Friday, April 30, 2004

EUSTACE DOUBLES UP

Conor O'Dwyer - whose weighing room colleagues came into the parade ring to cheer him back - had to work hard to keep Hardy Eustace in front as Rooster Booster was pushed along in second and a length split the pair at the finish with Fota Island a further three lengths behind in third.

"I knew he'd have a hard race today because of the track here, it's a very different course from Cheltenham," said winning trainer Dessie Hughes. "He's a lazy horse and Conor was hard at him down the back straight but he keeps finding more and always does.

"It was a tough race and Conor gave him a peach of a ride. He won as I hoped because I knew he was 100 per cent beforehand, the track was the only concern."

Owner Lar Byrne said: "People say the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham was the ride of Conor's life but I thought he's done even better today. Hardy Eustace was a 33/1 chance at Cheltenham and I hope people have a feel of what a horse he really is after this."

Philip Hobbs was philosophical after Rooster Booster's fourth successive second place. "He's run a great race but the other horse is very good," said Hobbs. "The race was run to suit and he came there looking like he was going to win but just failed.

"I'm chuffed to bits and he's run some great races this season. He's ten now and will keep going. We'll go for the Champion Hurdle again, he's only got a length to find."

Hughes went on to complete a big-race double when 14/1 chance Liscannor Lad, ridden by 7lb-claimer Paddy Flood, landed the EUR90,000 Sharp Minds Betfair Novice Handicap Chase.

"He jumped super but I was lucky not to be brought down at the ditch in front of the stands," said Power. "It's great to win a race at the Festival as I come from just ten minutes down the road. Going to the last my fellow pricked his ears and was always going to win."

The well-known colours of renowned horse dealer Wilson Dennison came home in front in the Mountbrook Homes Handicap Chase when Conor O'Dwyer steered the Arthur Moore-trained Junior Fontaine to victory.

"He's a good ground horse and it's been quite heavy all winter. Two-mile handicap chasing is his game," said Moore. "It's nice for Wilson as he was 60 yesterday."

Take Aim, who finished sixth over the banks course on Tuesday, returned to land the opening CSL Hospitality Chase For The Ladies Perpetual Cup for trainer Gerry O'Neill. She is now likely to go under the hammer at Doncaster's Spring Sale at the end of May.

The Grade 1 Menolly Homes Champion Novice Hurdle went to the 4/5 favourite Sadlers Wings, who recorded a smooth three and a half length victory over Kadiskar. Trainer Willie Mullins revealed afterwards the six-year-old is likely to be aimed at next year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, for which he received a quote of 20/1 from Cashmans.

With a huge crowd figure expected for Ladies' Day today, Punchestown's General Manager, Dick O'Sullivan, has been delighted with the week.

O'Sullivan said: "It's been our ambition to get the Festival back on track and we're delighted that we seem to be there. There has been a tremendous buzz from the start and every day has been a big day. Attendances have been wonderful on all four days while the Tote have been breaking turnover records at the same time."

17 DECLARED FOR ULTIMATEBET.COM 1000 GUINEAS

"We could not have asked for more in this race - it's going to be another cracker of a classic!" said Clerk of the Course, Michael Prosser.

GOING STILL GOOD

After a dry night and a dry morning, the going remains GOOD on the Rowley Mile, with a going stick reading of 7.8. The likelihood of some rain this afternoon remains, but it is not expected to be more than a couple of millimeters. Showers are forecast for tomorrow, but it should be dry thereafter.

"Ground conditions will obviously depend on how much rain we get this afternoon and tomorrow morning, but it could be just on the slow side of Good at the start of racing. It should provide a level playing field for all the horses running over the two days."

BIG CROWD EXPECTED

Over 33,000 people are expected to come to the Rowley Mile over the weekend for the 2004 UltimateBet.com Guineas Festival, the first time that the meeting has been streamlined into two days.

Tickets for all Enclosures can be purchased on the gate on both Saturday (UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas Day) and Sunday (UltimateBet,com 1000 Guineas Day) at the following prices:

Day Members £35; Grandstand & Paddock £20; Family Enclosure £7. All accompanied children aged under 16 admitted FREE.

"Newmarket's Managing Director, Lisa Hancock, said: "We are all set for two fantastic days, with 14 top class races, an electric atmosphere guaranteed and the likelihood of dry weather from Saturday afternoon onwards. The two classics look well above average and this promises to be a weekend of flat racing at its best."

ARSENAL vs BIRMINGHAM ON BIG SCREEN

The Arsenal vs. Birmingham Premiership game, which kicks off at 12.30pm tomorrow afternoon, will be shown live on the big screen on the Hyperion Lawn behind the stands (in the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure and accessible to Members Enclosure racegoers).

22 GO FORWARD FOR totesport CHESTER CUP GLORY

The current ante-post favourite Anak Pekan has stood his ground and heads the market at 9/2 with the sponsor. The Michael Jarvis-trained gelding was an impressive five-length winner of the Queen's Prize Handicap over two miles at Kempton on April 10, with High Point in third.

High Point, rated a 14/1 chance by totesport, is set to try and reverse Kempton placings with Anak Pekan at Chester.

Midge Enright, wife of Sussex-based trainer Gerry Enright, said today: "The plan is to run High Point in the totesport Chester Cup. We would run him on good ground but if it was good to firm then he might be a bit doubtful. The rest of the country seems to be getting lots of rain so I don't see why Cheshire shouldn't have it as well!
"The horse has come out of his run at Kempton in wonderful shape and we have a good pull at the weights with Anak Pekan this time around. The extra two furlongs at Chester will help him too.

"We're hoping to be there and are really looking forward to it. We've never been to Chester so we're very excited about coming up there."
Following the defection of the original top weight Kashtari, the weights are now headed by the Brian Meehan-trained Savannah Bay, a Group Three winner at Longchamp last season, with French Listed winner Swing Wing, trained by Paul Cole, next in the handicap.

Last year's totesport Chester Cup runner-up Big Moment, fifth in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at Cheltenham last time out, is on target to go one better this year. The Cesarewitch winner Distant Prospect, who was also in good form over hurdles over the winter, has run twice already in the Chester Cup, coming seventh in 2001 and 11th in 2002.

Howard Johnson and Philip Hobbs, better known as National Hunt trainers, both still have entries. Johnson could run Rayshan, a winner over hurdles at Musseburgh in February and formerly a useful performer on the Flat in Ireland, while Philip Hobbs may be represented by both last year's Northumberland Plate hero Unleash (runner-up to fellow Chester Cup possible Zibeline in a Listed Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on April 1) and Numitas.

The tough performer Misternando, a 10-time winner in 2003, Rahwaan, an impressive winner at Doncaster on his seasonal reappearance, Ponderon, a progressive performer last season, Mark Johnston's consistent performer Mana d'Argent (fifth in this race in 2001) and Kristensen, third in last season's Cesarewitch and an eye-catching fifth on his seasonal reappearance at Musselburgh.

THE totesport CHESTER CUP
Class B, Heritage Handicap, £120,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.55pm, Chester, Wednesday, May 5, 2004. For four-year-olds and upwards, two miles, two furlongs and about 147 yards. Lowest weight 7st 12lb, highest weight not less than 9st 10lb. Penalties: after April 17, a winner 3lb. Note - any horse rated above 110 (or 114 if such a horse is four years old) shall initially be treated as having that rating and the highest weight allotted shall be 9st 10lb. Subsequently, the excess over 110 (or 114 if such a horse is four years old) in any rating shall be added to the weight allotted to that horse without limitation to the highest weight to be carried. Entries closed April 14, entries and weights revealed April 21 (41 entries), five-day confirmation stage April 30 (22 remain), final declaration stage 10.00am, May 3. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Thursday, April 29, 2004 (may not include some overseas form).

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
5/26355-0 SAVANNAH BAY 5-9-11 Joe Allbritton Brian Meehan
3/31533-5 SWING WING 5-9-08 Sir Martyn Arbib Paul Cole
521356- RAYSHAN (IRE) 4-9-00 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
05/1440- UNLEASH (USA) 5-8-12 Cheveley Park Stud Philip Hobbs
122611-0 MISTERNANDO 4-8-11 John Duggan Mick Channon
160303- COLLIER HILL 6-8-10 Ashley Young & R H Hall Alan Swinbank
420440- BIG MOMENT 6-8-10 R Doel,A Black,Dr J Howells & D Broad Amanda Perrett
4/00303- DISTANT PROSPECT (IRE) 7-8-04 The Rae Smiths and Pauline Gale Andrew Balding
230020- ZIBELINE (IRE) 7-8-03 Ashley Carr Brian Ellison
601433-0 MANA D'ARGENT (IRE) 7-8-03 Daniel Couper Mark Johnston
23250-0 RANDOM QUEST 6-8-02 Terry Warner Bernard Llewellyn
052400- ARCHDUKE FERDINAND (FR) 6-8-02 Catherine Corbett & Chris Wright Paul Cole
302010- NUMITAS (GER) 4-8-01 Cheveley Park Stud Philip Hobbs
55034-1 RAHWAAN (IRE) 5-8-01 Six Iron Partnership Chris Fairhurst
21222-1 ANAK PEKAN 4-8-00 HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah Michael Jarvis
03102-(0) GRALMANO (IRE) 9-7-13 Coleorton Moor Racing Kevin Ryan
30(1)31-0 PONDERON 4-7-13 Mrs P Robeson Fulke Johnson Houghton
101564- ALMIZAN (IRE) 4-7-12 Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Mick Channon
556233-5 KRISTENSEN 5-7-11 Equiname Ltd Don Eddy
30000/-(0) GRACILIS (IRE) 7-7-08 Michael Watt Alan Swinbank
(1)-(0)(0)(0)(2)3 HIGH POINT (IRE) 6-7-08 The Aedean Partnership Gerry Enright
62555////- SAILOR A'HOY 8-7-03 R Williamson Mick Mullineaux

22 entries remain

LATEST totesport PRICES (CORRECT AT 30/04/04)

9/2 Anak Pekan, 9/1 Misternando, 9/1 Unleash, 10/1 Big Moment, 10/1 Ponderon, 12/1 Kristensen, 14/1 High Point, 14/1 Rahwaan, 16/1 Almizan, 16/1 Gralmano, 16/1 Numitas, 16/1 Rayshan, 16/1 Zibeline, 20/1 Distant Prospect, 20/1 Swing Wing, 25/1 Archduke Ferdinand, 25/1 Collier Hill, 25/1 Gracilis, 25/1 Mana D'Argent, 25/1 Savannah Bay, 33/1 Random Quest, 66/1 Sailor A'Hoy

E/W 1/4 THE ODDS A PLACE 1-2-3-4. ALL QUOTED.

,b>13 ENTERED IN LETHEBY & CHRISTOPHER CHESHIRE OAKS

The other highlight on the opening day of the Chester May Meeting is the Listed Letheby & Christopher Cheshire Oaks (2.25pm), which has received 13 entries today.

John Gosden has two entries in the Bowstring, runner-up to the colt Bull Run in the Blue Riband Classic Trial at Epsom, and Proud Tradition, winner of her only start at Newmarket last season.

Chester specialist Barry Hills also has a brace of entries, Crystal Curling, a maiden winner last season, and Si Si Amiga, who is similarly unexposed having won on her only start to date at Newmarket in 2003.

Geoff Wragg has made an entry for Hidden Hope while both Sir Michael Stoute and Henry Cecil have entries. Freemason Lodge's possible runner is Poise, runner-up in a maiden at Newbury on her only start last season, while the entry from Warren Place is Ithaca, second in the Group Three Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last season.

There is one Irish entry in Alexander Duchess, trained by James Burns.

CHESTER PROVES POPULAR

There are four other races on Wednesday's card and all have proved extremely popular.

The opening Joseph Heller Cheshire Cheese Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes (1.55pm) for two-year-olds has received 25 entries, the Tess Graham Memorial Handicap (3.30pm) over six furlongs has attracted 38 sprinters, the Weatherbys Bank Maiden Stakes (4.05pm) for two year-olds has 29 entries and the closing David M Robinson Diamond Design Handicap has gained 21 hopefuls (4.40pm).

DUNLOP AND BELL ARE SET TO SUPPORT CHESTER'S CLASSIC TRIALS NEXT WEEK

Let The Lion Roar has in his sights the £65,000 MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase over a mile and a half on Thursday, May 6, while Mutahayya could tackle the 10-furlong £70,000 Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes the following day.

A winner of a Newmarket maiden on his racecourse bow last year, Let The Lion Roar made a successful seasonal reappearance in a 10-furlong Newbury conditions event earlier this month.

"Let The Lion Roar is fine [after Newbury] and we will decide whether to go to Chester or wait as we have the option of the Lingfield Derby Trial. He's also in a race at Newmarket on Saturday but obviously he is a doubtful runner for that," explained Hosgood.

"His win at Newbury was over 10 furlongs while the Chester Vase is over 12 - he would be suited very much by the extra two furlongs."

If Let The Lion Roar did go to Chester for the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase, he would be aiming to emulate his half-brother Millenary who won the same race in 2000 and then went on to take the final classic, the St Leger.

Mutahayya won twice last season, including when coming home three lengths ahead of Old Malt in the Cheshire Regiment Novice Stakes at Chester in August.

He looked the winner on his seasonal bow in the Listed alanbrazilracing.com Easter Stakes over a mile at Kempton on April 10, when three lengths clear in the final furlong, but a late challenge by Privy Seal denied him the spoils.

"Mutahayya got a little tired at Kempton when beaten by Privy Seal," commented Hosgood. "We're going up in trip and he's a horse that certainly has the pedigree to stay but we'll see."

Newmarket-based trainer Michael Bell is aiming Temple Place at either the Group Three Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes or the Group Three MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase.

The three-year-old Sadler's Wells colt broke the track record when winning at Windsor in September and then was third to Fantastic View in the Group Three Tom McGee Autumn Stake at Ascot.

Temple Place made his seasonal bow in the Listed bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket on April 15, running on at the end of the nine furlongs to finish one and a quarter lengths adrift of Gold History in third place.

"Temple Place is probably going to run in either the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes or the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase - he's very well in himself but we'll just monitor the ground and the opposition," said the trainer today.

"He's come out of the Newmarket race very well and I'd say he's improved for it. He looks very well and he's a high-class horse I think."

Bell believes that his charge will be suited by the extra distance of both races.

"Temple Place will definitely improve for the step up in trip - we've always viewed him as a middle-distance horse. He's a very exciting prospect."

The trainer has had two previous runners in the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Dee Stakes and one of them, Merry Merlin, was victorious in 2000

Bell's five runners in the Chester Vase have resulted in two seconds (Ivan Luis in 1997 and Snowstorm four years later), two thirds (Persian Brave in 1993 and Maralinga two seasons later) and a fourth for Housemaster in 1999. The last named actually crossed the line first but was disqualified for interference to Lightning Arrow inside the final furlong and placed fourth.

"Merry Merlin won the Dee Stakes but we've just been beaten twice in the Vase and Housemaster won it by four lengths and then got chucked out. So we need a change of fortune in that race, you could say."

Ed Gretton, Chester's clerk of the course, commented: "We are very pleased with the state of the course for the Chester May Meeting, the first racing of the year here - it is in lovely condition."

The going is currently good firm with rain expected over the next few days. The three-day Chester May Meeting starts on Wednesday, May 5.

AT THE RACES REACHES AGREEMENTS FOR LIVE UK RACING

It has today agreed key commercial terms for media rights with:

* Ascot Racecourse
* Chepstow Racecourse PLC including Northern Racing
* GG Media Limited.

* Arena Leisure Plc

At The Races has now entered exclusive negotiations to conclude its agreements and is on schedule to launch a live racing service in June, available in over 9 million UK homes with Sky digital or cable.

Today's announcement brings the total number of UK courses working with At The Races to 25. Within the current racing calendar this would ensure that At The Races would be able to broadcast an average of at least 2 live UK meetings per day plus live racing from South Africa and the USA.

Douglas Erskine-Crum, Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, said "We have given a great deal of thought to what is best not only for Ascot but also for British racing generally. In our opinion the proposal offered by At The Races is the strongest of those we have considered; it is based upon a realistic business model and offers an attractive, widely distributed channel proposition."

Simon Clarke, Deputy Chairman of Chepstow Racecourse PLC - speaking after his company's Board meeting today - said; "We have developed a very good working relationship with At The Races and feel we have been able to agree commercial terms with them which work for Northern Racing.

He continued: "The availability of the channel to over 9 million homes from June will be very beneficial to all involved in racing. I hope other courses will join us in backing At The Races and that we can be successful together as shareholders in this new business."

Ian Renton, Director of Racing of Arena said "We are delighted that live racing from Arena's racecourses will once again be available to over nine million homes in June. We have continued to pursue a policy to ensure that our races - which represent some 23% of all races in the UK - are transmitted to the widest possible audience. This will maximise awareness and viewing as well as sponsorship and betting opportunities."

Chris Palmer, Chief Executive of GG Media, said; "We have greatly missed having televised coverage of racing from our courses for the last two years so this is great news for us and our sponsors. We need live UK racing back on television in as many homes and as soon as possible. At The Races is the best prepared and most capable group to have talked to us and we find it particularly attractive that Sky is backing this business. We believe their business model is realistic and robust and we look forward to working with them to hit the various targets the business has set itself.

On behalf of At The Races, Matthew Imi said; "This is great news for all racing enthusiasts. We are delighted to have agreed terms with Ascot, Arena, Chepstow and GG and look forward to working with them - and our South African and US partners - to hit our target launch date in June. "

He continued: "I also look forward to continuing our discussions with the other racecourses. Our door is open and we remain committed to trying to work through all outstanding issues so we can launch in June with as many other racecourse partners as possible."

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

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