Thursday, December 10, 2009

MAXIMUM FIELD FOR Boylesports.com GOLD CUP

The Greystoke trainer revealed today: “Skippers Brig looks made to measure for the job to me, so let’s see how we go. I would not be going there if I was thinking any different.”

Skippers Brig (10st 11lb), a 12/1 shot with the sponsor, returned from an eight and a half-month absence when making a pleasing seasonal debut at Bangor on November 11. The eight-year-old carried top-weight that day in an extended thee-mile handicap chase and finished a close third to the smart That’s Rhythm.

Richards’ charge made it seven wins form 13 career starts on his latest outing at Ayr on December 2. Once again lumbered with 11st 12lb, Skipper’s Brig made light of his burden to register an easy success in the two and a half-mile handicap chase run on soft going.

Richards continued: “He has run two nice races this season. He ran a smashing race first time at Bangor and just blew up turning in. Then he confirmed that promise at Ayr last week and the jockey’s words were, ‘he never came out of second gear,’ so I’m pleased with him. He bounced out of that race and he seems in very good form with himself.

“If the going stick reading at Cheltenham is correct - at 6.2 yesterday - that should put it on the slower side of soft, so I would imagine it will be very similar ground to what he won on at Ayr.

“At Bangor, which I thought was quite a competitive race, they went a good even clip over three miles and he travelled well and jumped well. One thing you have to do at Cheltenham is you have to stay well.”

Richards is hoping Skippers Brig can join previous Boylesports Gold Cup winners trained by his late father Gordon at Greystoke. Titus Oates (1969), Clever Folly (1989) and Addington Boy (1996).

Gwanako, trained by Paul Nicholls, and the David Pipe-trained Our Vic share top-weight of 11st 12lb. Pipe also saddles the 2007 winner Tamarinbleu (11st 10lb), who was runner-up in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October.

The Nicholls contingent includes current 5/1 joint-favourite Poquelin (11st 8lb), second in the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open, and Chapoturgeon (11st 10lb & 6/1), who fell in that contest.

Course and distance winner Atouchbetwenacara (11st 5lb) is the other 5/1 joint-favourite and is one of two Tim Vaughan-trained runners, the other being Stan (11st 5lb).

Edward O’Grady ensured that the Paddy Power Gold Cup headed back to Ireland last month when he saddled Tranquil Sea to victory in that race and the trainer is bidding for a second major Cheltenham prize this season with 10/1 shot Sky’s The Limit (10st 13lb). Fellow Irish trainer Willie Mullins is set to run Jayo (10st 12lb)

Paddy Power Gold Cup third Hold Em (10st 5lb & 12/1) represents trainer Keith Goldsworthy, while Andrew Turnell, who rode the 1972 victor Arctic Bow, is set to saddle Bible Lord (11st & 25/1).

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Razor Royale (10st 11lb) won the Irish Times Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase at The Open, while stablemate Knowhere (11st 3lb), runner-up to Exotic Dancer in the 2006 Boylesports Gold Cup, is also in the field.

The progressive Colin Tizzard-trained Mount Oscar (10st 11lb) is primed to take his chance, as are the Venetia Williams-trained Idole First (10st 7lb) and the Philip Hobbs-trained From Dawn To Dusk (10st 7lb).

THE Boylesports.com GOLD CUP
Class One, Grade Three, £150,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.25pm, Cheltenham, Saturday, December 12, 2009. For four-year-olds & upwards, two miles & five furlongs. Penalties: after November 28, a winner of a chase 5lb - no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed November 24, entries released November 25 (45 entries), weights revealed December 2, five-day confirmation stage December 7 (32 confirmations), final declaration stage, 10.00am, December 10 (17 declarations, plus 2 reserves). Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to & including the racing of Sunday, December 6.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer/Jockey
1) U125F-U GWANAKO (FR) 6-11-12 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls/Harry Skelton (3)
2) 11/PP4-61 OUR VIC (IRE) b11-11-12 David Johnson David Pipe/Danny Cook (3)
3) 3/2030-2 TAMARINBLEU (FR) b9-11-10 The Arthur White Partnership David Pipe/Tom Scudamore
4) 211F2-F CHAPOTURGEON (FR) 5-11-10 David Johnson Paul Nicholls/Timmy Murphy
5) 1300-12 POQUELIN (FR) 6-11-08 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls/Ruby Walsh
6) 1P04PF- STAN (NZ) 10-11-05 Paul Beck Tim Vaughan/Seamus Durack
7) 1F/2F21- ATOUCHBETWEENACARA (IRE) 8-11-05 Paul Beck Tim Vaughan/Barry Geraghty
8) 100P-3P KNOWHERE (IRE) 11-11-03 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies/Noel Fehily
9) 06FF-1F BIBLE LORD (IRE) 8-11-00 Martin Tedham Andrew Turnell/Edward Cookson (7)
10) 544/30-P4 SKY'S THE LIMIT (FR) v8-10-13 Exrs of the Late Raymond Rooney Edward O'Grady IRE/Andrew McNamara
11) 1145-15 JAYO (FR) 6-10-12 Peter Garvey Willie Mullins IRE/
12) F313-01 RAZOR ROYALE (IRE) 7-10-11 Colin Cornes Nigel Twiston-Davies/Paddy Brennan
13) 25020-11 MOUNT OSCAR (IRE) t10-10-11 Jean Bishop Colin Tizzard/Joe Tizzard
14) 0//1141-31 SKIPPERS BRIG (IRE) 8-10-11 (inc 5lb ex) Ashleybank Investments Limited Nicky Richards/Brian Harding
15) 2/31/21-3 FROM DAWN TO DUSK t10-10-07 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs/Rhys Flint (3)
16) 1341/P0/- IDOLE FIRST (IRE) 10-10-07 D and J Racing Ltd Venetia Williams/Aidan Coleman
17) 6P0353 HOLD EM (IRE) t, c/p 7-10-05 David Hughes Mike Evans & Partners Keith Goldsworthy/Robert Thornton

RESERVES
R18) 5F-262U THE SAWYER (BEL) 9-10-05 D R Fear Bob Buckler
R19) 2162-52 SAPHIR DES BOIS (FR) 5-10-03 F Lloyd Jonjo O'Neill

17 declarations, plus 2 reserves
2 Irish-trained

Latest Boylesports prices:
Atouchbetweenacara 5/1, Poquelin 5/1, Chapoturgeon 6/1, Tamarinbleu 8/1, Razor Royale 10/1, Sky’s The Limit 10/1, Hold Em 12/1, Skippers Brig 12/1, Mount Oscar 14/1, From Dawn To Dusk 16/1, Gwanako 16/1, Jayo 16/1, Our Vic 20/1, Saphir Des Bois 20/1, Stan 20/1, Bible Lord 25/1, The Sawyer 25/1, Idole First 33/1, Knowhere 33/1

BOYLESPORTS INTERNATIONAL GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW

The two-day Boylesports International begins tomorrow, Friday, December 11, when the highlight of the seven-race programme is the £50,000 Listed Neptune Investment Management Handicap Chase (1.50pm), a race won by subsequent Grand National victor Mon Mome 12 months ago.

This year’s race has attracted 12 declarations with the weights headed by Joe Lively , who enjoyed his finest hour when taking the Grade Two Letheby & Christopher Chase on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham last season. Paul Nicholls is represented by The Tother One while According To Pete, who ran well when fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open, has also been declared. Nigel Twiston-Davies is set to run recent impressive Rehearsal Chase scorer Beat The Boys while Kia Kaha ran well on his reappearance at Haydock last month and represents the powerful Jonjo O’Neill/Tony McCoy combination. In-form local handler Martin Keighley runs bottom weight Any Currency, successful at Sandown and Ascot on his latest two starts.

Tomorrow also features the second of the season’s three races over Cheltenham’s unique Cross Country course. The £22,500 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase (1.15pm) has 16 declared runners, with cross country specialist Enda Bolger saddling three runners - Garde Champetre, Freneys Well and Headsontheground. Garde Champetre won this race last year, as well as the last two runnings of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase at The Festival and last month’s Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase at The Open. Headsontheground also boasts course winning form, having taken the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase at The Festival in 2007 while the 12-year-old was a length and three quarters behind Garde Champetre when runner-up at The Open last time out. Also declared are the 2007 Grand National victor Silver Birch and Sizing Australia, who chased home the two Enda Bolger-trained runners at The Open.

Racing gets underway tomorrow at 12.05pm with the Cheltenham Collection Novices’ Chase (12.05pm) which has five runners including Weird Al, a winner at The Open on November 13 in the Steel Pate & Sections Novices’ Chase.

Also featuring on tomorrow’s card are the Caspian Caviar Handicap Hurdle (12.40pm, 11 runners), the CF Roberts Electrical + Mechanical Services Conditional Jockeys´ Handicap Chase (2.25pm, 17 runners), the Boylepoker.com Handicap Hurdle (3.00pm, 15 runners) and the E B F "National Hunt" Novices´ Hurdle (3.35pm, 9 runners).

LATEST CHELTENHAM GOING
The course had 1.2 millimetres of rainfall last night, leaving the going unchanged at Soft, Good to Soft in places on both the Hurdles and Chase courses.

The Cross Country course is currently Good to Soft, Soft in places. The outlook is dry but cooler for the remainder of the week.

Racing takes place on the New Course at the Boylesports International, utilising ground that has not been raced on for seven months.

coral.co.uk ROWLAND MEYRICK HANDICAP CHASE TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT WETHERBY’S CORAL CHRISTMAS MEETING - JOHNSON AND McCAIN CONSIDERING OPTIONS FOR GRADE THREE CONTEST

Taking centre stage on day one is the £53,000 Grade Three coral.co.uk Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (2.10pm) over three miles and a furlong. The coral.co.uk Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase was first run in 1957 boasts an outstanding roll of honour with the likes of subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Forgive’ N Forget (1984) and The Thinker (1986) among the previous winners, while Yahoo, famously runner-up to Desert Orchid in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup, scored in 1987. In recent years, Ferdy Murphy has won with Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Truckers Tavern (2004) and Leading Man (2006), while last year saw reigning champion trainer Paul Nicholls land his first Rowland Meyrick with Nozic.

Surprising though it may seem, Howard Johnson is seeking a first victory in the coral.co.uk Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase. However, the County Durham handler, who oversees one of the north’s most powerful strings, is hoping to rewrite the prestigious roll of honour this year.

Johnson, who saddled Tidal Bay to finish runner-up in the three mile, one furlong contest last season, revealed today: “Killyglen and Companero will both be given entries in the coral.co.uk Rowland Meyrick Chase.”

Killyglen, the impressive winner of the Grade Two Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, was last seen when pulled-up in the Grade Three Hennessy Gold Cup won by Denman at Newbury on November 28. The seven-year-old had made his seasonal return earlier that month with a fine second to Knockara Beau when conceding 18lb to the classy novice on soft ground at Carlisle.

Johnson continued: “Killyglen has come back fine from the Hennessy, he just wants better ground and a smaller field to be seen at his best. He’s bucking and kicking in the yard, which is a good sign, so I’m very pleased with him. Hopefully, we’ll have a bit of dry weather between now and then.

“Companero might go to the Coral Welsh National. He looks like he wants a proper test of stamina so he’s more likely to go to Chepstow.”

Donald McCain saddled Cloudy Lane to finish third in the 2008 coral.co.uk Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase behind the victorious Nozic. On his most recent start, at Kelso on December 6, the nine-year-old came home third under top-weight behind Money Trix.

McCain is eying a Grade One engagement in Ireland for his charge but is considering the Grade Three Wetherby contest as an alternative.

The Cheshire handler commented: “At the moment we’re considering going to Ireland for the Lexus Chase but the Rowland Meyrick will remain a possibility.

“He’s grand after his run at Kelso on Sunday. He ran like he always does first time, in fact he has probably run as well as he has ever run first time. He’s in one piece and that’s the main thing.”

McCain also revealed that last season’s smart novice chaser, Will Be Done, twice successful at Wetherby last term and also runner-up in the Grade Two totepool Towton Novices’ Chase at the course in January, is primed for a comeback run, with the target yet to be decided.

He said: “Will Be Done is very close to his first run and we could start him off in a novice hurdle somewhere before Christmas.”

The feature contest at Wetherby on Sunday, December 27, is the £23,000 coral.co.uk Castleford Handicap Chase over two miles. A handicap for horses rated up to 150, last year’s race went to the Howard Johnson-trained Santa’s Son while Calatagan was the successful horse in both 2006 and 2007.

Advance ticket sales for the meeting can be purchased at www.wetherbyracing.co.uk or by phoning 01937 582 035.

Wetherby Chief Executive Jonjo Sanderson said: “Advance ticket sales are looking extremely positive for the public enclosures and we have virtually sold out of hospitality packages on Boxing Day. We still have availability for Sunday, December 27, in both our public enclosures and hospitality, so racegoers are advised to pre-book to avoid disappointment, particularly for the Premier Enclosure, which is normally a sell-out on both days.”

Admission Prices (December 26 & 27): Premier Enclosure £27, Paddock Enclosure £16, Pick of the Paddock £21 (includes admission to the Paddock Enclosure, £4 Refreshment Voucher, £2 Tote Betting Voucher and Racecard), Pick of the Premier £38 (includes admission to the Premier Enclosure, 2 x £4 Refreshment Voucher, 2 x £2 Tote Betting Voucher and Racecard).

CAPTAIN GERRARD RETIRES TO MICKLEY STUD

The son of Oasis Dream has been sold in a deal brokered by Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock and is likely to shuttle to Australia in the second half of next year.

A five-time winner at two, Captain Gerrard won the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot after Listed victories in the Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr and the Roses Stakes at York’s Ebor Meeting.

At three he had further Group success when beating Group 1 July Cup winner Sakhee’s Secret to capture the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.

Captain Gerrard’s sire Oasis Dream has had a sensational season on the racecourse. With a fee of £65,000 he will jointly be the dearest stallion in Britain next year and was also responsible for the most expensive yearling in Britain or Ireland in 2009, a 700,000 guineas colt sold at Tattersalls in October.

Captain Gerrard is a half-brother to two black-type performers, including Hong Kong star Saturn, and comes from the speedy family of Prix de l’Abbaye and King’s Stand Stakes winner Double Form as well as several Group 1-winning juveniles.

Richard Kent, owner of Mickley Stud, commented: “We have been looking for some time for a stallion to join our line up who could be a good source of two-year-old speed and Captain Gerrard fits the bill perfectly.

“He is the fastest son of the brilliant Oasis Dream to stand at stud and, as a good-looking five-time winning juvenile, he should have great appeal to any commercial breeder.”

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

©Racenews
designed and produced by Racenews Internet Services