Wednesday, May 2, 2001

LATEST WILLIAM HILL ANTE-POST PRICES

JONES TO CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND IRELAND SHERGAR CUP TEAM

Speaking on his role, Jones quipped: "I don't know if the horses are going to listen to me too much, but if the jockeys don't there'll be a bit of trouble in the paddock!

"I have never done anything without putting my whole heart behind it and the Blue Square Shergar Cup will be no different. I'm looking forward to leading my team to a glorious victory! I've always loved racing so it's a great thrill for me to be at Ascot for what is going to be a fantastic day."

Jones, a keen greyhound racing fan, owns a horse with John Gosden - Sixty Seconds - who holds an entry for this year's Vodafone Derby.

Meanwhile the Rest of the World team will be captained by Australian cricket legend Jeff Thomson, one of the fastest players to ever play the game.

Commenting on his role at Ascot on August 11, "Thommo" said: "Playing for Australia, especially in the Ashes against England, was a breathtaking experience. While our current team is over here going through the motions of getting that trophy back on the plane home, I'll be doing my bit for the Rest of the World Jockeys' team and I'm confident I'll be taking the Blue Square Shergar Cup away too."

BHB RESPONSE TO THE RCA's RECOMMENDATION OF THE GO RACING CONTRACT

"We are surprised that the RCA is prepared to 'enthusiastically recommend' the Go Racing contract in its present form.

"We have provided detailed information, backed by legal opinion, to the RCA to show why we do not believe that the current wording of the contract ensures that racing will receive a replacement for the levy on any of the Go Racing betting revenues when the Statutory Levy, which is currently payable on such revenues, is abolished.

"The RCA have assured us throughout that they have made it clear to Go Racing that they insist on racing receiving a direct levy replacement payment on all media platforms, and we have been led to believe throughout that Go Racing accept this in principle.

"This is not about the BHB's pre-race data; it is an industry issue and, since the RCA alone negotiated the contract with Go Racing, we believe it is up to the RCA to resolve it. We shall continue to work with the RCA and Go Racing to the end.

"We trust that courses will join the RCA in ensuring that the wording of the contract properly protects racing's direct income streams before signing it."

STRONG FIELD DRAWN FOR HARD SCUFFLE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

One of eight horses entered in the first leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown, Praise The Prince has won his last three steeplechase starts and five of his last six counting two flat wins at Pimlico last year. The 6-year-old New Zealand-bred, trained by Sanna Neilson, carries top weight of 157 pounds and leads the field with $112,600 in jump earnings.

And he isnıt even the best horse in his barn. Pompeyo could have run at Churchill, but was sent to Keeneland instead and won the $185,000 Royal Chase by an impressive three lengths April 27. Last yearıs Hard Scuffle winner went on to take two-thirds of the jump Triple, earn $211,000 and finish as a finalist for the steeplechase Eclipse Award.

If that isnıt tough enough to follow, Praise The Prince will have to deal with several competitive rivals in the actual race, a 2 1/16-mile affair over 11 fences on the Churchill turf course. Neilson also entered Brechin City, as an insurance policy against something happening to her star.

Chief on the list of foes is Claytonville Stableıs Flasher, who sports a 2-0 record vs. Praise The Prince. Last May, Flasher edged the favorite by a nose in a maiden hurdle in Nashville, Tenn. The duo hooked up again at Saratoga in July, and Flasher won another stretch battle, this time by a neck. Like Praise The Prince, Flasher brings strong turf form (stakes-placed with four wins) to the race and is 3-for-6 over fences including a second to Pompeyo this spring for Virginia-based trainer Jimmy Day.

Four-year-old Tres Touche looks like the hot horse, thanks to an impressive win April 14 in Atlanta. Owned by Contrarian Stable and trained by Ricky Hendriks, Tres Touche won the $50,000 Beaulieu of America Stakes in his 2001 debut. The Maryland-bred son of Poles Apart gets in at a feathery 141 pounds thanks to his age.

Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard entered two horses, Peter van Andel's Bien Allure and Warren Dempseyıs War Talk. The former won a maiden hurdle last spring and was third (beaten two necks) behind Flasher and Praise The Prince at Saratoga. The 5-year-old hasnıt raced over fences this year. War Talk opened 2001 with a novice stakes score in Florida, but was a well-beaten fourth behind Pompeyo and Flasher in March and finished third to Tres Touche and Devil's Egg at Atlanta April 14.

Kinross Farmıs P.C. Plod ships out of Virginia for trainer Neil Morris and brings a strong 3-for-6 record over hurdles. He won the first steeplechase of 2001 at Tampa Bay Downs, but responded with back-to-back dull efforts March 31 and April 14. Fox Ridge Farmıs Devilıs Egg packs a bundle of potential, but steps up to his toughest assignment with just four career hurdle starts. Trained by Tom Voss, the 5-year-old won a maiden late last year and was second to Tres Touche at Atlanta.

The Steeplechase Triple Crown races are restricted to ‘novice' steeplechasers, specifically horses which ³have not won over hurdles prior to March 1, 2000.² Without imposing an age limit, the conditions effectively make the horse comparable to those competing in the flat Triple Crown races.

All are in their second season of racing over fences, just like most 3-year-old flat horses. The series is co-sponsored by the Sport of Kings Challenge, which helps produce top class steeplechase races in the U.S. and England.

Biographical Information (in post position order):
1. Bien Allure. B. g. 5, Bien Bien-Marley's Mint, Key To The Mint. Bred by Peter van Andel in Ky. Owned by the breeder. Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard (Pennsylvania). Jockey: Arch Kingsley. Won second career hurdle start by six in May 2000. Third behind Flasher and Praise The Prince in Saratoga allowance in July.

2. P.C. Plod. Dk. B./Br. g. 5, Pleasant Tap-Noddy's Halo, Halo. Bred by Oak Cliff Stable in Ky. Owner: Kinross Farm. Trainer: Neil Morris (Virginia). Jockey: Matt McCarron. Won first two hurdle starts last fall. Opened 2001 with win in allowance hurdle at Tampa Bay Downs. Jockey is nephew of Chris McCarron.

3. Praise The Prince. Dk. B./Br. g. 6, Prince Of Praise-Dynatine, Centaine. Bred by Thoroughbred Investments in in New Zealand. Owner: Augustin Stable. Trainer: Sanna Neilson (Pennsylvania). Jockey: Gus Brown. Won two allowance races (one as a maiden) at Saratoga and Grade II novice stakes last year after losing first three hurdle starts. Also won twice on flat in 2000. Unraced in 2001. Jockey was 2000 NSA champion.

4. War Talk. B. g. 6, Kingmambo-Miss Mistletoes, The Minstrel. Bred by Minstrel GBR in Ky. Owner: Warren Dempsey. Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard (Pennsylvania). Jockey: J.W. Delozier. Won second career steeplechase start at Arlington Park in September. Opened 2001 with novice stakes win in Florida.

5. Flasher. Dk. B./Br. g. 7, Majestic Light-Anything In Sight, Round Table. Bred by Peter Blum in Ky. Owner: Claytonville Stable (Martha Cook). Trainer: Jimmy Day (Virginia). Jockey: Robert Massey. Won first three hurdle starts of career in 2000, including back-to-back wins over Praise The Prince. Finished second to Grade I winner Pompeyo in only start of 2001.

6. Tres Touche. Dk. B./Br. g. 4, Poles Apart-Princess Smoggy, Smoggy. Bred by John Manfuso in Md. Owner: Contrarian Stable (Malcolm Commer). Trainer Ricky Hendriks (Maryland). Jockey: David Bentley. Won 3-year-old hurdle stakes in October 2000. Opened 2001 with novice stakes score in Grade II at Atlanta, a key Hard Scuffle prep.

7. Brechin City. B. g. 6, Heroicity-Brechin Rock, Arch Sculptor. Bred by T.O. Harrison in New Zealand. Owner: Augustin Stable. Trainer: Sanna Neilson (Pennsylvania). Jockey: Gus Brown. Won maiden hurdle last fall. Opened 2001 by finishing last of five in novice stakes at Atlanta. Will not run if Praise The Prince starts.

8. Devil's Egg. Ch. c. 5, Devil's Bag-Toll Fee, Topsider. Bred by Fox Ridge Farm in Ky. Owned by the breeder. Trainer: Tom Voss. Jockey: Cyril Murphy. Won maiden hurdle in third start of 2000. Finished second to Tres Touche in Hard Scuffle prep at Atlanta April 14. Voss, champion steeplechase trainer of 1997, trained top turf horse John's Call in 2000 and had Grade I steeplechase winner Petroski for Fox Ridge in mid-1990s.

CARROLL ON RUMPOLD IN 2000 GUINEAS

Successful in an Ascot maiden for Paul Cole last year, Rumpold won the first Godolphin trial for colts in Dubai on April 9 when ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Commenting on his booking, Carroll said: "I've had some decent classic rides in the past, but it's nice to get a real live one.

"From riding the horse so often, I know him quite well and what he likes. He's pretty straightforward anyway. It's just when you go and pick him up at first, you have to let him find himself before you really go for him, but once he's organised he picks up really well.

"I've always liked Rumpold from the first time I sat on him in Dubai. He's certainly got plenty of ability, and if it keeps drying out at Newmarket it will be all the better for him."

Godolphin's Racing Manager Simon Crisford added: "John is very much part of our team. For the last seven years he has spent every winter with us in Dubai. He knows Rumpold particularly well and has struck up a good rapport with him.

"He didn't ride him in the trial, but that is not really relevant as far as this particular race goes, and we were keen to use him. He rode Zoning for us last yearm he rides plenty of winners for us in Dubai, and the long and short of it is that he is very much a team player. He knows how we operate, and that counts for a lot in a big race like this."

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

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