Ted Walsh admitted to having mixed emotions after his stable stalwart Any Second Now roared back to form to fill the runner-up spot in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
It is five years since the JP McManus-owned veteran claimed Cheltenham Festival glory in the Kim Muir and he was a leading contender for that season’s Irish National when falling at the eighth fence.
As well as winning twice at Grade Two and Grade Three level, Any Second Now has since placed twice in the Grand National at Aintree, finishing third behind the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Minella Times on his first attempt in 2021 before picking up the silver medal behind Noble Yeats 12 months later.
The 12-year-old was pulled up when bidding to make it third time lucky on Merseyside last April and has largely struggled since, but showed his true colours when finishing best of the rest behind the six years younger Intense Raffles on Easter Monday, leaving his trainer delighted but disappointed.
Walsh said: “He’s come out of the race 100 per cent, I’m delighted with the way he ran but gutted that he got beat!
“We have no plans at the moment, Punchestown is only a month away and he won’t be going there. He’ll go to Martinstown (McManus’ stud), we’ll have a look at him and see what happens after that.
“I’m proud of how he ran, but at the same time we were beaten. We played a great game but the other team won!”
AP McCoy broke Sir Gordon Richards’ 55-year record for winners in a season when he got his 270th win at Warwick on this day in 2002.
After earlier equalling the record of 269 winners on Shepherds Rest, McCoy followed up by taking the Leek Wooton Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
McCoy displayed the tenacity that earned him record after record during his career with a typically strong ride on his boss Martin Pipe’s Valfonic.
The four-year-old looked to be struggling but McCoy conjured a run out of Pipe’s horse to seal his place in racing history.
And McCoy said: “Obviously it’s brilliant to get there in the end. It’s taken a while as I keep saying I can’t make the horses go any faster as much as I’d like to be able to but I can’t.
“I actually thought I would struggle today as I thought Shampooed, Shepherds Rest and this one just had chances and I’m obviously really pleased that all three have won.”
Pipe was quick to praise his stable jockey, with whom he enjoyed so much success.
He said: “Brilliant wasn’t it? It’s absolutely brilliant that he should beat Sir Gordon Richards’ record and I’m thrilled to bits for him.
“I’m highly delighted he was on one of my horses. He deserves it, he’s a dedicated, brilliant jockey.
“Only this morning he was down schooling my team of horses for the National over National fences that we built.
“Not only did he school his own ride but other people’s too. He’s a fabulous, generous team player.”
McCoy retired in April 2015 with 4,358 winners to his name.
Jamaica asserted its dominance on the track as the curtains closed on the 51st Carifta Games at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in Grenada, clinching victory in all four 4x400m relays on Monday. With commanding performances reminiscent of their sprint hurdles dominance earlier in the final session, the Jamaican teams showcased their class, bringing the Games to a thrilling conclusion.
However, the final race of the night, the Under 20 Boys 4x400m relay, was not without its share of drama. As Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, and Grenada set off in the race, they halted unexpectedly, anticipating a recall that never came. They were allowed to re-run for time during which Trinidad and Tobago ultimately emerged victorious, with the Bahamas crossing the line second.
However, neither team were able to eclipse Jamaica's winning time of 3:10.58 from the original race. Trinidad were eventually awarded silver having run a time of 3:11.10. Guyana was third in a time of 3:14.05. Bahamas were disqualified.
In the Under 17 Girls 4x400m relay, Jamaica's team, led by Britannia Bailey, Nastassia Fletcher, Kevongaye Fowler, and Tresha Lee Sutherland, surged to victory in 3:41.84. The Bahamas secured silver in a time of 3:47.13 while Trinidad and Tobago claimed bronze in 3:54.49.
Similarly, in the Under 20 Girls 4x400m relay, Jamaica's formidable quartet of Abigail Campbell, Shanique Williams, Kitania Headley, and Shanoya Douglas clocked a time of 3:34.69, securing another gold medal for the nation. Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas clinched silver and bronze, in times of 3:47.51 and 3:49.82, respectively.
Jamaica’s U17 Boys executed flawlessly to win in dominant fashion in a time of 3:18.43. Trinidad and Tobago won the silver running 3:21.24 with the bronze medal going to Grenada who ran 3:21.92.
With an impressive medal haul of 45 gold, 23 silver, and 16 bronze medals, Jamaica emerged as the overall victor of the Carifta Games.
The Bahamas finished second overall with 35 medals; nine gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze medals with Trinidad and Tobago third with 27 medals, four gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze medals.
Guyana won eight medals; four gold, three silver and a bronze medal while Guadeloupe finished fifth with five medals, two gold, a silver and two bronze medals. Hosts Grenada had an outstanding Carifta Games winning one gold, six silver and six bronze medals which placed them seventh in the standings.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Janae De Gannes won the prestigious Austin Sealy Award for her record-breaking jump of 6.50m in the U20 Girls Long Jump.
Jamaica's sprinting prowess was on full display on the final evening of the 51st Carifta Games held at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada, as they clinched three out of four gold medals in the highly anticipated 200m races on Monday. The battles on the track were fierce, but Jamaica's athletes rose to the occasion, delivering standout performances that solidified their dominance in sprinting events.
In the Under 17 Girls 200m dash, Jamaica’s Natrece East battled hard to emerge victorious in a fiercely contested race. She surged across the finish line in 23.74 seconds, securing the gold medal amidst the stiff competition. Athaleyha Hinckson of Guyana claimed the silver medal with a time of 23.85 seconds, closely followed by Antigua and Barbuda's Tyra Fenton, who clinched bronze in 23.97 seconds.
Trinidad and Tobago's Kadeem Chinapoo showcased his speed and determination in the Under 17 Boys 200m, clinching victory with a time of 21.78 seconds. Jamaica's Oshane Jervis secured the silver medal in 22.16 seconds, while Tiondre Frett of the British Virgin Islands took home the bronze with a time of 22.18 seconds.
The U20 Girls 200m race witnessed an exhilarating showdown between Jamaica's Shanoya Douglas and Sabrina Dockery and Trinidadian speed twins Sole and Sanna Frederick. Douglas, the gold medallist in the U20 Girls 400m, surged late to emerge triumphant, crossing the finish line in 23.03 seconds despite a challenging battle.
Sole Frederick claimed silver with a time of 23.07 seconds, while Jamaica's Sabrina Dockery secured the bronze medal in 23.13 seconds. Sanna Frederick of Trinidad and Tobago narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth with a time of 23.24 seconds.
In the Under 20 Boys 200m, Jamaica's Gary Card blazed to victory in impressive fashion, clocking a time of 20.60 seconds to claim the gold medal. Aragorn Straker of Barbados secured silver with a time of 20.76 seconds, while Davonte Howell of the Cayman Islands earned bronze in 20.90 seconds.
Jamaica’s Jamelia Young continued her excellent showing at the 51st Carifta Games at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada on Monday’s day three.
Young added to her gold medal in the U-17 Girls shot put on Saturday with gold in the discus throw on Monday.
Young’s winning distance was 36.80m. Bahamian Terrell McCoy, who took bronze in the shot put, finished one better this time around with 36.09m while Martinique’s Lea Retardato-Samot threw 35.73m for bronze.
Elsewhere, Jamaica’s Jaeda Robinson produced two record-breaking jumps on her way to gold in the U-17 Girls triple jump.
Robinson first broke the record of 12.61m set all the way back in 2009 by Rochelle Farqharson with a 12.66m effort with her very first attempt.
Her second attempt then saw her set another record with 12.69m, which ended up being her best jump of the evening.
Guadeloupe’s Tessa Clamy jumped 12.09m for second while Robinson’s teammate Zavien Bernard was third with 11.63m.
Jamaica’s Kemarrio Bygrave and USVI’s Michelle Smith produced excellent performances to claim the respective Boys and Girls Under-20 800m titles on day three of the 51st Carifta Games at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada on Monday.
Bygrave led from start to finish to win the Boys final in 1:51.43 and complete the 800m, 1500m double.
Grenada's Deangelo Brown was second in 1:52.81 while Trinidad & Tobago's Keeran Sriskandarajah was third in 1:52.91.
In the Girls final, Smith bided her time before producing a spirited final lap to take the title in 2:06.18, just outside of the record 2:05.90 set back in 2008 by Natoya Goule.
This gold medal also completes a double for Smith as she took gold in the 400m hurdles on Sunday.
Haiti’s Victoria Guerrier ran 2:07.45 for silver while Jamaica’s Monique Stewart took bronze in 2:07.56.
The Under-17 Boys final saw Jamaica’s Keandre Kelly produce a mature performance to win in 1:56.31.
Guyana’s Kaidon Persaud ran 1:56.53 for silver and Kelly’s teammate Alejandro Palmer ran 1:58.05 to take bronze.
Jamaica secured gold and silver in the Under-17 Girls final through Kevongaye Fowler and Alikay Reynolds.
Fowler took gold in 2:16.97 while Reynolds, as she did in the 1500m, had to settle for silver in 2:17.02.
Grenada’s Annalisa Brown ran 2:18.75 for bronze.
Jamaica put on show its incredible depth in the sprint hurdles clinching four gold medals amidst a whirlwind of excitement and drama at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada on Monday’s final session of the 51st Carifta Games.
The evening session kicked off with Jamaica dominating the sprint relays, but two potential championship records were dashed due to strong tailwinds exceeding the allowable limit.
In the Under 17 Girls 100m hurdles, Malayia Duncan blazed to victory with a time of 13.63 seconds, followed closely by Trinidad and Tobago's Jenna-Marie Thomas (13.74s) and Curacao's Zsa-Zsa Frans (14.21s). However, Jamaica's Angel Robinson faced disappointment after a mishap at the first hurdle, preventing her from finishing the race.
In the Under 20 Girls 100m hurdles, Habiba Harris led the charge for Jamaica, crossing the finish line in 12.93 seconds, which would have been a new championship record had it not been for a trailing wind of 2.4m/s. Her compatriot Briana Campbell secured the silver medal with a time of 13.11 seconds, while Sofia Swindell of the Virgin Islands (USA) claimed bronze in 13.95 seconds.
The Under 17 Boys 110m hurdles witnessed a fierce battle, with Jamaica's Michael Dwyer emerging victorious in 13.81 seconds. Jahcario Wilson of Bahamas clocked 13.94 seconds to secure the silver medal, while Jamaica's Robert Miller followed closely behind in 13.97 seconds to claim bronze.
Shaquane Gordon continued Jamaica's dominance in the U20 Boys 110m hurdles, clocking an impressive time of 13.15 seconds. Daniel Beckford of Jamaica claimed silver with a time of 13.25 seconds, while Curacao's Lizheng Zhuang secured bronze in 13.94 seconds. Like Harris, Gordon was denied the championship record as the wind was measured at 2.1m/s.
Bahamians Antoine Andrews and Denisha Cartwright won the respective sprint hurdles titles at the 2024 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays held at the Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas from March 27-30.
Andrews, a sophomore at Texas Tech University and 2022 World Under-20 champion, produced 13.37 to win the 110m hurdles with a 2.4 m/s wind behind him.
Howard University’s Samuel Bennett was second in 13.39 while UTEP’s Jordani Woodley, formerly of Rusea’s High in Jamaica, was third in 13.44.
Cartwright, a 24-year-old Minnesota State senior, produced 12.81 to win the 100m hurdles ahead of UTEP’s Marissa Simpson (12.92) and Cal’s Jada Hicks (12.99).
That race was run with a 2.7 m/s trailing wind.
In the field, Jamaican Arizona State junior Brandon Lloyd threw 61.54m for second in the men’s discus. South Alabama senior Francois Prinsloo threw 64.41m to take the win while Texas Tech senior Devin Roberson was third with 60.98m.
After a five-timer at Fairyhouse on Sunday, it was a slightly quieter afternoon for the all-conquering Willie Mullins on the final day of the track’s Easter meeting.
While hopes were high for his runners in the feature BoyleSports Irish Grand National, the Closutton representatives were out of luck, with 20-1 chance Minella Cocooner faring best in third under Danny Mullins.
That said, it was still a hat-trick of winners for the champion trainer, after Implicit got him off the mark in the opener before he finished with a double in the two races that brought the curtain down on the card.
It was Minella Cocooner’s rider who got Macdermott (5-1) home in front in the first of those, the Envirogreen Building Services Handicap Chase over three miles and half a furlong.
Mullins said: “He’s been running over trips that were too short, but we couldn’t find races for him.
“Today was the first time he got his ground and trip. He’s a horse that I’d be really looking forward to going over extended trips in the future, in some of the those bigger handicaps.
“He could be an Irish National horse or one for Aintree, any of those extended races.
“I think he’s only coming to himself. He’s a very gross horse and it’s taken me a long time to get him fit.”
Jody Townend – who rode a Grade Two winner over hurdles for the stable on Sunday – then took the Leinster Reinforcements & Brazil Piling (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race with Redemption Day (2-1 joint-favourite).
Mullins said: “He’s had his problems but he’s coming right now, even on ground he didn’t like there.
“Jody got him lovely and settled and was able to use his bit of class.
“I think now we’ll head to Punchestown for the Champion Bumper.
“He has a little bit of class and hopefully he’ll go novice hurdling after that.”
In sixth place for Mullins in the National was We’llhavewan, who in turn was one place in front of his stablemate and 4-1 favourite Nick Rockett.
Mullins said: “I was really pleased with Minella Cocooner, he ran a cracker.
“Nick Rockett ran well as well, but just had too much weight.
“We’llhavewan just didn’t get home today but we do know he stays that trip.”
The Bahamas had an excellent start to Monday's day three of the 51st Carifta Games at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada thanks to a dominant showing in the Under-17 Girls javelin throw.
Dior-Rae Scott, who won gold in Kingston in 2022 and silver last year in Nassau, returned to the top of the podium with an excellent new personal best and Carifta record 52.53m with her third-round effort.
Her teammate, Kamera Strachan, had a best throw of 47.61m for silver while Jamaica’s Zoelle Jamel was third with 45.00m.
The Girls Under-20 high jump also saw a quinella, with Jamaica enjoying their own 1-2 finish this time around.
Rasheda Samuels secured gold with a third-time clearance of 1.78m while her teammate Dejanea Bruce took silver with a best clearance of 1.76m.
Trinidad & Tobago’s Keneisha Shelbourne was third with 1.70m.
In the Under-20 Girls long jump, Trinidad & Tobago’s reigning NACAC U-18 champion Janae De Gannes produced one of the performances of the meet with a massive personal best 6.50m to win gold.
De Gannes only produced two legal jumps throughout her series, 6.50m in the first round and 6.40m in the second round.
Her mark also broke the Carifta U-20 record of 6.48m done in 2016 by Guadeloupe’s Yanis David.
Jamaica’s Rohanna Sudlow was second with 6.30m while Bahamian Lanaisha Lubin was third with 5.90m.
Dubai Honour booked a return to Hong Kong in pleasing William Haggas with a successful reappearance in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.
Last seen running at Ascot on British Champions Day, the globetrotting six-year-old has remained at Somerville Lodge this winter rather than venturing to Australia and was by far the best horse in the race on both career achievements and official ratings ahead of his return in the 10-furlong Listed event.
The 4-6 favourite duly obliged in good style, defying early-season freshness under Ryan Moore to hand his trainer a fourth success in race, scoring by an impressive three lengths.
He will now return to overseas action with Dubai Honour set to be tasked with going two places better than his 2023 QEII Cup third at Sha Tin later this month.
Haggas said: “I was very pleased with him and he looked a bit fresh having not run for a bit. But I thought he was always looking comfortable in a race that had the potential to be messy – and probably was – despite the nice gallop.
“I haven’t spoken to Ryan yet, but I’m not sure he was where he wanted to be early on. Still, the horse picked up well and he did it nicely, as he should do at the weights. But I was very happy with him and it was exactly what I hoped for.
“He’s going to Hong Kong all being well – he’s been invited and we’ve accepted. Providing he’s fit and well he will go over there on April 28 for the QEII Cup, the mile-and-a-quarter race he was third in last year.
“He’s won over £3million in prize-money now and he’s a thoroughly nice horse who has been great fun, we think the world of him. He’s a kind horse, too.”
Hydel High School’s track and field athletes are expressing hope that their achievement in earning Chairman’s Award will inspire others at the institution to excel while representing their school. Led by the versatile Class One sprint-double champion Aaliah Baker, four of the school’s top performers at the recent ISSA Boys’ and Girl’s Athletics Championships were rewarded for their outstanding output.
Baker, Abigail Campbell, Teixeira Johnson and Shania Myers will all share in the JMD$300,000 award that was donated by Chairman of the school’s board, Ryan Foster, in recognition of the athletes’ effort.
“This Chairman Award recognizes the strong ethos of what a student athlete represents, and also the strong character of what champions are made of,” the chairman said. “These girls displayed commitment, determination, school spirit and overall fight within the team to give Hydel a chance to defend our title. They went beyond the call to pull a team along despite some of the rigours and obstacles they encountered.”
Foster had recognized Hydel High School’s team for winning its first ever ISSA Girls Champs title in 2023 with the Chairman’s Award, along with the outstanding sprinter Alana Reid.
This year, the team gave an exceptional performance as it placed second with 326 points. Edwin Allen High won with 335.5 points.
Leading Hydel’s charge was Baker, the 400m, 400m hurdles champion in 2023 who showed her range of sprinting by winning gold in the shorter individual sprints, 11.34 seconds in the 100m and another personal best, 23.89 seconds in the 200m. Baker also led her school to victory in the Class One girl’s 4x100m and 4x400m gold medals.
“I hope my story will motivate younger kids so they’ll be able to help our school and win the Chairman’s Award,” Baker expressed. “I stepped down from the 400m and 400m hurdles to the 100 and 200 metres and won two gold medals. Hopefully someone will be able to say if she did it I can do it too.”
Continuing, she said that her accomplishments are even more satisfying because she had to overcome challenges.
“Preparing for Champs was not easy because I went back and forth with injuries and just some bad days at training. But I just kept my composure, I trained hard when I could train hard, I went, I didn’t question my coach, I just did what he asked,” she admitted of Corey Bennett’s tutelage.
“I’m pretty happy I just listened to him and that I trusted the process and then I did my thing and ended up winning four events. I’m proud of myself, my family is proud of me, my teammates are proud of me and my school is proud of me,” said the final year student.
Campbell won three gold medals and a silver, claiming the 400m gold and 800m silver in 52.27 and 2:09.07, respectively.
Reflecting on the tough, sparely run 400-800 double, Campbell expressed joy at making the Chairman’s Award list, noting that “I’m pretty excited and elated because what I did was very phenomenal”.
Continuing, she said: “I’m very proud of myself because last year I couldn’t compete at Champs but this year I came back, winning three gold medals and a silver for my team and myself and it was a pretty good championship because I came out here to do the best for my team and to score good points.
“For next year I would like to produce more, I would like to stand out for next year, I would like to continue doing my best for my school and for myself and my coach,” Campbell added.
Johnson won three gold medals, the Class Four 100m in 11.87 seconds and 200m in 25.44, as well as the sprint relay.
Myers fought off an emotional roller-coaster following the death of her mother, promising, delivering and dedicating victory in the Class One 100m hurdles to her mom, as she won in a time of 13.14 seconds. She also won silver in the long jump final, leaping 6.30 metres in the event won by St Catherine’s Roanna Sudlow (6.37m).
“Though the team was much smaller than Edwin Allen, we certainly made it into a competition until the final race,” expressed Foster. “These girls went beyond to place their bodies on the line and for that I must applaud and recognize them. Alliah won four gold medals, Abigail and Teixeira Johnson won three golds and Shania Myers won two.
“I am extremely proud of them and the overall team to include Korey and his coaching staff,” the Hydel board chairman added. “We will have an even bigger celebration with the team after the Easter break.
“The Hydel spirit is very much alive and the Board of Management, myself included, will continue to shape the future of our students and student athletes."
Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini could start his campaign in either the French or the English 2000 Guineas.
The Camelot colt was twice a winner as a juvenile, taking a Newbury maiden and then the Listed Flying Scotsman at Doncaster.
He then stepped up to Group One level to contest the Kameko Futurity Trophy back at Doncaster, a mile event run on heavy ground in October.
There he finished fifth as Charlie’s Appleby’s Ancient Wisdom took first place, a run Teal has taken the positives from as Dancing Gemini gained experience ahead of his three-year-old campaign.
“Conditions were soft when we won the Listed race but it wasn’t as bad as when we ran him in the Group One,” he said.
“We perhaps committed him too soon and then there was the horse that got upset in the stalls, so there was a delay as they’d all been loaded.
“He probably used up a bit of nervous energy, but he didn’t run bad at all in those conditions.”
Teal is pleased with how the colt has developed over the winter and is taking aim at either the French or English Guineas as his opening run of the season.
“He’s taken his work very well, he looks like he’s come forward so we’re really happy,” he said.
“He’s in both Guineas, French and English, so that’s what we’re aiming at. We’ll see a bit closer to the time which one we’re going to go for.
“He’s by a Derby winner and out of an Australia mare, so he’s bred to get the trip. Fingers crossed he goes well in the Guineas so we can start to dream big.
“He was a bit of a frame last year but he was always growing, he was a bit bum high but he seems to have levelled off now.
“He’s done very well, we’re very happy with him. He’s not a massive horse but he is a nice stamp, a nice athletic animal.
“He’s a Camelot and he tends to stamp them as good-looking horses.”
Jamaica’s Mixed 4x400m relay team that was disqualified after finishing third on Sunday night has been reinstated, Sportsmax.TV can confirm.
Jamaica’s team of Princewell Martin, Rickeisha Simms, Paul Henry and Britannia Bailey had initially won the bronze medal in the relay that was won in dominant fashion by Guyana. However, the team was disqualified after a Jamaican runner was accused of impeding a runner from another team.
The Jamaican team managers filed a protest and the decision went under review and the decision was eventually overturned and the team re-instated. Jamaica has officially been awarded the bronze medal after finishing in a time of 3:30.42.
Grenada won the silver medal after fining second in 3:29.19.
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