Thursday, March 24, 2005
MISSED THAT CHASES HUGE BUMPER PURSE AT PUNCHESTOWN
Missed That, winner of last week's Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, is set to contest the most valuable Grade 1 National Hunt Flat race ever staged in Britain or Ireland at Punchestown on Wednesday, April 27.
The Paddy Power Champion INH Flat Race, run on the second day of the Irish National Hunt Festival, has had its prize money increased by 66 per cent to 100,000 euros this year and looks set to attract a high-class field from both sides of the Irish Sea.
The race has a distinguished roll of honour with recent winners that include Royal Rosa (2003), Like-A-Butterfly (2001) and Liss A Paoraigh (2000).
Trainer Willie Mullins reported today that Missed That has returned from Cheltenham in good shape and is on course for the Paddy Power Champion INH Flat Race.
"Missed That has come back in good order and I think that with him being a six-year-old, the maturity of an extra year has helped him recover a bit quicker after Cheltenham," said Mullins.
"It's going to be a big ask for him at Punchestown, but I'm very happy with the horse at present and the plan is to have a crack at the Paddy Power INH Flat Race."
The 100,000 euros prize money for the Paddy Power INH Flat Race compares with £40,000 in guaranteed prize money for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham while Aintree's John Smith's Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race has a £30,000 prize fund.
The Irish National Hunt Festival takes place at Punchestown from Tuesday, April 26, to Friday, April 29, and carries 2.127 million euros in prize money. The feature Grade 1 Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup is worth 225,000 euros this year and is set to be contested by totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King.
Janet Williamson, PR Manager at Punchestown Racecourse, said: "The popularity of National Hunt Flat races grows every year and we are extremely grateful to Paddy Power for helping us break new ground by staging the 100,000 euro Paddy Power Champion Bumper, the richest Grade 1 bumper in Europe."
CARLSBERG REDCAR STRAIGHT MILE CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS ON MONDAY
The 2005 season at Redcar gets underway on Easter Monday, March 28, with the first race in the exciting new £125,000 Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship.
Throughout the season a total of seven qualifiers will be run in the Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship, building up towards the final of the series, worth £30,000, on Saturday, October 1, Redcar's biggest day of the year when the TwoYear Old Trophy also takes place. The Cleveland course is one of the few courses in Britain to feature a straight mile course and the Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship offers a unique and exciting opportunity to utilise its full potential.
The final will also be broadcast live on Channel 4. In order to run in the final, horses must have started in at least one of the qualifying races.
The full list of races in the series is as follows:
THE CARLSBERG REDCAR STRAIGHT MILE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES, 2005
QUALIFIERS:
1) Easter Monday 28th March
The Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship Stakes
(Class 2 Handicap, £20,000 added)
For four years old and upwards rated 86 - 100
This race will be broadcast live on Racing UK and offers the chance of a final preparatory race for horses engaged in the Stanleybet Lincoln & Spring Mile Handicaps at Doncaster the following weekend.
2) Thursday 28th April
The Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship Stakes
(Class 5 Handicap, £5,000 added)
For three years old only rated 56 - 70
Broadcast live on Racing UK. Restricted to three-year-olds.
3) Tuesday 17th May
The Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship Stakes
(Class 4 Handicap, £10,000 added)
For three years old and upwards rated 71 - 85
Broadcast live on Racing UK.
4) Tuesday 7th June
The Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship Stakes
(Class 2 Handicap, £20,000 added)
For three years old and upwards rated 86 - 100
This race will be broadcast live on Racing UK and will be a good warm-up race for Royal Ascot's Royal Hunt Cup contenders.
5) Sunday 17th July
The Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship Stakes
(Class 4 Handicap, £10,000 added)
For three years old and upwards rated 71 - 85
Broadcast live on Racing UK, the only Flat fixture of the day. A good opportunity for horses being aimed at the Glorious Goodwood meeting later in the month.
6) Saturday 6th August
The Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship Stakes
(Class 2 Handicap, £20,000 added)
For three years old and upwards rated 86 - 100
Broadcast live on Channel 4 and the feature race of the day. The last chance to qualify for the final in handicap company and also a good stepping stone to the York August meeting.
7) Thursday 1st September
The Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship Stakes
(Class 5, Premier Claimer, £10,000 added)
For three years old and upwards
Broadcast live on Racing UK. Looks to offer the perfect opportunity for higher rated horses to qualify for the final.
THE FINAL
8) Saturday 1st October
THE CARLSBERG REDCAR STRAIGHT MILE CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES
(Class 2 Handicap, £30,000 added)
For three years and upwards rated 86 - 100
Broadcast live on Channel 4, forming part of Redcar's richest day of the season along with the Redcar Two Year Old Trophy and Weatherbys Bank Guisborough Stakes.
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY FOR THE SERIES £125,000
Richard Pridham, Redcar's Clerk of the Course, commented: "The Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship adds an exciting new dimension to the 2005 season at Redcar.
"With its format of qualifying races throughout the year, the Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship offers a unique opportunity for racegoers to follow particular horses throughout the season in the build-up to the final on our biggest day of the year."
Mark Arrol, Carlsberg's Regional Sales Manager, added: "Carlsberg is excited to be associated with the opportunity of supporting the Carlsberg Redcar Straight Mile Championship Series."
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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