Trainer Tom Dascombe is hoping that his stable can return to form in time for Classic Blade to have a crack at the Group One Shadwell Middle Park Stakes, run over six furlongs of The NatWest Rowley Mile at Newmarket on Friday, October 3.
Dascombe’s name shot to prominence at Newmarket’s July Meeting in the summer when he landed both the Group Two TNT July Stakes with Classic Blade and the Group Two Weatherbys Superlative Stakes with Firth Of Fifth.
His stable unfortunately fell under a cloud and he has not had a runner since Clifton Dancer finished last of eight in a Salisbury handicap on September 4, deciding not to run the horses until they had returned to form.
“The yard hasn’t been closed down, the yard just hasn’t been having any runners. Basically, because they haven’t been running well, there is no point in running them,” explained the trainer this morning.
“They have all been cantering away and we are intending on having our first runner for a couple of weeks on Saturday. If he runs well, we’ll be back in full swing. But if he doesn’t run well, they will get another week off.”
Classic Blade is among 28 left in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes and his participation in that Group One contest will depend on the form of the yard, but the trainer is hopeful that his string can get back to winning ways.
The two-year-old notched up a hat-trick of wins, culminating in that Group Two success in July, before running below-par on his most recent start in the Group One Darley Prix Morny at Deauville in France last month.
“Classic Blade is in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes and he will hopefully run in one of them,” he continued.
“He came back very tired from France and has had a nice little break after that. He didn’t run his race, for whatever reason. Whether it was the travelling or he just wasn’t 100% right at the time, I honestly don’t know. He is a better horse than that run at Deauville though.
“He will appear in either of the Newmarket races, depending on how the horses I have between now and then run. In other words, if I’m not sure, he won’t run until the Dewhurst but if he seems in tip-top form, he’ll run in the Middle Park.”
Among his rivals could be the Marcus Tregoning-trained Finjaan, winner of the Group Three Molecomb Stakes on his most recent start, while last year’s winning trainer Barry Hills has entered Ouqba, fourth in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster earlier this month.
He could also reoppose his Deauville conqueror, the David Wachman-trained Bushranger, along with runner-up Gallagher from Brian Meehan’s stable.
Aidan O’Brien, the champion Iirish trainer, has three left in, including the unbeaten pair of Mastercraftsman, twice a winner at the highest level and ante-post favourite for next year’s Newmarket Classic, the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas, and the exciting Rip Van Winkle. They are respectively 5/1 favourite and 6/1 second favourite with Stan James.
The Shadwell Middle Park Stakes takes place on Shadwell Day, the second day of the three-day Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket, which runs from Thursday, October 2 to Saturday, October 4.
The Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes, run over seven furlongs, is part of the brilliant Champions’ Day at Newmarket on Saturday, October 18.
ELLIOTT PLANNING SHOWCASE RAID AT CHELTENHAM
IG INDEX SPONSORS AT CHELTENHAM FOR FIRST TIME
2007/08 JUMP RACING REVIEW DVD LAUNCHED
Cheltenham Racecourse is gearing up for a busy and exciting 2008/09 season and starts the campaign with The Showcase on Friday, October 17, and Saturday, October 18, boasting total prize money of £252,000, which represents a £20,000 (8.6 per cent) increase on last year.
The feature race of the two-day meeting is the £50,000 Dick Francis “Silks” Handicap Chase (2.50pm) on the Saturday, which is sure to offer some clues for the £150,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup, the centrepiece of The Open (November 14, 15 and 16).
Irish trainer Gordon Elliott, who has made a number of successful trips to Britain already this season, is looking forward to The Showcase and hopes to have a strong team to send across from his County Meath base.
The Grand National winning trainer wants to improve on the two wins that he has notched up at Prestbury Park already during his career, while the prize money on offer is also encouraging him to come over.
He said: “Franc Villez will run in the two and a half mile novice chase (Tiger Developments Novices' Chase - 2.55pm) on the Friday, all being well. He will go to Perth next week and that should leave him right for Cheltenham.
“He has won two and been placed second twice for us at Perth already in July, so he has been very consistent over there this year and is in good form at home. I’d be hopeful of another good run from him.
“Valerius, who won two days in a row at Perth in late July, will probably go for the two-mile and five furlong novice hurdle (Lemington Novices' Hurdle - 2.20pm), the first race on Friday. He will go to Perth before as well. He’s in good form at home - in good condition - and will be campaigned mostly in England this season.
“Tchang Goon, who was a reserve in the bumper at Listowel on Tuesday, could possibly go for the bumper (Betfair Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race - 5.45pm) at Cheltenham on the second day.
“I’ll have a few others for the handicap hurdles as well, maybe Mhilu, who also won at Perth in July. I’m just a bit undecided still about who else is definitely going to go over, I'll have to see how they all are in the next couple of weeks.
“The prize money is very good over the two days of The Showcase and I will definitely be trying to pick up some of it, so hopefully I’ll have a good team going across.”
IG INDEX SPONSORS FOR FIRST TIME
The highlight on the opening day is the inaugural running of the £30,000 IG Index Handicap Chase (4.05pm) over three miles and half a furlong, while the valuable £25,000 Jewson Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Race Final (3.30pm) is also on the excellent seven-race card.
IG Index is sponsoring a race at Cheltenham for the first time, thereby extending an existing relationship as advertiser and box holder.
Spokesman Jeremy Scott said: “We’re hugely excited to be sponsoring at Prestbury Park as Cheltenham opens its doors for the new season. IG Index has been associated with Cheltenham for many years and regularly entertains at the course but this is something new, being the first time we’ve taken on a race sponsorship.
“We see this as a prime opportunity to get IG Index in front of the Jump Racing fraternity while extending hospitality to guests at one of the world’s greatest sporting arenas.”
THE SHOWCASE
The Showcase Exhibition during the two-day meeting brings together information about breeding, owning, training, riding and caring for horses in their retirement, plus demonstrations covering aspects as diverse as how a horse is saddled and how a fence is built.
Prior to racing, racegoers can visit the parade ring and the weighing room, normally off limits to the public, and even win the chance to judge the Best Turned Out horse in a race, watch a race as an owner or make a trophy presentation.
This year, The Showcase also coincides with the famous Cheltenham Literature Festival, which runs from October 10 to 19. Names such as Julie Walters, Roger Moore, Sheila Hancock, Ray Mears, John Barrowman and Richard Attenborough are appearing at events in The Centaur at the racecourse.
JUMP RACING DVD LAUNCHED
Cheltenham has also announced the release of a double DVD reviewing the 2007/08 Jump Racing season.
From Monet’s Garden at Aintree in October to Monkerhostin at Sandown in April, 100 races from last season are reviewed, with expert comment from former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody (www.richarddunwoody.co.uk).
The Festivals at Aintree and Cheltenham are extensively covered, with Denman’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup victory and the John Smith’s Grand National win of Comply Or Die shown in full. This is the best and most comprehensive review of last season and is available for just £19.99 via www.cheltenhamcollection.co.uk or 01242 513014.
Meeting - The Showcase, Cheltenham Racecourse
Dates - Friday, October 17 & Saturday, October 18
First race - 2.20pm (both days)
Admission prices - Club/Tattersalls from £18. Best Mate from £9. Accompanied children under 16 admitted FREE to all enclosures. FREE car parking. Tickets available from www.cheltenham.co.uk or by calling 08445 793 003.
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