Friday, May 7, 2010
RICHMOND-WATSON ON INVESTEC OAKS TRAIL AGAIN WITH CEILIDH HOUSE
Owner Julian Richmond-Watson is hoping that his exciting filly Ceilidh House can continue his excellent record in the Listed totesportcasino.com Oaks Trial at Lingfield on Saturday, ahead of a possible tilt at the £350,000 Group One Investec Oaks on Friday, June 4.
The former Senior Steward of the Jockey Club has been represented in the past three renewals of the extended 11-furlong Lingfield contest, most notably by the 2008 runner-up Look Here, who went on to give her owner a first Classic success when storming to victory in the Investec Oaks.
Kayah landed the spoils at Lingfield in 2007 prior to taking ninth behind Light Shift at Epsom Downs, while Tottie came home third in the totesportcasino.com Oaks Trial last year before going on to be eighth behind Sariska in the premier fillies’ Classic.
Like his three previous runners, Ceilidh House is trained by Ralph Beckett and the three-year-old home-bred daughter of Selkirk made an impressive debut at Nottingham in October when quickening clear to take a mile maiden by four lengths.
Richmond-Watson said: “Ceilidh House is well and Ralph has been pleased with her work. She won her maiden well, but time will tell whether she beat anything of note.
“It’s more a question of looking forward with her now and we will know a bit more about her after Saturday. I have had the first, second and third in the race over the past three years, so Ceilidh House will probably be fourth!
“She has a similar profile to Kayah and Look Here - both went to Lingfield after winning their maidens on debut. She seems well and we are hoping that she can run a good race.”
Ceilidh House takes on five rivals in the totesportcasino.com Oaks Trial, all of whom hold entries for the Investec Oaks. The Henry Cecil-trained Timepiece is the current ante-post favourite for the Epsom Classic, having ended her juvenile campaign with a game victory in a Listed contest at Newmarket in October and been fourth behind Rumoush on her seasonal return in another Listed race at the Suffolk course in April.
Kempton maiden winner Dyna Waltz was fifth in the Group One Fillies’ Mile at Ascot but disappointed when ninth on her seasonal return for John Gosden in the Group Three Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket, while the Barry Hills-trained Bebopalula has made a bright start to her three-year-old campaign by winning a maiden on the Polytrack at Lingfield Park and then following up with a easy win in a Windsor handicap.
The field is completed by Golden Waters, who has been fifth on both her starts for Eve Johnson-Houghton, and Newbury maiden fifth Blast Furnace, who is trained by dual Investec Derby-winning handler Peter Chapple-Hyam.
Lingfield also hosts the totesport.com Derby Trial on Saturday and the Group Three contest, also run over an extended 11 furlongs, has thrown up plenty of clues for Epsom Downs in recent years.
The 2004 winner Percussionist went on to be fourth in the Investec Derby, while Walk In The Park, was runner-up in both races in 2005. Aqaleem, successful in 2007, was third to Authorized in the Epsom Classic the following month.
Five of the seven runners in this year’s contest also hold an entry in the Investec Derby including the Henry Cecil-trained Bullet Train, who was added as a second entry in April. The son of Sadler’s Wells won on his debut at Yarmouth in October and was a half-length runner-up on his seasonal return in a 10-furlong conditions race at Newbury.
Sir Michael Stoute and Saeed Suhail enjoyed Investec Derby success with Kris Kin in 2003 and the same owner/trainer combination will be represented by Desert Myth, who made an impressive debut when winning a Newmarket maiden in April and has re-routed to Lingfield Park from Chester where the ground was judged too soft.
Aidan O’Brien has saddled the two previous winners of the totesport.com Derby Trial and the Irish handler will bid for a hat-trick with Dundalk maiden scorer Captain James Cook and Don Carlos, who was fourth to Passion For Gold in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud in November.
The Michael Jarvis-trained Hot Prospect disappointed on his final juvenile start but bounced back to form when taking third in a valuable sales race at Newmarket in April.
Although not currently entered in the Investec Derby, both Dubawi Phantom and Togiak could still be supplemented for the Epsom Classic at a cost of £75,000 on May 31 if they impress at Lingfield tomorrow.
Trials for both the Investec Derby and the Investec Oaks have taken place at Chester this week. On Wednesday the Listed Cheshire Oaks went to Gertrude Bell, who holds an entry for the Epsom Downs contest, while trainer David Elsworth has stated that he may consider supplementing the unlucky fourth Myplacelater for the June 4 Classic. The last filly to complete the Cheshire Oaks/Investec Oaks double was the Henry Cecil-trained Light Shift in 2007.
On Wednesday, it was the colts who went on trial for the Investec Derby in the Group Three Chester Vase. Ted Spread, trained by Mark Tompkins, ran on well to take the contest by a head and connections stated that the Investec Derby was now very much the plan for the Beat Hollow colt. The other Chester Derby Trial, the Group Three Dee Stakes, went to the John Gosden-trained Azmeel, who is also likely to head to Epsom Downs on June 5.
Further clues for the Investec Derby could come in Ireland on Sunday in the Group Two Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown, a race won in recent years by subsequent Epsom Downs victors Sinndar (2000), Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002). The four declarations for the 10-furlong contest include two Investec Derby entries - the Aidan O’Brien-trained duo of At First Sight and Midas Touch.
Next week, the action moves on to York when another leading trial for the Investec Derby takes place on Thursday, May 13, the Group Two totesport.com Dante Stakes. In recent years, horses to have won at both York and Epsom Downs include Authorized (2007), Motivator (2005) and North Light (2004). Of the 13 Dante Stakes entries, nine also hold engagements in the Investec Derby including the much-touted Workforce, ante-post second favourite for the Classic and Godolphin’s Chabal, successful in the Group Three bet365Classic Trial at Sandown Park on April 23. Aidan O’Brien could be represented by the unbeaten Group Two scorer Cape Blanco and Viscount Nelson, while Michael Bell, who handled Motivator, is set to run Coordinated Cut, winner of the valuable Timeform Tattersalls 3-Y-O Trophy at Newmarket last month. Other horses currently engaged in both races are Azmeel, Emirates Dream, Fair Trade and Rashaad.
Fillies also have the chance at York to advertise their Investec Oaks credentials in the Group Three Tattersalls Musidora Stakes on Wednesday, May 12. Of the 19 entries in the 10-furlong contest, 12 also hold an entry for the Investec Oaks including StanJames.com 1000 Guineas third Gile Na Greine.
LINGFIELD PARK MARRIOTT HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB OPENS TO THE PUBLIC ON MONDAY, MAY 10
On Monday, May 10, the stunning brand new 4-star Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club opens its doors to the public for the first time.
The new hotel, leisure club, spa and golf club house is opening on schedule following a £29 million investment by Arena Leisure Plc at the Surrey racecourse. The 116 bedroom hotel, with its wide range of leisure and business facilities, is already attracting a great deal of interest from the business and leisure sectors.
The official opening ceremony with Dame Judi Dench will take place on Monday, June 21.
Situated in beautiful Surrey countryside, between London and Brighton, in close proximity to Gatwick Airport, and with excellent transport links, the Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club boasts panoramic views across the racecourse and championship standard golf course and is set to become a superior leisure, exhibition and conference destination.
Hotel General Manager, Sean Quinney, commented: "I am really looking forward to welcoming our first guests. Everything is in place and I'm delighted we are ready to go. My team are all very excited, and we're confident guests will be impressed.
“Our sales and marketing team has been busy for some time and bookings are flowing in. We are seeing great interest from conference and banqueting organisers as we do have a unique proposition here."
Lingfield Park stages over ninety race meetings each year spread over the all-weather, turf and jump tracks. Racing and golf packages are expected to be a popular choice. This Saturday, May 8, sees Lingfield Park host a fantastic seven-race card featuring two leading Classic trials - the £60,000 Group Three totesport.com Derby Trial and the
£50,000 Listed totesportcasino.com Oaks Trial - as well as the Group Three totesport 0800 221 221 Chartwell Fillies' Stakes.
The brand new golf academy with 18-hole championship golf course will provide ample opportunities to combine business with pleasure and relaxation as does the new Breathe Spa with indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna, gym and a selection of treatment rooms. Guests may enjoy luxury accommodation and exceptional cuisine with state of the art leisure, conference and banqueting facilities.
Paul Shrimpton, Managing Director of Lingfield Park, said: "The Marriot Hotel and Country Club has given Lingfield Park a huge boost in terms of profile. The construction of the hotel and simultaneous redevelopment of so many facilities around the racecourse has lifted the entire ambience of Lingfield Park which now offers state-of-the-art facilities with enormous versatility".
FREE ADMISSION FOR RACEGOERS - ODDSCHECKER.COM WEDNESDAYS
Oddschecker.com Wednesdays, an exciting new free racecourse admission scheme, is offered by Oddschecker, the leading online betting odds comparison service.
The 2-for-1 offer is on Wednesdays at selected Northern Racing courses from May 12 right through to August 25, where one racegoer goes free when another pays the normal entrance price.
This follows on from Racing For Change’s recent week-long experiment, but Oddschecker.com Wednesdays is a longer-lasting initiative which is designed to encourage both new racegoers and repeat visits.
The Oddschecker 2-for-1 offer is available across the main enclosures at the 10 racecourses which gives people the chance to experience the thrill of horses racing on the Flat or over jumps.
The courses are dotted across Britain, ranging from Newcastle and Sedgefield in the North, Uttoxeter in the Midlands, Great Yarmouth on the East Coast to Hereford, Bath, Chepstow and Ffos Las in the West and Brighton and Fontwell Park in the South.
For those punters wanting to make a night of it, there is plenty of racing on Wednesday evenings. A full schedule of the racecourses and dates involved in Oddschecker.com Wednesdays is listed below.
To take advantage of Oddschecker.com Wednesdays, log on to www.oddschecker.com and register for the offer. Choose your racecourse, print off your 2-for-1 voucher and present it at the admission gates.
A lucky participant will be drawn at random for each fixture and given on arrival extra special VIP tickets which will include presenting the best-turned-out horse prize and race trophy.
Derren Maggs, General Manager at Oddschecker, said today: “We are very excited about this promotion which will encourage our customers to go racing.
“Oddschecker already offers a service that ensures punters get the best prices and now we can help racegoers enjoy a day at the races for free.
“Northern Racing has tracks across England and Wales so everyone has the chance to benefit from this 2-for-1 offer.
“There have been some very successful 2-for-1 offers outside racing and we are very optimistic that this will appeal to the public.”
Tony Kelly, Group Managing Director at Northern Racing, added: “We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Oddschecker that will offer greater value for visitors to our racecourses this summer. It will be a great incentive for people to come racing."
The Wednesdays - The Fixtures (fr means first race time)
May 12: Bath (Flat evening - fr 6pm) and Fontwell Park (jump afternoon - fr 1.55pm)
May 19: Sedgefield (jump evening - fr 6.30pm)
May 26: Ffos Las (Flat afternoon - fr 2.30pm) and Sedgefield (jump afternoon - fr 2.20pm)
June 2: Fontwell Park (jump afternoon - fr 2.30pm)
June 9: Great Yarmouth (Flat afternoon - fr 2.10pm)
June 23: Bath (Flat evening - fr 6.10pm)
June 30: Chepstow (Flat evening - fr 6.40pm)
July 14: Uttoxeter (jump afternoon - fr 2.10pm)
August 4: Newcastle (Flat afternoon - fr 2.20pm)
August 11: Great Yarmouth (Flat afternoon - fr 2.20pm)
August 18: Hereford (jump evening - fr tba)
August 25: Brighton (Flat afternoon - fr 2.30pm)
About Oddschecker
Oddschecker is the leading online betting odds comparison service giving direct access to the best prices across all markets from over 20 top bookmaking brands.
It is one of the 10 most popular UK betting sites (independently verified by Hitwise).
Oddschecker has naturally become the informed choice for casual and professional gamblers alike since the site first went live and is the ‘smarter place to bet’.
The sports book platform is also live in both Germany and Spain.
Oddschecker, in addition, operates a number of gaming super affiliate websites, comprising poker, bingo and casino.
Oddschecker is a well established brand within online gaming and a trusted independent source of betting information. It has a loyal following of regular users, with a strong weighting towards horseracing.
The site offers:
Odds Comparison
Free bets
Tips
Choose from over 20 leading bookmakers
Every betting market possible from football matches to first elimination in Strictly Come Dancing
Offers and promotions
Form and statistics content
Place bets with your existing bookmaker through the site
All in one place, easy & simple (Check, Bet, Win more)
Trustworthy and creditable
Traffic statistics
650,000 unique users per month
50 million page impressions per month
Time
Average time spent on site - 18 minutes
Gender by unique users
Male 95.86 per cent
Female 4.14 per cent
Age
43% are in age range 35-49. with 32% at 50+
Geographical Breakdown by page view
GB and Ireland = 82 per cent
Europe = 10 per cent
US = 3 per cent
Rest of World = 5 per cent
About Northern Racing
Northern Racing Ltd is a customer service driven group of 10 racecourses and one golf course, offering a diverse range of venues across the UK.
Each course is a unique and versatile venue which, although specialising in horseracing, accommodates many other commercial and leisure activities. Northern Racing's excellent national profile offer it’s customers a wide range of opportunities, through individual, regional or UK-wide initiatives.
The group offers nationwide coverage, from Newcastle and Sedgefield in the North, Uttoxeter in the Midlands, Great Yarmouth on the East Coast to Hereford, Bath, Chepstow and Ffos Las in the West and Brighton and Fontwell Park in the South.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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