Grade One-winning hurdler Apple Away got off the mark over fences with a foot-perfect display in the opening race at Leicester on Wednesday.

The six-year-old won four of her seven starts over the smaller obstacles for trainer Lucinda Russell and owners Old Gold Racing, including a surprise top-level victory over the likes of Iroko and Stay Away Fay at Aintree in the spring.

Having been set a stiff task on her chasing debut when third behind Grey Dawning and Cheltenham Festival winner Gaillard Du Mesnil at Haydock last month, Apple Away was an even-money shot to dispatch of two rivals in the @leicesterraces Christmas Meeting 28th December Book Now Beginners’ Chase, and ultimately did so in some style.

Ridden by Derek Fox, the Scottish raider fenced fluently throughout the two-and-three-quarter-mile contest and pulled 31 lengths of a decent yardstick in Makin’yourmindup in the home straight.

The sponsors cut Apple Away to 14-1 from 20-1 for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham in March, while she is 20-1 from 25-1 to beat the boys in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Michael Scudamore, assistant trainer to Russell, told Racing TV: “We’re thrilled to bits, the further she went the better she looked. It’s great to get her chasing career off and going.

“She ran a nice race at Haydock, it probably wasn’t ideal to run her in a graduation chase first time over fences but such is the weather and the options at the moment you just have to go where you can.

“She learned plenty that day, she jumped well, she was careful and then today she was better again.

“She’s proven before what a good mare she is, but you could see her being really intelligent and enjoying it today.

“She’s got plenty of options and being a mare that opens up other options so we’ll have to see what the future holds for her.”

Trainer Noel George described Ile Est Francais as “the best horse I’ve had anything to do with” ahead of his planned British debut in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

A Grade One-winning hurdler last year when officially trained by George’s British-based father, Tom, the five-year-old has made a fine start to his career over fences with successive victories at Auteuil.

As Ile Est Francais carries the familiar colours of part-owner Richard Kelvin-Hughes, George and his training partner Amanda Zetterholm are keen to test his powers on UK soil, and he is now being readied for a festive trip across the Channel.

“Because he’s owned by Richard Kelvin-Hughes, who has half of him, we are obviously going to want to compete in the UK at some stage,” said George.

“I thought it would be best for him to run over English-style fences early on his career so he’s learnt before he has too much of a tendency to jump like a real French chaser.

“I think the track at Kempton will suit him very well and he’s obviously still a novice, so hopefully it should be a nice opportunity.”

With Ile Est Francais having been campaigned almost exclusively at Auteuil so far, he will have a number different questions answer at Kempton, where James Reveley will ride.

George, though, is unconcerned about a step up to three miles, the possibility of better ground or travelling abroad, while he will also have the opportunity to school over English-style fences before the big day.

He added: “The ground was very soft last time and Kempton never gets very, very soft. He’s got a very high cruising speed and a slick jumping style, which I think will definitely suit the track and I don’t think the trip should be an issue at all.

“France Galop built us three made to measure English fences on the grass and he’s going to school over them next week. There’s two plain fences and a ditch, so he’ll have seen them all. I would have been happy going without doing it, but he’ll be going there having seen it.

“He’s very straightforward and he’s travelled a lot to go away for grass gallops. There’s always a little bit of a question mark about the travelling, but he’s very professional and has got got a companion going with him, so he should be very settled and I don’t think it should be an issue.

“I think we’ve chosen the closest track to the Channel tunnel, so he doesn’t have to go too far!”

Having seen his father saddle numerous big-race winners over the years, George admits it would be a special achievement if he can secure Grade One success of his own on home turf.

“It would be a complete dream. His main target this year is the French Gold Cup in May, but this is very much a prestigious race on Boxing Day at Kempton – one of the biggest days of the year,” said George, speaking on a Jockey Club press call on Wednesday.

“We had to discuss it between us because you have to bear in mind there are two different owners’ opinions. We want him to win on the big stage for both of the owners and I think, hopefully, he’s capable of doing it.

“I talk to dad every day and he gives me lots of advice. He worked for Francois Doumen when The Fellow and horses like that were coming over, so he was saying how he thought we should approach coming over to the UK. I think we’re doing it at the right time for the horse.”

The George-Zetterholm partnership has already saddled a couple of runners in Britain this season without success, but it is clear expectations are significantly higher for their latest challenger.

George said: “He’s the best horse I’ve had anything to do with – he’s unbelievable.

“He’s very much going there with a French flag. Even though we’re not French, he’s trained in France and he’s a French horse.

“When we’ve got the level of horse that we think can compete on the big stage we’ll definitely bring them over to the UK.

“We’ve had a couple of runners already, but this is our first proper big gun coming over, flying the flag. He’s our best horse, so fingers crossed he can show us what he’s made of.”

An updated Safeguarding and Human Welfare Strategy has been published by the British Horseracing Authority in what it described as a “watershed moment” for the sport.

Covering an initial four-year period, the BHA said the strategy “sets out immediate and longer-term objectives to ensure a safe, respectful, and enjoyable working environment for all, with the highest standards of behaviour and free from any kind of abuse”.

Since 2018, the BHA said it has received and investigated over 350 safeguarding and human welfare concerns – a high proportion of which relate to sexual misconduct, bullying and abusive conduct. Recent data shows a rise in the number of referrals concerning complex abuse cases, including serious sexual offences.

In 2021, Dr Eleanor Boden gave a talk at the Racing Foundation conference talk entitled ‘Where did all the girls go?’, detailing what were said to be incidences of unacceptable behaviour towards women in the sport.

BHA chair Joe Saumarez Smith said he “apologised unreservedly” on behalf of British racing to those who have experienced harm or unacceptable behaviour.

“We have long stated that ‘racing is everyone’s sport’, but the findings from Dr Boden’s report and the data and evidence underpinning the wider strategy demonstrate that this has not always been the case. Horseracing has at times fallen short and let people down,” he said.

“On behalf of British racing, I apologise unreservedly to anyone who has experienced harm and behaviour that is unacceptable. I also want to thank those who have shared their stories and provided powerful personal testimony. We are sorry and we will work determinedly to put this right.”

While the BHA acknowledged on a media call that the number of complaints is on the rise, it was stressed this could also be viewed as an increase in the levels of confidence participants have in the complaints procedure.

It was also pointed out that racing as a whole offered up more situations which leant itself to complaints with employees often traveling together, working overnight and with the workforce being comprised of a large proportion of young adults.

Rather than a reflection on racing, the rise in incidents is viewed more as a general societal issue. However, the BHA knows that the industry is not “immune”.

BHA chief executive Julie Harrington said: “Racing is not immune to problems like bullying and sexual misconduct, and I know that for women in particular, it has often been easier to keep your head down and suffer in silence. I am truly sorry to hear the stories of bullying, sexual misconduct and, in some cases, serious sexual abuse. This has no place in British racing or wider society.

“The onus is on everyone in our sport to put it right. I’m convinced that we have already started to see a cultural shift, where people feel more confident to speak up. This is difficult and takes immense courage, and we must create the environment where unacceptable conduct is called out and those who experience harm are empowered to come forward.”

She added: “Our updated Safeguarding and Human Welfare Strategy can build on and accelerate this work. It can be a watershed moment for our sport, where we collectively commit to the highest standards and take action when our shared values of tolerance and respect are abused.

“This is not only the right thing to do; it is critical if we are to recruit, retain and develop a happy, valued and high-performing workforce – and secure British racing’s sustainable, long-term future.”

:: Anyone who needs help, support or witnesses or experiences any unacceptable behaviour should report it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call the BHA’s confidential reporting service, RaceWISE on 08000 852 580.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Marine Nationale will finally get his chasing career under way at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Barry Connell hosted the media at his County Kildare yard on Tuesday ahead of the big meeting over the festive period, and reported his stable star to be firmly on target for his seasonal return, having been delayed by soft ground.

Connell had hoped Marine Nationale would be contesting the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase, but having yet to run over the bigger obstacles, he will take in a more modest event first.

When asked if all was in place for Leopardstown, Connell said: “Absolutely. His schooling has been 100 per cent. We schooled him twice on the grass at the Curragh and he’s a natural.

“His preparation has been good. He will do his last piece of work at the weekend and then, all systems should be go for Christmas.

“The original plan was to go to Navan, win a beginners chase there, then go for the Grade One at Christmas and then the Irish Arkle but we didn’t want to run him on heavy ground, so we had to forfeit the Grade One at Christmas and go for the beginners instead. But sure, look you have to adapt as circumstances change.

“Last year he won his maiden hurdle then went straight to a Grade One, so I don’t think that’s going to be an issue going to the Irish Arkle after his beginners.”

Connell has always had full faith in Marine Nationale – which was fully vindicated at Cheltenham – and says he knew from the first day the gelding entered the yard he was different.

“He is a one-off really, he is just an incredible athlete. From the first day we had him here, everything came easy to him,” said Connell.

“He is so relaxed as well which is a massive help. If you aren’t keen in a race you aren’t burning up excess diesel and you’ll have a horse for the finish.

“We didn’t want to start the season on heavy ground (at Navan). He can go to Leopardstown for his beginners and come back for the Dublin Racing Festival and then go on to Cheltenham hopefully.

“He is a light-framed horse. He has a preference for good ground, although he does go on soft.”

O’Connell used to ride his own horses and had them trained in various yards before setting out on his own.

“I’ve been a racegoer since I was one or two, my dad brought me racing since I was in the pram. And I’ve been to every meeting, went to Cheltenham, went to all the festivals when I was in school and college with friends and so forth. Then I bought a few horses and had them in training when I was in my late twenties, when I started working.

“I then took out an amateur licence and rode when I was 40 until I was 50. That allowed me to go around and have horses in training in a lot of different places and see how things are done. I always had it in the back of my head that I might like to try to do something like this. Really it was gathering the good staff together and putting the facilities in place, then buying the horses.

“I made loads of mistakes along the way, in terms of buying the wrong type of horse, having to deal with all the injuries and wear and tear that they have.

“We have a nice bunch of young horses there that we are getting going – probably 10 or 15 to run in bumpers and maiden hurdles. You know hopefully they will be the future.”

Champion apprentice Billy Loughnane has vowed to learn from the lengthy ban he is currently serving.

Loughnane was given 17 days under the ‘totting-up’ procedure for a series of careless riding offences over a six-month period, with four of them deferred.

His ban was reduced by two days due to the number of rides he had taken during the six months – almost 500.

He will miss December 13-16, 18-23 and 26-28 inclusive.

“It’s not ideal, but I’ve got to take it on the chin. It’s a bump in the road, but I’ll have to build on it,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“It’s totally my own fault, it’s totted up across the six-month period but we’ll build on it and move on.

“I’ve had a lot of rides and that helped my in all fairness because it meant I could get a couple of days knocked off, but it’s my own fault for probably trying to win too much.

“It’s a kick in the teeth, but I’ll have a couple of weeks off and come back fitter and stronger.

“In all fairness one of them was a bit more than a little knock, I came across from my draw too quickly, shortened them up on my inside and someone clipped heels.

“It’s a learning curve, I’ve had a lot of rides but it’s small margins where I’ve pushed the margin a little too much and it has cost me.”

Dysart Enos has done absolutely nothing wrong in her career to date and can come through the next step in her development in the British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Fergal O’Brien will learn a lot more about his mare after this, because in truth she has not been tested in four runs under rules to date.

This will be different, however, because not only is she taking on the boys for the first time since her debut in a Ludlow bumper, but several of her rivals have already shown some smart form.

Harry Fry’s Beat The Bat won at Ascot, Nicky Henderson’s Kintail has scored at Warwick while the Paul Nicholls-trained Meatloaf was very impressive at Wincanton.

They all carry penalties, as does Dysart Enos, but her 7lb mares’ allowance could come in handy.

The Nicholls-trained Ginny’s Destiny really impressed when winning on Cheltenham’s Old course in November and there is no reason to believe he will not be as effective on the New course.

He looked a completely different proposition allowed to dictate compared to his first run of the season and he may just be one of those who takes his form to a completely different level over fences compared to hurdles.

Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning won nicely at Haydock having earlier gone close behind Stay Away Fay at Exeter so rates a massive danger.

However, all his form is on flat tracks so he needs to prove he is as effective on an undulating course.

Doddiethegreat seems to have been found a great opportunity to maintain his unbeaten record and raise money for a good cause in the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle.

Named after the late Scottish rugby union international Doddie Weir, any money he wins is donated to MND charities and so far he has won all four.

That does not tell the whole story, though, as his Ascot win last time out came after a 746-day break. Should he avoided the dreaded ‘bounce’ factor he looks the one to beat off a mark of 131.

Kerry Lee’s Storm Control has more than the odd idea about the game but he may just find the pace of the Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase to his liking.

If allowed to dictate he may just get into a rhythm and be difficult to peg back.

The Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase sees 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo take on a previous Savills Chase winner in Galvin and Fury Road, a Grade One winner as a novice.

As this race is a handicap, though, they may struggle to concede weight to Gesskille, who is being aimed at the Grand National.

He is trained by the excellent duo of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero who may double up in the Citipost Handicap Hurdle with White Rhino.

Bective Abbey can make a winning rules debut for Henderson in the At The Races App Form Study Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster.

A winning pointer, he was purchased for £150,000 and has missed plenty of engagements looking for better ground.

Hold That Taught can follow up a recent Ascot win in the Alfa Aggregate Products Golden Spurs Handicap Chase at Bangor.

Reprised can make the most of a mark of 70 in the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Nursery Handicap at Southwell.

SELECTIONS:

BANGOR: 12.20 Hector Master, 12.55 Fakir, 1.30 Hold That Taught, 2.05 Butler’s Brief, 2.35 Just Gino, 3.10 Mullins Cross, 3.42 Grand Albert.

CHELTENHAM: 12.05 DYSART ENOS (NAP), 12.40 Ginny’s Destiny, 1.15 Doddiethegreat, 1.50 La Malmason, 2.25 Storm Control, 3.00 Gesskille, 3.35 White Rhino.

DONCASTER: 11.25 Imperial Jade, 11.55 Bective Abbey, 12.30 Urban Soldier, 1.05 Prairie Wolf, 1.40 Bold Reaction, 2.15 Twinjets, 2.50 Magical Annie, 3.22 Tango Boy.

DUNDALK: 4.45 Scorchio, 5.15 Step It Out, 5.45 Dawn Rider, 6.15 Feature This, 6.45 Comfort Line, 7.15 Volatile Analyst, 7.45 Senado Square, 8.15 Celtic Revival.

SOUTHWELL: 5.00 Brownlee, 5.30 Reprised, 6.00 Cobh Harbour, 6.30 Sharp Distinction, 7.00 Smart Deal, 7.30 Willow Baby, 8.00 She’s The Danger, 8.30 Back Tomorrow.

DOUBLE: Dysart Enos and Ginny’s Destiny.

Connections of Highfield Princess are keen to “let the dust settle” on her creditable effort in Hong Kong last weekend before making a decision on her future.

A triple Group One winner in 2022 for John Quinn, the popular mare has fully justified the call to keep her in training as a six-year-old, with victories in the King George Stakes at Goodwood and the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp supplemented by several fine performances in defeat.

Highfield Princess was unable to land a telling blow on local superstar Lucky Sweynesse in Sunday’s Hong Kong Sprint, but was far from disgraced in being being beaten four lengths into sixth place and the trainer’s son Sean Quinn was proud of her performance.

“I thought she did her very best, it was tough from her wide draw and she just got a little bit lit up and nudged wide on the bend when the winner came up her inside,” he said.

“I’m not making any huge excuses, it might have cost her a place or two, but she performed very creditably on a very tough stage.

“She kept going and picked up £55,000 for finishing sixth, whereas if she’d finished seventh she’d have picked up nothing, so she paid for the trip and more.”

With Highfield Princess and her trainer having not yet returned to UK soil, a final call on whether she will be retired for broodmare duties, or race on in 2024, has yet to be made.

“She’s still in Hong Kong as we speak, so I think it’s just a case of getting her home, let the dust settle and keep her ticking over and see how she is,” Quinn jnr added.

“To win another Group One this year and probably one of the most valuable Group Twos in Europe when she won at Goodwood, not only has she picked up huge prize-money but she’s enhanced her CV.

“We can look back on this year very satisfied.”

Eva’s Oskar will miss out on another crack at the Grand National in 2024 after a setback ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Tim Vaughan’s nine-year-old was a winner at Cheltenham this time 12 months ago and snuck into the National line-up at Aintree in the spring where he was relishing the jumping test before unseating jockey Alan Johns with nine fences to go.

He was badly hampered when parting ways with his rider and that promising display had his handler eyeing up another tilt at the Merseyside showpiece with the grey.

However, after a respectable comeback run at Chepstow in October, Vaughan has now conceded defeat for the season after discovering a minor niggle that will require time to heal.

“He’s had a niggle and a bit of heat in a leg, so he’s off for this season and hopefully will come back this time next season I suppose,” said Vaughan.

“If we kept pressing on it could cause further damage, so we decided to pull up stumps for this season, get him right and he can come back in the summer to come again.

“We caught it early so I don’t think there will be any lasting damage and his health is the main thing for us. He has been a yard flagbearer for a few seasons now and it is obviously frustrating, but it is part of training racehorses.

“It’s a shame it is him, but we are where we are and the main thing is he’s bright and alert and happy and it is something we can resolve with a bit of time, so we will do what’s best for him really.”

He went on: “The plan was to run again at Cheltenham and then aim for the National again really.

“That was very much on the agenda and I thought he ran a blinder in it last year, he was just a bit unfortunate. He took to the fences really well so it’s frustrating.”