AINTREE WINNERS TO THE FORE IN ANGLO-IRISH NATIONAL HUNT CLASSIFICATIONS
Runners at this year’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting fared very well in the Anglo-Irish National Hunt Classifications and the annual jump awards, which were released today, Monday, May 12.
The classifications rate the best chasers and hurdlers who ran in either Britain or Ireland during the 2007/08 season (which ended on Saturday, April 26). Many among the top rank were successful at Aintree, while others recorded good placings at the fabulous three-day meeting in early April.
The Howard Johnson-trained Tidal Bay, who followed up success in The Irish Independent Arkle Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham with a devastating six-length victory in the Grade One John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree, topped the two-mile novice chasers listing. He ended the 2007/08 season rated 166, ahead of Aintree runner-up Takeroc on 157. Tidal Bay’s rating also means that he is the best overall horse in the novice chase division to have raced in Britain or Ireland last season.
In the three-mile plus novice chase division, Albertas Run, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, got the verdict on 155 from the Paul Nicholls-trained Big Buck’s. The last-named crept up the ratings to 153 after scoring in the Grade Two John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase, a race in which Albertas Run finished third.
The David Pipe-trained Our Vic, winner of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, rallied late on to snatch victory from 2007 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star in a thrilling finish to the Grade Two totesport Bowl Chase at Aintree on the opening day of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.
That win moved Our Vic up to 171 in the three-mile plus chasers’ listings, behind Paul Nicholls’ trio Denman (182), Kauto Star (179) and Neptune Collonges (174) along with Exotic Dancer (172).
In that same list, the Pipe-trained Comply Or Die moved up considerably after his superb four-length victory in the John Smith’s Grand National to finish on 154. Meanwhile his owner, David Johnson, was the British Champion Owner for the sixth time in 2007/08.
Aintree runner-up Kauto Star, who provided owner Clive Smith with four awards last year for his efforts over a variety of trips, heads the two and a half-mile division on a rating of 176. He was judged to be three pounds superior to Alan King’s Voy Por Ustedes, winner of the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree.
Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Master Minded, who suffered his first defeat on completed starts since joining Nicholls from France when second to Voy Por Ustedes at Aintree, remained clear in the two-mile listing on 185.
Of the novices hurdlers, two further Aintree winners were towards the fore with Pettifour, winner of the Grade One Citroen C5 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, taking the two and a half-mile plus novice hurdle division honours on 152, ahead of his Aintree victim Gone To Lunch, Cooldine and Elusive Dream who were all rated 151.
Commenting on the improving Pettifour becoming the first Aintree winner to take that award, British handicapper Martin Greenwood outlined that the gelding’s unbeaten run, which culminated in that Aintree success over Gone To Lunch, meant he was a deserving winner of the title.
The Noel Meade-trained Jered, winner of the two-mile category on a rating of 155, is a unique winner in that he has yet to race outside of Ireland, in fact his nine starts have all come at either Fairyhouse or Punchestown.
Binocular, Nicky Henderson’s highly impressive seven-length winner of the Grade One John Smith's 250th Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, follows Jered on 152 along with Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Captain Cee Bee, giving owner J P McManus the top three rated two-mile novice hurdlers.
Aintree specialist Al Eile, trained in Ireland by John Queally, recorded a historic third victory in the Grade One Scottish And Newcastle Pub Enterprises Aintree Hurdle, which moved him up to 165 in the staying hurdlers’ category. That moves him two pounds ahead of Grade Two John Smith's Great Float Social Club Liverpool Hurdle winner, the Alan King-trained Blazing Bailey.
Third in the latter contest was Inglis Drever, winner of three World Hurdles at Cheltenham, and he heads the list on 172. Like Tidal Bay, he is trained by Howard Johnson and owned by Graham and Andrea Wylie, giving connections two awards this year. Inglis Drever was regaining his crown, having been champion in the 2004/05 season on 163.
The two-mile champion title goes to Ireland in the shape of Sizing Europe, whose season came to a disappointing end when he was virtually pulled-up at the back of the last flight in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle after suffering a back injury.
The Henry de Bromhead gelding is rated 167, one ahead of Champion Hurdle winner Katchit. Meanwhile the David Pipe-trained Osana, second to both Katchit at Cheltenham and Al Eile at Aintree, is third best on 165.
Andrew Tulloch, Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing at Aintree, commented: “It is immensely satisfying to see so many horses that participated at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting prominent in the 2008 Anglo-Irish National Hunt Classifications. Aintree would like to thank and offer its congratulations to the connections of all the horses involved.
“With the significant increases in prize money to the John Smith’s Grand National meeting in recent seasons, Aintree is able to attract the very best horses from Britain, Ireland and France.
“Tidal Bay’s victory in the John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase was a particularly impressive performance and we look forward to seeing more of him at Aintree in the future.
“Pettifour’s success in the Citroen C5 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle meant that he was rated the best staying novice hurdler of the season. This is the first time that an Aintree winner has taken that honour and we are obviously very pleased.”
Aintree races again this Friday evening (May 16), with the first of seven races due off at 5.30pm. An amazing 268 horses have been entered for Friday’s races and competitive racing is assured.
GOODWOOD RACECOURSE REMEMBERS ALAN BALL
Racegoers and football fans can look forward to two tremendous days of thrilling entertainment high on the stunning Downs at Goodwood Racecourse on Wednesday, May 21, and Thursday, May 22, when fantastic racing will be enhanced by a celebration of the life of one of England’s finest footballing sons.
Day one of the high-class two-day meeting is the Alan Ball Memorial Raceday, which commemorates the late England football captain and World Cup winner, who passed away in April last year.
Alan is a football legend, his name and image etched in the minds of sports fans around the globe. He will forever be remembered as the youthful flame-haired dynamo whose relentless industry did so much to overcome West Germany in England’s 1966 World Cup Final triumph, a performance that brought him Man of the Match recognition.
A great fan of horseracing, Alan Ball caught the racing bug from his old friend and teammate turned racehorse trainer Mick Channon, and as a football manager, the former Everton, Arsenal and Southampton hero was known to take his players to the races as a team building exercise.
Alan has strong connections to the south coast, having also managed this year’s FA Cup finalists Portsmouth, and Goodwood is keen to offer fans of all of the World Cup hero’s former clubs a fantastic discounted deal on May 21. Any supporter turning up with their season ticket or club membership card on Alan Ball Raceday will be able to buy two tickets for the Gordon Enclosure for only £24.
For every football fan taking up the ticket offer, Goodwood will give £2 to two charities that were close to Alan’s heart, Help A Local Child and The Bobby Moore Fund, and will guarantee a minimum donation of £750.
The day has been organised by Goodwood’s Managing Director Rod Fabricius in conjunction with Alan’s stepson Jimmy Ball, along with Everton fans Charlie McCann of Stan James and Talksport’s Mike Parry.
McCann and Parry have donated £1,000 to the charities while Everton FC has generously put forward £500. Shortly before he passed away last year, Alan gave McCann a tip for a horse, which duly won, earning the Stan James man £500 for a £10 stake and McCann is keen to see that money go to a worthy cause in memory of his old friend.
Stan James has also given Jimmy Ball a £2,000 no-lose bet to place on a horse of his choice in one of the two Alan Ball featured races.
It is hoped that Portsmouth fans will have the opportunity to see their team at Goodwood as newly-crowned FA Cup winners, as manager Harry Redknapp and his players have been invited to attend what promises to be a memorable day.
FANTASTIC RACING ON ALAN BALL MEMORIAL RACEDAY
Racing fittingly commences at 2.15pm on day one with the £7,000 Alan Ball Memorial Handicap, run over nine furlongs, while the fifth race on the card is the EBF Alan Ball Supporters’ Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (4.35pm) for two-year-old fillies over six furlongs followed by the Evertonians Remember Alan Ball Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (5.10pm), a seven-furlong event for three-year-old fillies.
The Channon stable is likely to be strongly represented as the trainer is determined to try and win the races staged in honour of his good friend, but he could face competition from another of Alan’s racing pals, East Everleigh trainer Richard Hannon.
A fantastic seven-race card promises thrilling action, with the day offering not one but two Listed race highlights.
The first of those is the £30,000 David Wilson Homes Stakes (2.50pm), staged over a mile and three furlongs for three-year-old colts and geldings, which was won last year by the Mick Channon-trained Halicarnassus, subsequently successful twice at Group Three level.
Dubai Millennium, the sensational winner of the Group One Dubai World Cup in 2000, took the equivalent contest in 1999, while recent Group Three Huxley Stakes winner Championship Point was victorious in 2006.
The day’s other Listed feature is the £30,000 Height Of Fashion Stakes (4.00pm), a 10-furlong contest for three-year-old fillies with Group race and Classic aspirations.
The prestigious race, formerly run as the Lupe Stakes, has been contested by many fillies who have gone on to even greater achievements. In 2006, Rising Cross dead-heated with Soft Centre and the first-named subsequently triumphed in the Group Two Park Hill Stakes.
Love Divine, trained by Henry Cecil, strode on to Epsom Oaks glory after securing the equivalent Goodwood contest in 2000, while Mezzo Soprano, runner-up in 2003, triumphed in the Group One Prix Vermeille at Longchamp later that year.
The high-quality action also includes the £8,000 Baker Tilly Handicap (3.25pm) over a mile and a half and the concluding £7,000 TurfTV Picture Service Handicap (5.45pm) over a mile.
LETHEBY & CHRISTOPHER FESTIVAL STAKES - THE FEATURE ON DAY TWO
The second day of Goodwood’s tremendous meeting, Thursday, May 22, features the £30,000 Listed Letheby & Christopher Festival Stakes (2.50pm) over 10 furlongs, for four-year-olds and upwards.
Illustrious Blue, locally trained by William Knight and ridden by Paul Doe, saw off his nearest rivals Road To Love and Imperial Star to prevail in a thrilling renewal 12 months ago.
The race is often contested by genuine top-flight performers, and the roll of honour includes the likes of Mubtaker, Great Dane, Alderbrook, Faithful Son, Red Bishop and the great Mtoto.
A top-class renewal in 2006 saw the subsequent Group One-placed Blue Monday defeat Mountain High, who himself went on to taste success at the highest level when winning the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud last season.
The highly-entertaining supporting card includes the £16,000 Tomas Eggar Handicap (3.25pm), run over Goodwood’s fast five furlongs.
The first race of the day sees some promising juveniles go to post for the six-furlong £5,500 EBF Goodwood.co.uk Median Auction Maiden Stakes at 2.15pm.
The £7,000 M-Real Handicap over a mile and three furlongs is off at 4.00pm, and is followed by the nine-furlong £5,000 Electrolux Centre Of Excellence Kitchens Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (4.35pm), the £7,000 O’Sullevans Café Handicap (5.10pm) over seven furlongs and the concluding £5,000 TurfTV.co.uk Apprentice Handicap (5.45pm) over five furlongs.
Goodwood’s marketing and public relations manager, Callum Mackay, said: "Goodwood is thrilled to be staging the Alan Ball Memorial Raceday in honour of one of football’s great heroes. This is a wonderful opportunity for racegoers and football lovers to support two worthy causes and remember a man who was passionate about both of these great sports.
"We are keen to encourage as many football fans as possible to come along and be part of this special memorial. The racecourse will be keeping a tally of fans taking up the Gordon Enclosure discount, to see which of Alan’s former clubs is most strongly represented. It will be interesting to see whether Southampton or Portsmouth comes out with a higher head count.
"The two-day meeting will be fantastic, with a pair of cracking cards that are always competitive and packed with quality."
Admission prices: Richmond Enclosure £27; Gordon Enclosure £19 (50% discount for NUS card holders), £14 over 65s; Gordon Enclosure football fan discount - two for £24 (Alan Ball Memorial Raceday only - season ticket or club membership card required); FREE parking available; All children under 17 FREE.
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