Monday, March 22, 2004
90 REMAIN IN FREEPHONE STANLEYBET LINCOLN
McMahon aiming El Coto at £100,000 contest
A total of 90 horses remain in Saturday's £100,000 Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln following today's five-day confirmation stage. The famous mile handicap has a safety limit of 24 and the first 24 horses that fail to make the cut for the Lincoln - for which final declarations take place on Thursday - will be eligible for the consolation £25,000 Freephone Stanleybet Spring Mile on Friday.
All of the leading fancies have stood their ground for the first major contest of the Flat turf season, including last year's winner Pablo and the current ante-post market leaders Fremen and Alkaadhem.
Tamworth-based trainer Bryan McMahon sent out Roving Minstrel to land the Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln in 1995 and has a live contender for this year's contest in the shape of El Coto, currently rated a 16/1 shot by the sponsors.
McMahon said today: "The plan is to run El Coto in the Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln."
The Forzando colt has lined up on Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln day twice before, last year winning the March Handicap by a neck from Bigalothegigalo. In 2002 he found Intellibet One a head too powerful in the equivalent of the doncaster-racecourse.com Maiden Auction Stakes.
"He seems as if he's more mature now. All these horses that get from three to four put a bit of weight on and he's blossomed through the winter," McMahon continued. "I'm always optimistic but I don't even know what's in the Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln yet - we won't know what's running really until Thursday at declaration time."
On his last start, El Coto weakened over a furlong out when fourth to Tusk in a 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket in October. While Saturday's feature is over a mile, McMahon believes his charge will stay 10 furlongs this year.
"I feel he'd probably get a mile and a quarter now but he didn't quite get it last year and we're just keeping our fingers crossed that he will this year as it leaves us options for races that are just that bit further," he explained. "As long as it's not firm [on Saturday], the ground won't really matter."
The final declaration stage for the Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln is on Thursday, following which the draw will take place.
Every year there is great debate about the effects of the draw in the Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln and connections will be able to select their own stall position at a celebrity draw, hosted by internationally-acclaimed opera star Lesley Garrett.
Steven Clarke, Racecourse Manager at Doncaster, revealed today that the ground on Town Moor has eased.
He said: "Today we changed the going from good, good-to-soft in places to good-to-soft, good in places, following rain over the weekend."
Tickets are still available for all three days of the Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln meeting and cost as follows:
Thursday & Friday Saturday Three-Day Badge
Members Enclosure £16 £18 £39
Tattersalls £10 £12 £24
Family Enclosure £4 £5 N/A
THE FREEPHONE STANLEYBET LINCOLN
Class B, Heritage Handicap, Total Prize Fund 100,000, one mile, Doncaster,2.45pm Saturday, March 27, 2004. For 4yo+. Weights: Lowest weight 7st 12lb. Highest weight not less than 9st 10lb. Any horse rated above 110 shall initially be treated as having that rating and the highest weight allotted shall be 9st 10lb. Subsequently, the excess over 110 in any rating shall be added to that horse without limitation to the highest weight to be carried. Penalties: after January 17, a winner of a Class A to C race 5lb. Entries closed Wednesday, January 7 (141 entries), weights revealed Wednesday, January 21, first confirmation stage January 27 (130 remained), second confirmation stage March 9 (109 remained), five-day confirmation stage March 22 (90 remain), final declaration stage 10.15am March 25. Horses eliminated at the 48-hour declaration stage may be nominated for the Freephone Stanleybet Spring Mile on Friday, March 26, 2004. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Sunday, March 21, 2004. May not include some overseas form.
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
424415- SUGGESTIVE 6-9-10 Barbara Bassett William Haggas
00421(0)- BABODANA 4-9-08 M P Bowring Mark Tompkins
31/1455- PABLO 5-9-06 Guy Reed Barry Hills
121- ALKAADHEM 4-9-01 Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning
013240- PENTECOST 5-9-01 J C, J R and S R Hitchins Andrew Balding
(6)(4)(5)-(1)(0)(6) QUITO (IRE) 7-9-01 (5lb Ex) Michael Hill David Chapman
320000- NORTON (IRE) 7-8-13 Terry Mills Terry Mills
610304- EL COTO 4-8-11 R J H Ltd & J P Hames Bryan McMahon
123126- CONVENT GIRL (IRE) 4-8-11 Axminster Carpets Ltd Nerys Dutfield
11304/1- CHIVALRY 5-8-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
142110- DESERT OPAL 4-8-10 Khalid Abdulla John Gosden
002500-(0) ONLYTIME WILL TELL 6-8-10 J Hair & D Faulkner David Nicholls
221330- TOUGH LOVE 5-8-08 The Gordon Partnership Tim Easterby
100000-(4) OUR TEDDY (IRE) 4-8-08 The Beare Family Andrew Balding
402600- JAY GEE'S CHOICE 4-8-08 John Guest Mick Channon
23110- FREMEN (USA) 4-8-08 Niarchos Family Sir Michael Stoute
620000- UNSHAKABLE (IRE) 5-8-07 Unshakable Partnership Bob Jones
540233- WING COMMANDER 5-8-07 Bee Health Ltd Richard Fahey
504300-(0) SERIEUX 5-8-07 Mrs S L Whitehead Amanda Perrett
500403-(0) DUMARAN (IRE) 6-8-07 Propak Sheet Metal Limited Willie Musson
01633(4)-(1)(5)(6) BLUE SKY THINKING (IRE) 5-8-07 Triple Trio Partnership Karl Burke
014322- FLIGHTY FELLOW (IRE) 4-8-07 Mrs Peter Easterby Tim Easterby
152204- FINISHED ARTICLE (IRE) 7-8-05 The Caledonian Racing Society David Elsworth
101250- CRAIOVA (IRE) 5-8-05 Ahmed BuHaleeba Barry Hills
414004- BLUE SPINNAKER (IRE) 5-8-05 G Sparkes G Hart S Curtis & T Dewhirst Mick Easterby
520400- DARK CHARM (FR) 5-8-05 George Leatham Richard Fahey
206011- THIHN (IRE) 9-8-05 The Square Milers John Spearing
660163- IRONY (IRE) 5-8-04 John Nicholls Ltd/Mobley Homes Andrew Balding
30153(4)- MARSHMAN (IRE) 5-8-04 John Ellis Mark Tompkins
500420- JABAAR (USA) 6-8-04 P Lake & S Hull David Nicholls
132412- ARCALIS 4-8-03 R C Thompson Lynda Ramsden
221623-(1)(0)2 SWIFT TANGO (IRE) 4-8-03 Khalifa Sultan Ed Dunlop
00/4220-(4) DANELOR (IRE) 6-8-02 Mark Leatham Richard Fahey
105053- DUNASKIN (IRE) 4-8-02 Mrs I Battla Don Eddy
200(1)(1)(1)-(2) CARDINAL VENTURE (IRE) 6-8-02 Tony Fawcett Kevin Ryan
006141- SPANISH DON 6-8-01 Richard Cohen David Elsworth
2/(1)(2)015-(4) ARRY DASH 4-8-01 Mike & Denise Dawes Mick Channon
5/50005- GO TECH 4-8-00 Ryedale Partners No 4 Tim Easterby
63543(0)-(0)(0)(4) AVENTURA (IRE) 4-8-00 APB Racing Mark Polglase
023000- EVEREST (IRE) 7-8-00 I S Sandhu and Partners Brian Ellison
025362- ACE OF HEARTS 5-7-13 Lady Stuttaford & W G Bovill Chris Wall
5000(0)(0)-(0) SAHAAT 6-7-13 Paul Dixon Jamie Osborne
111150- UNICORN REWARD (IRE) 4-7-13 Mrs A Kane & Mrs M Crane Micky Hammond
0(0)(0)(2)(1)-(0)(2) LINNING WINE (IRE) 8-7-12 Favourites Racing Brendan Powell
(6)(1)-(3)(0)(5)(2) LABRETT 7-7-12 Tony Griffin Gay Kelleway
501030- SAWWAAH (IRE) 7-7-11 Fayzad Thoroughbred Limited David Nicholls
033430-(1) UHOOMAGOO 6-7-11 Platinum Racing Club Limited Kevin Ryan
(1)(0)(0)(3)1(5)- ST PETERSBURG 4-7-11 P Heath Mark Tompkins
050105- ATLANTIC ACE 7-7-11 Richard Page Bryan Smart
33(5)(1)(1)(0)- STRONG HAND 4-7-11 Jean Turpin Mick Easterby
054040-(0) KRUGERRAND (USA) 5-7-11 The Square Table II Willie Musson
140- AUTUMN GLORY (IRE) 4-7-11 Mollers Racing Geoff Wragg
0-(0)(2)(0)(0)(0)(2) INTERNATIONALGUEST (IRE) 5-7-10 John Guest George Margarson
0226-(6)(1)(0)(1)(6) AFRICAN SAHARA (USA) 5-7-10 Debbie Mountain Debbie Mountain
(2)6(3)(5)(1)-(2)(0) J R STEVENSON (USA) 8-7-09 Claret & Blue Army Michael Wigham
1(2)(1)(1)(2)-(0)(0) STAR OF NORMANDIE (USA) 5-7-09 Norcroft Park Stud George Margarson
500000-(0) COMPTON DRAGON (USA) 5-7-09 John Connor David Nicholls
634215- TRUE NIGHT 7-7-09 Benton and Partners David Nicholls
000000- ZUCCHERO 8-7-09 Philip Banfield David Arbuthnot
110/000- RED GALAXY (IRE) 4-7-09 Red Alert Racing David Arbuthnot
621006- TAGULA BLUE (IRE) 4-7-09 Boston R S Ian Bennett Jeremy Glover
5060(1)-(4)(3)(1) TOPTON (IRE) 10-7-09 Liam Sheridan Paul Howling
(3)(0)-(0)(0)(2)(2) TE QUIERO 6-7-09 Tony Griffin Gay Kelleway
33(0)(0)(1)-(0) WOOD FERN (UAE) 4-7-09 Wooden Tops Partnership Mick Channon
030010- PRINCE HECTOR 5-7-08 David Heath William Haggas
(1)/130(6)0-(0) TIDY (IRE) 4-7-07 Peter Davies Micky Hammond
(5)4(0)(1)-(4)(3)(1) WHAT-A-DANCER (IRE) 7-7-07 A Barnes Alan Swinbank
(2)14100-(0) JOOLS 6-7-07 Anthony Parsons Dean Ivory
35223(1)- LEOBALLERO 4-7-07 Cliff Lines and M Mason Hugh Collingridge
0(2)/11(0)(1)- FLOWERDRUM (USA) 4-7-06 J Capla William Haggas
/(6)(5)0-(1)(4)(0) HAIL THE CHIEF 7-7-06 Peter Crane David Nicholls
10000-(0)(5)(0) NO GROUSE 4-7-05 Valley Paddocks Racing Limited Richard Fahey
06(1)(2)(1)-(0) NIMELLO (USA) 8-7-04 Gerardine O'Reilly Tony Newcombe
(1)254(0)-(0)(0) HOV 4-7-04 G A Lucas John Quinn
(0)(1)-(5)(5)(6)(5) LYGETON LAD 6-7-03 J McGonagle & B J McGonagle Gay Kelleway
630360- BAND 4-7-03 D J Allen Bryan McMahon
002110- PAGAN PRINCE 7-7-02 Gap Partnership & Mrs James Toller James Toller
062342- PACIANO (IRE) 4-7-01 The Beech Nuts Clive Cox
4(1)(3)00(0)- PRINCE OF GOLD 4-7-01 Horne, Hollinshead, Johnson Reg Hollinshead
05(2)(0)(0)(0)- SWIFT ALCHEMIST 4-6-13 The Kennet Connection Karl Burke
632213-(0)(0)(3) HARRY POTTER (GER) 5-6-13 Elaine Burke Karl Burke
2/(3)(0)(1)-(0)(3)(3) SANGIOVESE 5-6-13 Kentisbeare Quartet Hughie Morrison
(3)(0)-(5)(0)(3)(3) FREE OPTION (IRE) 9-6-12 Valerie Bennett Willie Musson
1(0)1112-(0) REAP 6-6-10 Stephen Robinson Lydia Pearce
(0)11000-(0)(0) TANTRIC 5-6-09 J Saul John O'Reilly
064404- CLANN A COUGAR 4-6-09 Sue Pidcock Ian Wood
010104- THE WIZARD MUL 4-6-07 Gremlin Racing Wilf Storey
360(6)(4)-(0)(3)(2) MIDDLETON GREY 6-6-07 Andy Beard Tony Newcombe
401542- MEGAN'S MAGIC 4-6-03 Steve Howard and Tony Peters Wilf Storey
0(5)(2)-(3)(5)(4)(5) WALTZING WIZARD 5-6-00 Paul Dixon Alan Berry
90 entries remain at five-day confirmation stage
1 Irish-trained
LATEST STANLEYBET PRICES - NON RUNNER NO BET
FREMEN 8
DESERT OPAL 11
ALKAADHEM 12
PABLO 14
CRAIOVA 16
DARK CHARM 16
EL COTO 16
NORTON 16
ARCALIS 20
ARRY DASH 20
BABODANA 20
BLUE SKY THINKING 20
CARDINAL VENTURE 20
CHIVALRY 20
EVEREST 20
THIHN 20
BLUE SPINNAKER 25
CONVENT GIRL 25
DANELOR 25
DUMARAN 25
FLIGHTY FELLOW 25
OUR TEDDY 25
PENTECOST 25
SPANISH DON 25
SUGGESTIVE 25
SWIFT TANGO 25
TOUGH LOVE 25
TRUE NIGHT 25
UNSHAKABLE 25
ACE OF HEARTS 33
ATLANTIC ACE 33
FINISHED ARTICLE 33
FLOWERDRUM 33
GO TECH 33
HAIL THE CHIEF 33
IRONY 33
J R STEVENSON 33
JABAAR 33
JAY GEE'S CHOICE 33
LABRETT 33
LINNING WINE 33
MARSHMAN 33
NIMELLO 33
ONLYTIME WILL TELL 33
QUITO 33
SAHAAT 33
SERIEUX 33
ST PETERSBURG 33
STAR OF NORMANDIE 33
TE QUIERO 33
WING COMMANDER 33
ZUCCHERO 33
AVENTURA 40
DUNASKIN 40
SAWWAAH 40
UNICORN REWARD 40
EACH WAY 1/4 THE ODDS A PLACE
1.2.3.4.5
OTHERS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
DUBAI WORLD CUP NEWS
Butler in Awe
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and, while clock-watchers were not over impressed with Nayyir's workout at Nad Al Sheba before sunset yesterday morning, Gerard Butler, who trains Britain's big hope for the US$2,000,000 Dubai Duty Free (Gr1), sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, was bubbling with enthusiasm, describing it as "awesome."
Time-students sitting in the stands did not consider Nayyir, who did a couple of circuits at half-pace before stepping up a gear in the straight the final time, did not go fast enough to justify a figure, but Butler, donning shorts and a tee-shirt and jogging around behind, was "more than happy" with all his three horses.
Blowing decidedly harder than his horses, Butler beamed "That was very satisfying and Nayyir seems right back to his best.
"My only concern is the extra 77 metres in this company. We just don't know whether he will stay, but in Mick Kinane we have the ultimate professional, and I will leave the riding tactics to him."
This time last year Nayyir was still recuperating at the International Stables, having almost died from a severe bout of colic in Hong Kong three months earlier.
Butler added "I told Abdullah Al Khalifa, Nayyir's owner, that it would take a year to get him back, and we are finally seeing our patience rewarded.
"He won the Lennox at Goodwood, but it was his second to Just James in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket last October that convinced me that we had him back. He was a bit unlucky in running and would have won in another 50 yards.
"We have always had this race as our number one priority, and, though I was tempted to give him a prep-race on March 6th (Super Saturday), you only get one shot at a US$2,000,000 prize, so we decided to keep him fresh for the big one.
He enjoys working in the cool weather, so that is why we bring our horses out before 6am and they have really thrived out here."
Butler is also optimistic about Jack Sullivan's chance in the US$2,000,000 UAE Derby (Gr2) over 1,800 metres.
He said "Jack Sullivan has done well since finishing second in the UAE 2,000 Guineas (Gr.III), and the form of that race has worked out. Whether he is up to winning we won't know until Saturday, but I could not be happier with all three of my horses, so we go there with all guns blazing."
Compton Bolter is Butler's third representative, his target being the US$2,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr1), sponsored by The Palm, and owner Erik Penser, the trainer's landlord at his Oxfordshire stables, is flying in for the race.
Butler concluded "Compton Bolter is in top shape. Two winners would be great, but three would be even better !"
BEST MATE AWARDED CHELTENHAM ENCLOSURE
Cheltenham will rename its least expensive enclosure "The Best Mate" from the start of next season as a tribute to the triple winner of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. Brewers Courage had previously sponsored this enclosure under the titles of Fosters and Courage. The £3.5 million redevelopment of the enclosure was opened last week, featuring the Dawn Run and Desert Orchid Grandstands with the capacity increased to 12,500.
Cheltenham's Managing Director, Edward Gillespie, announced the Racecourse Board's decision today: "We feel it is wholly appropriate to commemorate Best Mate's achievement with the renaming of this popular enclosure directly opposite the main stands.
"Make no mistake, this third Gold Cup win is equivalent for our sport of England winning the World Cup would be for football. We no longer have to look back to 1966 when Arkle won for the third time. Jump racing is enjoying a golden age and contenders for greatness will in future be compared with Best Mate."
Jim Lewis, owner of Best Mate, expressed his delight at the decision: "A truly wonderful tribute to a very public horse."
Admission to the Best Mate Enclosure will be free for the remaining three fixtures this season on April 14, 15 and 28 in order to encourage as many people as possible to sample the new facilities which include the two grandstands, bars, a Harry Ramsden's restaurant and betting shop.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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