely-competitive event. Racegoers will be hoping that champion trainer Martin Pipe will allow Lough Derg to make his seasonal bow in this contest as he was impressive when winning the Concord Quality Filing Products Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Prestbury Park in April, defeating Zimbabwe by six lengths.

Sunday's six-race card is completed by the opening £20,000-added Jets-Griffin Richard Davies Award Novices' Hurdle (1pm), over two miles and five furlongs, with 26 possibles, the £20,000-added Club16-24 Handicap Chase (3.15pm), over an extended two miles and four furlongs, which has attracted 32 chasers at the five-day stage, and the concluding race of the three-day Open Meeting, the £15,000-added Listed Festival Of Food Bumper (3.50pm), over an extended two miles.

The Open (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 12-14) comprises three days which herald the moment when jump racing takes centre stage. Each day has its own character and together they form an irresistible package. In recent years horses have travelled over from Ireland, France, Norway and the Czech Republic.

Friday/Sunday admission prices are Club/Tattersalls: £20, 16-24s: £12; Best Mate: £6.

Saturday's admission prices are Club: £30 Tattersalls: £20: 16-24s: £15; Best Mate: £10.

For further information, please contact Peter McNeile, Cheltenham's Commercial Manager at Cheltenham Racecourse on 01242 513014 or on his mobile 07850 091523

THE PADDY POWER GOLD CUP
Class A, Grade Three, Total Prize Fund £110,000. Cheltenham, Saturday, November 13, 2004. 2m 4 1/2f. For five-year-olds and upwards. Penalties: after October 30, a winner of a Class C steeple chase 3lb; of a Class A or B chase 6lb; no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 27, entries revealed October 28 (42 entries), weights revealed November 3. Five-day confirmation stage November 8 (17 remain), final declaration 10.00am Thursday, November 11. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, November 8.

Form Horse Age/Weight Owner Trainer
14534F- FONDMORT (FR) 8-11-12 Bill Brown Nicky Henderson
P0100-1 FARMER JACK 8-11-08 Peter Partridge Philip Hobbs
4F-2112 TAKE THE STAND (IRE) 8-11-07 The Courters Peter Bowen
31112P- BALLYCASSIDY (IRE) 8-11-00 R Owen & P Fullagar Peter Bowen
2-F12B15 COLCA CANYON (IRE) 7-10-13 Philip Myerscough Jessica Harrington IRE
0564-111 OLLIE MAGERN 6-10-12 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
121F22- THISTHATANDTOTHER (IRE) 8-10-12 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
214112- TIKRAM 7-10-11 Mike Charlton And Rodger Sargent Gary Moore
162/F5P- IT TAKES TIME (IRE) 10-10-09 David Johnson Martin Pipe
13F120- GROUND BALL (IRE) 7-10-06 J P McManus Charlie Swan IRE
013P4-4 LE DUC (FR) 5-10-02 Judy Stewart Paul Nicholls
32321-U ATUM RE (IRE) 7-10-02 Paul Green Paul Webber
13321- CELESTIAL GOLD (IRE) 6-10-02 David Johnson Martin Pipe
3//1U41-05 SIMPLY GIFTED 9-10-01 Steve Hammond Jonjo O'Neill
12204-2 KELREV (FR) 6-10-01 Len Jakeman, Flintham, King & Roberts Venetia Williams
23116-1 MONKERHOSTIN (FR) 7-9-13 Martin St Quinton Philip Hobbs
15P053-2 BETTER DAYS (IRE) 8-9-10 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith

17 five-day confirmations
2 Irish-trained

THE GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE

Grade 3, Class A, £70,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 2.40pm, Sunday, November 14, 2004. For 4yo+, 2m 110yds. Penalties: after October 30, a winner of a Class A to C race 6lb. Entries closed Wednesday, October 27. Entries released Friday, October 29 (39 entries). Weights revealed Wednesday, November 3. Five-day declaration stage Monday, November 8(17 remain). Final declaration stage 10.00am Friday, November 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, November 8.

Form Horse Age/Weight Owner Trainer
21222-2 ROOSTER BOOSTER 10-11-12 Terry Warner Philip Hobbs
11102-16 RIGMAROLE 6-11-05 Mr & Mrs Mark Woodhouse Paul Nicholls
533-52R WESTENDER (FR) 8-11-03 Matt Archer & Jean Broadhurst Martin Pipe
1/12215- BACK IN FRONT (IRE) 7-10-13 Nelius Hayes Edward O'Grady IRE
23010-1F SPORAZENE (IRE) 5-10-12 Ged Mason Paul Nicholls
05/21P0- GEOS (FR) 9-10-10 Thurloe Finsbury Nicky Henderson
115-112 ACCORDION ETOILE (IRE) 5-10-06 Banjo Syndicate Paul Nolan IRE
11220P-1 PEROUSE 6-10-06 (6lb Ex) J Dickson & S McVie Paul Nicholls
40301-0 COPELAND 9-10-04 Professor David & Heather Silk Martin Pipe
11110-2 TROUBLE AT BAY (IRE) 4-9-11 Nigel Bunter Alan King
3113-0 POWER ELITE (IRE) 4-9-10 Des Sharkey Noel Meade IRE
0101-01 DALARAM (IRE) 4-9-09 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
6243-11 NAWAMEES (IRE) 6-9-07 Paul Stamp Gary Moore
12-31335 TORRID KENTAVR (USA) 7-9-05 Graeme Redpath Brian Ellison
11116- KING REVO (IRE) 4-9-03 Dick Renwick & Mrs C Barclay Pat Haslam
2150-155 DAD'S ELECT (GER) 5-9-00 A L R Morton Charlie Mann
2U12-13U FLYING SPIRIT (IRE) 5-8-12 Richard Green (Fine Paintings) Gary Moore

17 confirmed at the five-day stage
3 Irish-trained

SIR REMBRANDT HEADS ENTRIES FOR THE EDWARD HANMER MEMORIAL CHASE

Robert Alner's charge recently made a pleasing seasonal reappearance when second to Grey Abbey in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and will be making his debut over the famous Haydock fences.

Alner could also be represented by Spring Grove, a winner over an extended two and a half miles at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance.

Jonjo O'Neill's smart performer Keen Leader, victorious in the Grade Two Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock Park last season, could make his seasonal reappearance in the Grade Two Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase while other interesting contenders include the Paul Nicholls-trained Kadarann, set to tackle three miles for the first time, and Peter Bowen's pair Ballycassidy, a Grade Two winner at Newbury last season and Take The Stand, successful under top weight in the English Summer National at Uttoxeter back in June.

Yorkshire-based Sue Smith has three to choose from including Royal Emperor, one of last season's leading novices and third on his seasonal reappearance last year, Arctic Jack, successful in last season's Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park and Chives, who will having his first start for the yard having previously been with Henrietta Knight for the same owner Trevor Hemmings.

Lord Noelie, winner of the 2000 Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham and second on his seasonal reappearance under 11st 12lb in the betfred Handicap Chase at Chepstow on October 2, is another possible for the Edward Hanmer Chase.

Trainer Bridget Nicholls explained today: "He will either run at Haydock or Cheltenham this weekend - we will have a look and go wherever the ground is quickest.

"I would prefer to Haydock, as it is a limited handicap and the three miles should suit him better than the extended three miles, three furlongs at Cheltenham.

"I was delighted with his seasonal reappearance - he ran a smashing race. I thought we had stolen it when he jumped the last but Ballyvaddy just came and pipped us.

"I haven't got a jockey yet - I'd like Graham Lee to ride him again but it just depends on his commitments elsewhere."

The Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase is one of the races which makes up the new 300,000 Order of Merit bonus scheme which is designed to encourage runners in Grade One, Two and Three jump contests.

Kirkland Tellwright, Haydock Park's Clerk of the Course, today revealed that the ground is currently SOFT at the North-West course and is likely to remain that way ahead of Sunday's meeting.

He said: "We've had 13 millimetres of rain since Friday and the ground is currently soft.

"The forecast is for a generally dry week but I would predict that the ground will still be soft on Sunday."

ORDER OF RUNNING AT HAYDOCK

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2004

1.20pm £8,000-added Rectangle Group Novices' Hurdle 2m

1.55pm £15,000-added Kingsmark Novices' Chase 2m 6f

2.25pm £20,000-added betdirect.co.uk Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle 2m

* 2.55pm £60,000 Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase (Grade Two) 3m

3.30pm £6,000-added Glen Chapple Benefit Handicap Chase 2m 6f

4.00pm £8,000-added Red Square Vodka Fixed Brush National Hunt'
Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f

* Channel 4 Televised Race

HISTORY OF THE EDWARD HAMNER MEMORIAL CHASE

The Edward Hamner Memorial Chase commemorates the late Sir Edward Hamner, who was a steward at Haydock Park for many years.

Sir Edward was also a very successful owner on both the Flat and over jumps, with Fury winning the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster and Royal Frolic, trained by Fred Rimell, landing the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1976.

The Haydock race, which has attracted many of Britain's best chasers over the years, was run as the Sundew Chase up until 1976 and was renamed in Sir Edward's honour following his death in January, 1977.

John Jacques landed the inaugural running in 1959 for trainer Neville Crump and jockey Gerry Scott . Middleham-based Crump went on to enjoy further success with Forest Prince (1965), again ridden by Scott, and Falls Of Cruachan (1966).

The three-mile limited handicap chase, which has a weight-span of 20 lb, 10st 4lb to 11st 10, was won in 1972 by dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero L'Escargot, trained by Dan Moore, giving Ireland its first and, to date, only success in the race. L'Escargot also won the Grand National in 1975.

Pendil must be ranked as one of the best horses not to have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and he was successful in the 1974 Edward Hamner. His victory was the first of three consecutive wins for trainer Fred Winter, who went on to score with the former Champion Hurdle winner Bula in 1975 and 1976, beating triple Grand National winner Red Rum on both occasions.

From 1979 to 1984, the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase came to be dominated by the Dickinson family. Tony Dickinson sent out Silver Buck to victory in 1979 while his son Michael took over the licence in 1980 and trained the same horse for a further three successes, in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

Silver Buck's four wins make him the winning most horse in the race's history. His other victories included the 1982 Cheltenham Gold Cup and the King George VI Chase at Kempton in 1979 and 1980.

By 1984, Michael's mother Monica had taken over the reins and she was successful in 1984 with Wayward Lad who had previously won the King George VI Chase at Kempton (in 1982 and 1983) and would win it a third time in 1985. Wayward Lad also finished second to Dawn Run in the memorable Cheltenham Gold Cup of 1986.

Forgive'N Forget, trained by Jimmy Fitzgerald, landed back-to-back wins in 1985 and 1986 to compliment his success in the 1985 Cheltenham Gold Cup, while Beau Ranger was another dual winner in 1987 and 1988 for Martin Pipe.

Peter Beaumont's Jodami was the outstanding winner of the 1990s when he landed the 1993 renewal. He had previously won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and also captured Leopardstown's Hennessy Gold Cup on three occasions. The final victory of Jodami's career came in the 1997 Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park.

Popular grey Suny Bay, twice runner-up in the Grand National, was another dual winner in 1997 and 1998.

For three of the past four years another grey has been the horse to follow. Kingsmark, trained in Cumbria by Martin Todhunter, won his first Edward Hamner in 2000 and went on to land both the 2001 and 2002 renewals. He also put up a brave performance to finish fourth in the 2002 Grand National.

Last year Kingsmark attempted to join Silver Buck and win the Edward Hamner Memorial Handicap Chase four times. However, he uncharacteristically unseated at the last (when seemingly held) his regular partner David Dennis but was later remounted to be third behind Swansea Bay. This year the novice chase on Sunday day is named in Kingsmark's honour.

THE EDWARD HAMNER MEMORIAL CHASE
Grade Two
60,000 Total Prize Fund
2.55pm Haydock Park, Sunday, November 14
Three Miles
Run as the Sundew Chase 1959-1976
YEAR WINNER AGE/WGT OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY SP RAN
2003 SWANSEA BAY 7-10-07 Peter Bowling Peter Bowen Andrew Thornton 6/4F 3
2002 KINGSMARK 9-11-10 Sir Robert Ogden Martin Todhunter David Dennis 100/30 9
2001 KINGSMARK 8-10-12 Sir Robert Ogden Martin Todhunter David Dennis 11/2 6
2000 KINGSMARK 7-10-06 Robert Ogden Martin Todhunter David Dennis 7/1 13
1999 THE LAST FLING 9-10-05 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith Seamus Durack 25/1 6
1998 SUNY BAY 9-11-10 Uplands Bloodstock Simon Sherwood Graham Bradley 2/1F 6
1997 SUNY BAY 8-11-02 Uplands Bloodstock Charlie Brooks Graham Bradley 100/30 10
1996 UNGUIDED MISSILE 8-11-00 D E Harrison Gordon Richards Richard Dunwoody 10/11F 4
1995 COULDNT BE BETTER 8-11-06 R A B Whittle Charlie Brooks Graham Bradley 11/8F 6
1994 CAPTAIN DIBBLE 9-11-00 Mrs R Vaughan Nigel Twiston-Davies David Bridgwater 15/8F 4
1993 JODAMI 8-12-00 John Yeadon Peter Beaumont Mark Dwyer 5/4 3
1992 RUN FOR FREE 8-11-00 Millicent Freethy Martin Pipe Peter Scudamore 11/8F 4
1991 AUNTIE DOT 10-10-07 Mrs R Wilson John Webber Martin Lynch 8/1 5
1990 CELTIC SHOT 8-11-09 D E H Horton Charlie Brooks Graham McCourt 11/10F 6
1989 GOLDEN FRIEND 11-10-10 D G Meade John McConnochie Graham McCourt 9/2 5
1988 BEAU RANGER 10-11-13 White Bros (Taunton) Ltd Martin Pipe Peter Scudamore 13/8F 8
1987 BEAU RANGER 9-10-12 White Bros (Taunton) Ltd Martin Pipe Peter Scudamore 6/4F 3
1986 FORGIVE'N FORGET 9-12-00 T Kilroe & Sons Ltd Jimmy FitzGerald Mark Dwyer 10/11F 3
1985 FORGIVE'N FORGET 8-12-00 T Kilroe & Sons Ltd Jimmy FitzGerald Mark Dwyer 2/1 3
1984 WAYWARD LAD 9-12-00 Shirley Thewlis Monica Dickinson Robert Earnshaw 8/15F 5
1983 Abandoned - frost
1982 SILVER BUCK 10-12-00 Christine Feather Michael Dickinson Robert Earnshaw 8/11F 5
1981 SILVER BUCK 9-11-12 Christine Feather Michael Dickinson John Francome 5/2 5
1980 SILVER BUCK 8-12-00 Christine Feather Michael Dickinson Tommy Carmody 8/15F 4
1979 SILVER BUCK 7-11-06 Christine Feather Tony Dickinson Tommy Carmody 20/21F 3
1978 BAWNOGUES 7-10-07 Mrs H Lawlor Martin Tate Craig Smith 9/4F 8
1977 Abandoned - frost
1976 BULA 11-12-00 Capt Bill Edwards-Heathcote Fred Winter John Francome 8 /13F 3
1975 BULA 10-12-00 Capt Bill Edwards-Heathcote Fred Winter John Francome 10/11F 4
1974 PENDIL 9-11-12 Mrs C Swallow Fred Winter Richard Pitman 1/3F 3
1973 Abandoned - frost
1972 L'ESCARGOT 9-11-07 Raymond Guest Dan Moore IRE Tommy Carberry 10/11F 4
1971 RED SWEENEY 7-10-08 D S George Gordon Richards Ernie Fenwick 5/1 10
1970 SUPERMASTER 7-11-04 Mrs H Waite Arthur Stephenson Jimmy Enright 5/1 9
1969 FEARLESS FRED 7-11-10 Bryan Jenks Fred Rimell Terry Biddlecombe 5/2 5
1968 TWO SPRINGS 6-10-08 D H Barnes George Owen Roy Edwards 4/5F 3
1967 Abandoned - foot & mouth epidemic
1966 FALLS OF CRUACHAN 10-12-00 Lady Joan Joicey Neville Crump Pat Buckey 6/4F 5
1965 FOREST PRINCE 7-11-07 Mrs Dennis Thompson Neville Crump Gerry Scott 11/10F 7
1964 BODGER 9-10-00 Lord Leverhulme George Owen Robin Langley 100/30 3
1963 PRUDENT BARNEY 9-10-12 Mrs Lurline Brotherton Bobby Renton Josh Gifford 5/1 7
1962 DANCING RAIN 7-10-04 Capt P T Fenwick Pat Upton Eugene Kelly 20/1 11
1961 LOCH SLOY 7-11-07 Mrs M Milne Green Tommy Robson Michael Batchelor 5/4F 5
1960 BADANLOCH 9-11-11 Lord Leverhulme George Owen Stan Mellor 11/8F 4
1959 JOHN JACQUES 10-12-00 Mrs D G Wares Neville Crump Gerry Scott 5/1 11

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