Noel Fehily rates winning the King George VI Chase as “one of the highlights of my career” 10 years on from his first success aboard Silviniaco Conti.
A product of the Charlie Mann academy, few in the weighing room can produce a CV to match that of the Irishman and lay claim to being the go-to jockey for some of the biggest operators in the sport.
Among his 1,352 winners were victories for both Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson in the Champion Hurdle, while he also counts a Champion Chase triumph aboard Special Tiara in his Cheltenham Festival haul.
He was the first port of call for the master of Seven Barrows when injury to Nico de Boinville presented Fehily the opportunity to ride Altior, while he was in pole position to ride Kauto Star in the absence of Ruby Walsh before his own injury woes curtailed that particular dream.
Fehily may have missed out on the opportunity to link up with one of Ditcheat’s greats in the King George, but there was only one man owners Chris Giles and Jared Sullivan wanted aboard Silviniaco Conti once Walsh had ended his long association with the 14-time champion trainer.
The pair had enjoyed a brief association in 2010 when landing both the Persian War and Ascot Hurdle, but would have to settle for minor honours behind Cue Card in their Betfair Chase reunion.
However, it would not be long before they would turn the tables on the Tizzard stalwart when arriving on the outskirts of London on Boxing Day 2013 for a race no trainer has mastered quite like Nicholls.
“It was an amazing day and is an amazing race really,” said Fehily.
“Cue Card had won the Betfair Chase before that and Dynaste was second and we were third, but we did think Conti would come on that year from that Betfair run.
“Cue Card was an excellent horse and him and Conti did battle plenty of times. After jumping three out, I kind of thought Cue Card had got away and gone and won the race, but Conti stayed very well that day and picked him up. Whether Cue Card stopped a little bit as well maybe, but it was a hell of a good race.”
Although riding at Kempton 340 times over the course of his career, it was the first time Fehily would ride in the King George and get his hands on the trophy.
“The King George is a massive race and is one every jockey wants on their CV,” continued Fehily.
“I suppose in a season, after the Gold Cup, it is the one you want to win for that sort of horse.
“It is the big race at Christmas every season and to have a horse good enough – Silviniaco Conti was amazing – it was one of the highlights of my career, I think.”
Although never quite conquering Prestbury Park with the Cheltenham Gold Cup eluding him, Kempton at Christmas was Silviniaco Conti’s playground and he returned 12 months later to put on a flawless display and retain his title.
“The second King George was probably the best performance of Silviniaco Conti’s career,” added Fehily.
“I think that was the best performance he put up. He was just on fire that day – he jumped, he galloped and dictated the race.”
Silviniaco Conti failed to sparkle in his hat-trick bid in 2015, but went out on his shield in third behind Thistlecrack and old adversary Cue Card in 2016 before retiring at the end of that campaign.
Fehily would bow out of the saddle in 2019 and since retiring has enjoyed plenty of success with his burgeoning ownership operation, the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates.
The likes of Love Envoi and Hansard have given Fehily and his growing band of owners the chance to celebrate big-race glory and on the 10-year anniversary of Silviniaco Conti’s first King George triumph, Fehily will be represented by the Fergal O’Brien-trained Kamsinas in Aintree’s Grade One Formby Hurdle.
“Kamsinas goes to Aintree for the Grade One and was good at Haydock when he won the Grade Two,” said Fehily.
“He’s lightly raced and hopefully he can keep on improving. It will be a stiff task but hopefully he can keep on improving and he is up to the task.
“We want to be on the big stage and at the big days and when we buy horses, that is the horse we are looking for, ones who can compete on the big stage.
“It’s not always easy finding them horses, but we’ve got some nice youngsters coming through and we hope the likes of Kamsinas can keep flying the flag for us.”
Luton manager Rob Edwards said he will have a special bond with Bournemouth after their staff and supporters’ reaction to Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest.
Hatters skipper Lockyer collapsed at the Vitality Stadium last week and has since been discharged from hospital following a successful procedure to fit an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Edwards lauded the medical staff from both clubs and the ambulance service who were on hand to give Lockyer treatment.
Speaking ahead of Luton’s home Premier League clash with Newcastle on Saturday, Edwards said: “The supporters showed respect.
“I will have a special bond with that football club (Bournemouth) going forward now. The way they were singing Tom’s name as well, that will last with me for a long time. It was emotional.
“I’m so proud of our medical staff, Bournemouth’s medics and the paramedics there as well. They saved him and made every decision bang on. They did an incredible job, they’re heroes.
“I want to say thank you to everyone at Bournemouth football club. The players, the staff and those who were there. A special mention to Philip Billing who reacted especially quickly and David Brooks who comforted Tom at the hospital.”
Lockyer also collapsed during the Championship play-off final against Coventry in May.
Edwards said that the “inspirational” defender is taking “baby steps” in his recovery and did not offer an answer regarding the player’s future in the sport.
He added: “We’ve been in regular contact. He’s recovering, it’s baby steps now. Anyone will miss him. He’s a leader, he’s an inspirational figure for all of us.
“It’s been difficult and I won’t be able to articulate all the feelings I had at the time. The initial feeling is that I sensed something was different to May.
“It’s too early to tell (on Lockyer’s playing career). Going forward it’s about Tom recovering. He’s had an operation and then we’ll see going forward what that means.”
Saturday’s opponents Newcastle conceded late on at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup before they crashed out on penalties.
And Edwards sympathises with Eddie Howe and offered a reminder on Newcastle’s quality ahead of their clash at Kenilworth Road.
Edwards said: “Of course I can sympathise with them. It’s horrible to concede late on and they will be disappointed.
“They bring energy, quality, a real clear way of playing and I have huge respect for Howe. What he’s done at Newcastle is really impressive and I like the way he handles himself.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists there is no point in using their top-of-table clash with Arsenal as a gauge for the title race.
The Premier League leaders arrive at Anfield just one point ahead and even though victory would see Klopp’s side take top spot for Christmas, he does not believe it makes a huge amount of difference with more than half the season to go.
Liverpool have been here before only last month when they went to then leaders Manchester City and came away with a draw, since when Pep Guardiola’s side have slipped to fourth after winning just one of their four matches.
“I love it the most when you are first and 55 points ahead because then it’s pure joy. (But) the position we are in is not that bad,” he said.
“Matchday 18? It means after that we play 20 more games so if we win it we are not through, they win it they are not through even when that is the headlines they will have to deal with.
“Actually, I didn’t really think about it, I am just interested in this game tomorrow and not what it means for the rest of the season.
“The position we are in is OK, we don’t feel it is exceptional and ‘wow, how did we end up here?’. I really think we deserve where we are, but it is just the basis.
“There might be be a moment March or April maybe when you think ‘OK, six-pointer, you win today and you have them out of the way or whatever’, but that is obviously far off and nobody thinks about these kind of things.
“It is just a super-important football game.”
Liverpool are currently exceeding expectations this season after finishing fifth in May and Arsenal, it can be argued, are ahead of them in terms of progress as this is their second successive campaign of being in a title race.
Klopp believes that experience, and their summer recruitment, makes them worthy rivals as they both attempt to break City’s dominance.
“I thought they looked like that (title challengers) last year to be honest and then some results kicked in,” he added.
“The team we faced (last season) was a super-strong team and then you bring in (Declan) Rice and (Kai) Havertz and it doesn’t make you worse. (David) Raya in goal doesn’t make you worse.
“Mikel could build exactly the team he wants; they are difficult to play, they are a good mix between physicality – big, strong, fast players – good technique, very good organisation, really well coached, well drilled and you see every year they make another step.
“They really have my respect, but we want the points anyway.”
Ryan Gravenberch is set to return after a muscle problem, but fellow midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (knee) and forward Diogo Jota (hamstring) are still out.
Left-back Andy Robertson, sidelined since a dislocated shoulder on Scotland duty in October required surgery, is expected to return next month.
“The problem is the shoulder is not there, the rest of the body is fine but we need to be patient a little bit longer,” said Klopp.
“He can do all the physical work already, which annoys him quite a lot because it is not allowed for ball training.
“When he is allowed to go shoulder-wise I think it is a short time until he will be back and we all hope it will be January, but I don’t know.”
World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez’s 89-game streak for Inter Milan has been ended by injury.
The 26-year-old Argentina international has confirmed he is out of the leaders’ Serie A clash with Lecce on Saturday after limping out of Wednesday night’s Coppa Italia defeat by Bologna.
Martinez wrote on his official Instagram account: “After 89 appearances in a row, unfortunately I am forced to stop and therefore I am sorry that I can’t help my team-mates tomorrow, forced rest for a few days to recover and come back as soon as possible.”
View this post on Instagram
Inter had earlier issued a statement on the club’s official website confirming the results of tests on Martinez’s injury.
It read: “Lautaro Martinez underwent medical examinations this morning at the Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Rozzano. The Nerazzurri attacker has suffered a strain to the muscle in his left thigh. His condition will be monitored over the coming days.”
Simone Inzaghi’s men lost for the first time since September when they slipped out of the cup they have won for the last two seasons, going down 2-1 after extra-time and in the process ending a run of 15 games without defeat.
However, they have lost only once in the league all season – at home to Sassuolo on September 27 – and head into the weekend four points clear of second-placed Juventus.
Martinez said in his post: “I’m very sorry about how the game went on Wednesday night. The Coppa Italia is a competition we care about so much seeing that we won the last two editions. We would have liked to continue on the path, the team gave everything to make it happen.
“Now total focus [is] on the other important remaining goals.”
Lecce boss Roberto D’Aversa, who will serve a touchline ban at the San Siro, will go into the game fully expecting an Inter backlash, but buoyed by his side’s league victory over Frosinone last weekend, their first in 12 games in all competitions.
He told his pre-match press conference: “We will find an angry team that doesn’t want to make any more mistakes.
“Mistakes are psychological but in this, the boys have improved a lot. To get a result in Milan, we won’t have to make any mistakes.”
Asked about Martinez’s absence, he added: “Whoever replaces him will have different characteristics, but that doesn’t mean the task will be easier.
“Inter have many players to decide the match. The stadium pushes and the group is of the highest level. We will have to go beyond the 100 per cent.”
D’Aversa will be without Kastriot Dermaku and Pontus Almqvist, but Patrick Dorgu, Marin Pongracic and Hamza Rafia, who were all doubts, have been included in a 25-man squad.
James Reveley believes Il Est Francais has all the required attributes for the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Reveley finished second in the race on Tazbar behind Long Run for his father, Keith, back in 2009 but moved to France in 2016 and has been champion jockey three times there.
Not surprisingly, he is a sought after man across the Channel, and trainers Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm can also count on his knowledge of this track when they bring their great hope over to tackle the best novices the UK and Ireland can muster.
“I sat on Il Est Francais on Tuesday morning and he felt great, so it’s all systems go, and I’m skipping the racing on Christmas Day at Pau to prioritise Kempton on Boxing Day,” Reveley told ThoroughBid.
“He’s a picture of a horse and he does everything right. He’s very straightforward and a very kind animal, just about everything you want in a racehorse.
“Obviously, it’ll be a test coming to England, which is a completely different style of racing, but I think he’ll adapt to Kempton. He’s a good jumper, he’s quite careful and has a good cruising speed, so he ticks a lot of boxes for a track like Kempton.”
His only defeat in his last eight races came when Johnny Burke stepped in for an injured Reveley last March when taking on his elders.
“He became a bit unstuck against the best hurdlers of the older generation earlier this year, but he wasn’t right on the day he was beaten, and I think it was the right decision to give him a break over the summer before going over fences this autumn,” said Reveley.
“He has absolutely sluiced up in his last two chases, so it’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to the English style, both the fences and races.
“He likes to dominate, but he doesn’t have to be in front and can settle in-behind as well. I have ridden him out front in the last two races because he’s been way and above the best horse and I didn’t want to break his stride.
“I don’t think the flat, right-handed track of Kempton will bother him, neither will the style of fences – and he’s got plenty of pace, so he should travel.
“The trip shouldn’t be a problem either. Last time out over two-and-three-quarter miles was the furthest he’s been and he showed no signs of stopping at the end, so he ticks all the boxes from my point of view.
“It’s great for the sport that the horse is coming over, and fingers crossed he’ll stay in one piece and show everyone what he’s capable of.
“For me, he’s capable of being a Grand Steeple-Chase horse, and why not a Cheltenham Gold Cup type? This year, we’re prioritising the Grand Steep over the Cheltenham Festival, and further down the line we will come back for some good races in England.”
Dundee are optimistic they will get the green light to press on with the construction of a new stadium at Camperdown after whetting the appetite of supporters on Friday by releasing an “exciting design concept” for their proposal.
The Dark Blues board have been exploring the possibility of leaving long-term home Dens Park for several years and have created a vision for a new multi-use stadium to the north-west of the city with a capacity of more than 12,500, which can also host music and other entertainment events.
Plans include a safe standing area in the home end, installation of state-of-the-art LED screens, and tiered hospitality offerings for all fans to enjoy as part of the experience, including a 250-capacity brewhall.
Tim Keyes and John Nelms, owners of the club and Dark Blue Property Holdings, are leading the project team for the stadium and mixed-use development at Camperdown and a planning permission in principle application is set to be lodged imminently.
Dundee vowed that the new stadium would be “the crown jewel of a sport and entertainment campus” which will also include a 1000-plus multi-use event space, a 120-room hotel with health and wellbeing facilities, a residential housing development, and other commercial and multi-use facilities.
Dundee managing director Nelms said: “The project team have been working with an extensive planning and consultancy team to ensure we have a robust business case and project evaluation prepared for the local council as part of the Planning Permission in Principle process.
“We want to make Dundee Football Club and the stadium campus project a key part of the city’s regeneration and we have been encouraged by comments from the council that they are committed to helping remove barriers and working with developers to accelerate projects that will help the regeneration.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the council throughout this process and want to give Dundee fans a stadium befitting our future ambitions, one that is viable seven days a week through various entertainment and event offerings – in addition to cheering on the Dark Blues.”
Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has ordered his players to put all festive cheer on hold until after Saturday’s Serie A match at Frosinone.
Allegri’s side, who will be without the injured Federico Chiesa, are bidding to extend their unbeaten league run to 12 games and ramp up the pressure on their title rivals.
Victory for Juve in the lunchtime kick-off will lift them to within a point of leaders Inter Milan, who host Lecce later on Saturday.
Allegri told a press conference: “Frosinone will be a tricky away match for various reasons. It is the last match before Christmas and in the festive season week, there is always a different atmosphere on and off the pitch.
“The thing we have to do (on Saturday) is play a match with great attention and concentration.”
Allegri is wary of Frosinone, who sit 13th in Serie A after former boss Fabio Grosso led them to automatic promotion in May.
Now under Eusebio Di Francesco, Frosinone have won five times in the top flight this season and will be brimming with confidence following their shock midweek 4-0 Coppa Italia win at Napoli.
Allegri added: “We face a side that has lost only one in eight home games, against Napoli, having even taken the lead on that occasion.
“Not only that, during the week they won 4-0 against Napoli and are experiencing a moment of great excitement, which is why the mental approach will be important first and foremost.
“We need to give a performance that I define as serious, the only way to then try to spend Christmas in the best possible way.”
Allegri confirmed Italy forward Chiesa (knee) did not travel with the squad, but France midfielder Adrien Rabiot will return to action after missing last week’s 1-1 draw at Genoa due to foot and side problems.
“I haven’t yet decided which players I will field in attack,” Allegri added. “There are three left – Dusan Vlahovic, Kenan Yildiz and Arkadiusz Milik.
“We left Federico Chiesa at home due to a problem with his patellar tendon, where he feels some discomfort. It made no sense to take Federico along in those conditions.
“The important thing is to know that we have everyone else available, also because the result is too important – regardless of the players who take the field.
“As for Adrien Rabiot, he is available. He is well, he has recovered and is playing.”
Willie Mullins is considering a change of tactics for Galopin Des Champs when he clashes again with Fastorslow in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.
The current Cheltenham Gold Cup champion has been beaten by Martin Brassil’s star on each of their last two meetings, in the Punchestown Gold Cup back in April and last month’s John Durkan Chase.
Galopin Des Champs finished a length-and-three-quarters back in third in their most recent contest, which was the seasonal reappearance for both runners – and Mullins is eager for a rematch.
“They moved the John Durkan back and our fella disappointed a little bit there,” he told Leopardstown Racecourse. “I’m not sure we got the right tactics that day and we might change things around a bit for this race.
“I’m looking forward to it and looking forward to seeing what he can do. I’m quite happy with him at home.
“Three miles will suit him and it will suit the opposition. These horses want a trip, we’ll learn a little bit more about him there, I think.”
On the opening afternoon of the four-day meeting, Mullins will be expecting Facile Vega to continue his education over fences with a win in the Racing Post Novice Chase, with the six-year-old forecast to go off odds-on.
Mullins said: “Facile Vega was impressive (on his chasing debut) and the horse who fell in the race (Sa Fureur) when he was going to be placed came out and won the other day.
“The races are getting better all the time. He likes Leopardstown, he’s won there a couple of times, so it’s horses for courses, I hope.
“He’s got a wonderful, big stride, great scope for jumping and, a bit like his mother Quevega, a lot of natural talent. Hopefully, it brings him the whole way.”
It would appear Mullins is giving strong consideration to running both State Man and Impaire Et Passe in the Matheson Hurdle on December 29, although connections of the latter are considering the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
State Man won the Morgiana easily on his return and Mullins said: “He did what he had to do and did it well. I’m looking forward to getting him out again.
“It’s a track that he likes as well and I’m very pleased with him.
“Impaire Et Passe disappointed me a little in Fairyhouse (in the Hatton’s Grace), but I just think I had the wrong tactics with him and he’s another one that we might have to sharpen our tactics with, it might improve him.
“We’re coming back to two miles here rather than the two and a half in Fairyhouse.”
Willie Mullins is considering a change of tactics for Galopin Des Champs when he clashes again with Fastorslow in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.
The current Cheltenham Gold Cup champion has been beaten by Martin Brassil’s star on each of their last two meetings, in the Punchestown Gold Cup back in April and last month’s John Durkan Chase.
Galopin Des Champs finished a length-and-three-quarters back in third in their most recent contest, which was the seasonal reappearance for both runners – and Mullins is eager for a rematch.
“They moved the John Durkan back and our fella disappointed a little bit there,” he told Leopardstown Racecourse. “I’m not sure we got the right tactics that day and we might change things around a bit for this race.
“I’m looking forward to it and looking forward to seeing what he can do. I’m quite happy with him at home.
“Three miles will suit him and it will suit the opposition. These horses want a trip, we’ll learn a little bit more about him there, I think.”
On the opening afternoon of the four-day meeting, Mullins will be expecting Facile Vega to continue his education over fences with a win in the Racing Post Novice Chase, with the six-year-old forecast to go off odds-on.
Mullins said: “Facile Vega was impressive (on his chasing debut) and the horse who fell in the race (Sa Fureur) when he was going to be placed came out and won the other day.
“The races are getting better all the time. He likes Leopardstown, he’s won there a couple of times, so it’s horses for courses, I hope.
“He’s got a wonderful, big stride, great scope for jumping and, a bit like his mother Quevega, a lot of natural talent. Hopefully, it brings him the whole way.”
It would appear Mullins is giving strong consideration to running both State Man and Impaire Et Passe in the Matheson Hurdle on December 29, although connections of the latter are considering the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
State Man won the Morgiana easily on his return and Mullins said: “He did what he had to do and did it well. I’m looking forward to getting him out again.
“It’s a track that he likes as well and I’m very pleased with him.
“Impaire Et Passe disappointed me a little in Fairyhouse (in the Hatton’s Grace), but I just think I had the wrong tactics with him and he’s another one that we might have to sharpen our tactics with, it might improve him.
“We’re coming back to two miles here rather than the two and a half in Fairyhouse.”
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou will keep channelling his focus on problem-solving rather than allowing himself to get frustrated at the club’s growing list of absentees.
Spurs won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest last week, but finished the match with 10 men after Yves Bissouma was shown his second red card of the season.
Bissouma will be suspended for four matches and Destiny Udogie is banned for Saturday’s visit of Everton after he received his fifth caution of the campaign at the City Ground.
https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/1738183568956748243
It adds to Postecoglou’s problems with Micky van de Ven, James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur already ruled out until January while attackers Ivan Perisic and Manor Solomon have been long-term absentees since September.
Postecoglou said: “I think it is important from my perspective that you don’t deal in the extreme because it is an emotional game. There are enough people who get emotional about these things so it doesn’t need me to add to that.
“My job in all of this is to ultimately find solutions rather than focus too much on the fall-out of any issues we’ve had because I guarantee you once we get all the players back, there will be something else.
“Like I said, it is important for the players and staff that they know through that process my role is to charter a way forward rather than focus on the fall-out from any challenges we may have.”
Bissouma faced criticism for his challenge on Forest midfielder Ryan Yates but Postecoglou has not felt the need to address discipline with him.
“People can say what they want but he has just mistimed a tackle. It is not like he has gone in dirty on anyone,” the Spurs boss added.
“I have always felt the best remedy is that if a guy feels he is missing out, then that kind of helps in that process of not letting it affect their game but also understanding the impact it can have.
“Always I kind of understand that they are all human beings and they will make mistakes, like all of us they are given the opportunity to learn from those mistakes.”
Postecoglou must now decide how best to replace Bissouma and while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has deputised for him at times this season, Oliver Skipp will get minutes in the defensive midfield role over the next week with games to come against Brighton and Bournemouth.
“Obviously we’ve had Pierre there and Biss, even Bentancur when he came back, so there is a fair bit of flexibility on who we use there,” Postecoglou explained.
“But Skippy can play at six and probably will play there.
“We have three games over the next week so he probably will get an opportunity at some point in that position.”
Tottenham have only lost one of their last 20 league meetings with Everton, but Sean Dyche’s team have been galvanised by a 10-point deduction for a breach of financial regulations in November.
The 16th-placed Toffees are one of the Premier League’s in-form clubs with seven wins from their last 10 fixtures.
Postecoglou concluded: “Sean’s done an outstanding job but when you get hit with something like that, it’s often a measure of the playing group and the manager how they respond to adversity and you’ve got to say the response has been first class.”
Paisley Park will try to match the great Baracouda’s record with a fourth triumph in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
The highly-popular 11-year-old first won the contest in 2018 and returned to the Berkshire track to reclaim his title in 2020 before landing a rescheduled 2022 running at Kempton last Christmas.
While Big Buck’s and Reve De Sivola were each three-time race winners, no horse has yet equalled the Francois Doumen-trained Baracouda, who won the race in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004, as well as being beaten just a length into second in 2002.
Though now a veteran with 28 runs and 11 wins under his belt, the Emma Lavelle-trained Paisley Park looked to have lost none of his vim when lining up for the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury first time out this season.
He was beaten just a head by Jeremy Scott’s equally likeable Dashel Drasher, who reopposes on Saturday.
“He seems in great order at home and has done everything we have wanted since his last run and we’ll see,” said Lavelle.
“I was delighted with how he was at Newbury and these races take a lot of winning, so it is lovely to see so many of the old boys back again.
“He kept galloping, and that is what we wanted to see – and if he can keep doing that, and if his legs can go round fast enough, he will be giving it his all.
“We’re very much looking forward to running and seeing what happens. Hopefully, it can continue to be his favourite race.”
On the prospect of matching Baracouda’s record, Lavelle added: “It would be an extraordinary achievement, it really would.
“All we can do is hope and he’s just been the most remarkable horse for us. He certainly seems to be enjoying his racing the same as ever.”
Dan Skelton’s West Balboa was a winner on her seasonal debut when taking a class two hurdle over two and a half miles at Aintree in November.
The race was only contested by three horses, but 12 lengths behind her was Olly Murphy’s Brewin’upastorm, a Grade Two winner, and 10 lengths behind him was Grade One-winning chaser Millers Bank.
This Ascot contest is a step up in grade and trip for the seven-year-old, but she is proven over the latter after winning the Village Hotels Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on her final start last term.
“She’s in good form, she started off her season very well at Aintree,” said Skelton.
“She definitely deserves to be there and deserves her go at the top flight.
“It was a good run (at Aintree) and beating a good yardstick like Brewin’upastorm is a fine start to the season.
“With respect, this is harder and she’ll have to step up, but she’s a good mare.”
Nicky Henderson will be represented by Champ, the 2021 winner of the race who makes his seasonal debut in the contest after finishing fifth in the Liverpool Hurdle when last seen in spring.
Champ runs in the silks of owner JP McManus, whose racing manager Frank Berry said: “He goes well fresh and Nicky and the team seem happy with him.
“He’s not getting any younger, but we’ll see how he goes.
“There’s a few younger ones coming along, but they’re very consistent those older horses and he’s in good form, so you’d be hoping for a good run.”
Paul Nicholls has a pair of contenders in Red Risk and the four-year-old Blueking D’Oroux.
Red Risk progressed from handicaps to finish second in the Grade Two bet365 Hurdle and will be ridden by Bryony Frost, with stable jockey Harry Cobden taking the ride on Coral Hurdle winner Blueking D’Oroux.
“He is an interesting contender and it’s encouraging that two four-year-olds have won this race in the past,” Nicholls said of the latter horse via Betfair.
“Trying this trip of three miles is a bit of a shot in the dark at this stage of his career and I’d be happier if he was a year older. But who knows how good he might be?
“He’s improving all the time and galloped on strongly all the way to the line in winning the Grade Two Coral Hurdle over two miles, three and a half furlongs at this track a month ago.”
Of Red Risk, the trainer added: “He ran a cracker on his seasonal debut at Wetherby, where he kept on in determined style to finish a close second behind Botox Has in the bet365 Hurdle, with two classy types behind him.
“That’s really smart form. Red Risk was only just touched off in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January and has the ability to run into a place.
Fergal O’Brien has a live chance in Crambo, last seen finishing third in a valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock.
Though he was unable to get his head in front on that occasion, he still ran with plenty of promise – enough to encourage connections to take the step up to Grade One level.
“He carried an awful lot of weight at Haydock and beat some good horses,” O’Brien said of the run.
“On another day and with a bit more luck, he maybe would have won and we’re very happy with him.
“He has to step up but he’s trained very well since Haydock and we felt it’d be foolish not to give it a go, it will tell us a lot about where we want to go with him next.”
The Gary Moore duo of Botox Has and Goshen and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Gowel Road complete the line up.
The Christmas racing programme is always stuffed full of thrills, but this year sees any number of National Hunt heavyweights poised to take a starring role. We look forward to five of the most eyecatching contests in prospect over the next few days.
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, Kempton, December 26
The Christmas showpiece is always an event to savour, but this year’s contest offers a level of intrigue, too. The Paul Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame beat the reopposing Royale Pagaille by 14 lengths in 2022, before going on to chase home Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This season has not gone to plan so far though, with defeats in both the Charlie Hall and Betfair Chase – in which he was beaten by Venetia Williams’ Royale Pagaille – putting a slight question mark over his claims. Shishkin definitely has to answer a question after he refused to race at Ascot on his seasonal bow, leaving the Willie Mullins-trained Allaho seemingly in pole position. An impressive winner at Clonmel on his return from a 561-day injury lay-off, there is no doubting the Irish raider’s class, but can he avoid the dreaded ‘bounce’ factor in Sunbury?
Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle, Kempton, December 26
After the weather put a spanner in the works, Nicky Henderson will finally take the wraps off reigning two-mile champ Constitution Hill at Kempton. After a sterling novice season, the six-year-old made a seamless switch to full company and a 17-length win in this contest preceded a demolition job in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham back in March. It will only be a small field at Kempton, with none of the contenders anywhere near Constitution Hill’s class, so if everything goes to plan, we will not learn too much – but we can hopefully enjoy a true superstar in action.
Racing Post Novice Chase, Leopardstown, December 26
Facile Vega was a headline horse even before he set foot on a track. A son of six-times Festival winner Quevega, by top-ranked jumps sire Walk In The Park, it was little surprise to see the Mullins-trained gelding cut a swathe through the bumper ranks before continuing his effortless progress in his first two starts over hurdles. The wheels came off in dramatic style at the Dublin Racing Festival though, when he raced with the choke out and stopped quickly, before having to settle for second best at Cheltenham and getting back on track at Punchestown. He emerged victorious on his chasing bow, but his jumping was certainly not flawless and it will be interesting to see if he is up to the task in tougher company.
Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase, Chepstow, December 27
The withdrawal of ante-post favourite Monbeg Genius prompted a market shake-up, with Jamie Snowden’s Super Survivor assuming the position at the top of the betting for what is one of the first real markers for the Grand National in April. Iwilldoit won the Welsh edition in 2021 and was among the leading lights for Aintree back in April but could not complete the qualifying criteria in time. A victory in this race would surely thrust him back into the spotlight, though it will be a tough test under top-weight in what is usually testing conditions at Chepstow, with the likes of recent Becher Chase winner Chambard in the mix.
Savills Chase, Leopardstown, December 28
This looks like being a proper Christmas blockbuster, with no less than three Cheltenham Gold Cup hopes set to cross swords. We have the reigning champion, Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs, facing up to his nemesis in Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow. A shock 20-1 winner in the Punchestown Gold Cup, Fastorslow proved that was no flash in the pan when beating Galopin Des Champs into third in the John Durkan on their respective returns. Add into the mix Gerri Colombe, rerouted from Kempton by Gordon Elliott due to concerns about the quicker King George ground. Beaten just once as a novice, he was merely workmanlike in winning Down Royal’s Champion Chase on his reappearance, so this could be something of an acid test for the young pretender.
The Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) has secured $3 million in funding from the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) to assist in their budget of $38 million to get the senior men’s team to an historic Hockey 5s World Cup debut in Muscat, Oman from January 28-31, 2024.
Hockey 5s is a super-fast-paced and highly skillful game played between two teams with four field players and a goalkeeper. The field size is much smaller than the 11-a-side with a
measurement of 40m x 23.7m with surrounding deflective boards that always keep the ball in play.
It’s a more competitive format of hockey, first played in 2014 and quickly adapted worldwide as the FIH searched for a shorter more entertaining version of the game. Just like netball Fast5, Rugby7s, or Twenty20 cricket.
Ryan Foster, the JOA's Chief Executive Officer, said the contribution was a no-brainer.
"The JOA is extremely proud of the accomplishments of JHF and the men's Hockey 5s team qualification for the World Cup. This is the manifestation of various investments of the JOA since 2017 which amounts to over $25M. This additional $3M given to the JHF is yet another contribution by the JOA in our Sport for All Concept. We measure success not only on medals won, but upon progress made by our member associations," Foster said.
"Any other thought would be narrowed minded. We wish President [Fabian] Stewart and his team all the best in the competition, and it is a win for sport in Jamaica that we can be a part of the discussion in yet another World Cup, albeit for Hockey. Our ability to support so many sports is a testament of our expansive corporate sponsor pool, which has expanded to over $200M in new funds since 2018. Corporate Jamaica has responded, and we continue to engage with a transparent approach that involves accountability and bank for the buck," he added.
Jamaica's men are scheduled to face teams of the highest rank such as Netherlands (#1), India (#3) and more on their much-anticipated debut appearance at the World Cup.
The Men’s competition has a total of 16 countries including Jamaica. Pool B consist of Jamaica, Egypt, Switzerland, and India. The first match will be against Egypt and if its anything like their bronze medal win in the qualifiers, then this match promises to be an exciting one.
Teenage sensation Luke Littler will ditch his Xbox for the practice board on Christmas Day as he bids to keep his World Championship dream alive.
The 16-year-old debutant has taken the tournament by storm and booked his spot in the third round with an impressive win over UK Open champion Andrew Gilding on Thursday night.
He will now head home to Runcorn for the festive period, but the usual fun and games after Christmas dinner will be replaced by a tough practice session.
“It’s been a crazy few days,” Littler, who last month won the World Youth Championship, told the PA news agency.
“Christmas is going to be very different. We’ll do the same thing a family always does and then when I finish my dinner I will get on the board for a good few hours.
“I would normally wait for the dinner to be cooked, go on the Xbox, call my mates, speak to them, but I’ll be on the board.”
The precocious player does not turn 17 until next month, but people are already talking about him as a possible champion.
He produced a record-breaking performance in his first-round win over Christian Kist, posting the highest three-dart average of any World Championship debutant with a stunning 106.
A winnable last-32 tie against Canadian Matt Campbell is next when the tournament resumes after Christmas and Littler is daring to dream, even if he thinks he has already over-achieved.
Asked whether he believes he can go all the way at Alexandra Palace, he said: “If my A-game is there I don’t see why not, but I have just got to beat what is in front of me.
“Loads of people are expecting me to win it, I am just happy to have won my first game. When I got back to the hotel after beating Christian Kist I said ‘let’s try and come back after Christmas’ and that’s what I have done, so I have overachieved this year.
“It is just unbelievable, I can’t wait to come back after Christmas. Being on stage has been amazing and I’ve loved the support, it’s unbelievable.”
Littler is also dreaming of a meeting with either Raymond van Barneveld or Michael van Gerwen in the latter stages of the tournament.
“I always looked up to Phil Taylor, Barney and Michael van Gerwen. It would be unbelievable to play one of those two,” he added.
“It would be a weird one, who the crowd would support, me or Barney or me or Van Gerwen, but I have just got to beat what is in front of me and hopefully I can meet one of those in the later stages.”
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
