Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced that Barbadian all-rounder Raymon Reifer has been cleared to resume bowling his slower balls and cutters after remedial footage of his action was sent to and cleared by Loughborough University.
Reifer, Barbados Pride’s left-arm seamer, was reported by the match officials during the CG United Super50 Cup match between Barbados Pride and Windward Volcanoes on 25 October at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. In accordance with the procedure for suspected illegal bowling actions, the match footage was sent to Loughborough University for an opinion report. The report determined then that an illegal action was used to bowl the cutters and slower balls.
He was suspended from bowling those specific deliveries during the 2023 edition of the CG United Super 50 Cup and was adjudged by the same body to be using an illegal action following an initial report from the Barbados Pride match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes on 25 October 2023.
Now cleared, Reifer has been named in the Barbados Pride squad for the first three matches of the West Indies Championship, which is due to begin in early February and run until late April.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced the 2024 West Indies Championship schedule, confirming the expansion in the number of participating teams and rounds for the premier four (4)-Day competition.
After a winning performance in the Headley-Weekes tournament in 2023, the West Indies Academy are all set to make their debut in the West Indies First-Class season, along with the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) who are making a return, re-joining the tournament after a few years’ absence.
The 2024 West Indies Championship is set to begin in February, with the opening three rounds spanning from 7 to 24 February. In the first block of games, matches will take place in two Host Countries: St. Kitts and Nevis at two venues, Warner Park and the Conaree Cricket Centre, and in Jamaica, at three venues, Sabina Park, Kensington Cricket Club, and Chedwin Park. The second block of matches resume on 13 March, with the fourth and fifth rounds scheduled to be held in Trinidad and Tobago at the Queen’s Park Oval, the Diego Martin Sports Complex and the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground at UWI Spec, and in Antigua and Barbuda at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. The tournament will then restart after Easter with the final two rounds from 10 to 20 April with matches in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The competing eight regional teams fighting for the Headley Weekes Trophy over seven (7) rounds of matches are – defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles, Barbados Pride, Combined Campuses and Colleges, Jamaica Scorpions, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, West Indies Academy and Windward Islands Volcanoes.
The 2024 West Indies Championship will have a significant increase in prize money with the winning team receiving US$250,000, while second-placed team will receive US$100,000.
Johnny Grave, CWI Chief Executive Officer said: “We are pleased to announce the schedule for the upcoming West Indies Championship and welcome two new teams and an expansion in the number of matches. With significant upgrades taking place at all the host venues for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June and additional improvements being made to the National Stadium in Grenada and Windsor Park in Dominica, we are using nine venues across Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda and Trinidad & Tobago. The eight teams will be fighting hard for the Headley Weekes Trophy and the new prize money of US$250,000 available to the winning team. All the games will be shown live on our YouTube channel, with live ball-by-ball scores on our website so that fans around the region and world can watch and follow the competition unfold over the next three months.”
The West Indies Championship will run from 7 February to 20 April. Fans can stream all the matches live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel and access live ball-by-ball scoring here in the match centre.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
West Indies Championship 2024
7 to 10 February:
Jamaica Scorpions vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - Sabina Park, Jamaica
CCC vs Barbados Pride - Chedwin Park, Jamaica
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs West Indies Academy - Warner Park, St. Kitts
Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force - Conaree Cricket Centre, St. Kitts
14 to 17 February:
Jamaica Scorpions vs CCC - Sabina Park, Jamaica
Barbados Pride vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - Kensington Cricket Club, Jamaica
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Warner Park, St. Kitts
Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs West Indies Academy - Conaree Cricket Centre, St. Kitts
21 to 24 February:
Jamaica Scorpions vs Barbados Pride - Sabina Park, Jamaica
Windward Islands Volcanoes vs CCC - Chedwin Park, Jamaica
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Trinidad &Tobago Red Force - Warner Park, St. Kitts
West Indies Academy vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), Antigua
13 to 16 March:
Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
CCC vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes - Diego Martin Regional Complex, Trinidad
Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Barbados Pride - Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground at UWI Spec (UWI SPEC), Trinidad
West Indies Academy vs Jamaica Scorpions - CCG, Antigua
20 March to 23 March:
Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs Barbados Pride - Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Jamaica Scorpions - Diego Martin Regional Complex, Trinidad
Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - UWI SPEC, Trinidad
West Indies Academy vs CCC - CCG, Antigua
10 to 13 April:
Jamaica Scorpions vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Sabina Park, Jamaica
CCC vs Trinidad &Tobago Red Force - Chedwin Park, Jamaica
Leeward Hurricanes vs Barbados Pride - UWI SPEC, Trinidad
West Indies Academy vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - CCG, Antigua
17 to 20 April:
Jamaica Scorpions vs Trinidad &Tobago Red Force - Sabina Park, Jamaica
CCC vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Kensington Cricket Club, Jamaica
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - UWI SPEC, Trinidad
West Indies Academy vs Barbados Pride - CCG, Antigua
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It is a proud moment in time for one of the most accomplished Caribbean teams in Concacaf history, as five-time Concacaf Champions Cup finalists Robinhood of Suriname are back in the prestigious tournament for the first time since 1994.
Though it has been 30 years since Robinhood last graced the tournament, this will be the club's 18th appearance overall, with a new generation of players, led by midfielder Renske Adipi, aiming to carve out a legacy of their own on this occasion.
Adipi, steered Robinhood to the mountaintop in both the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield and Concacaf Caribbean Cup. He was named Best Player in the Caribbean Cup.
The 24-year-old scored a goal, contributed an assist, made eight steals, three clearances and completed more than 83 percent of his passes in the tournament.
Adipi and his Robinhood teammates recently returned to training following a well-deserved break and are busy preparing for the Champions Cup which gets under way with Round One action next month.
“This is a team with a lot of young players, but we trained hard, the coach worked very hard with us so we could reach a level at which we could compete in the Shield and the Caribbean Cup,” Adipi said in an interview with Concacaf.com.
“For Robinhood as a team, it means that we are back at the level we had in previous years in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. We are very proud to be back at the international Concacaf level and proud to be back in Champions Cup,” he added.
As Caribbean Cup champions, Robinhood will start the tournament in the Round of 16 where they will face the winner of the Round One contest between Costa Rica's Herediano and two-time Concacaf champions Toluca of Mexico.
While Robinhood's players are just now returning to the training field, the coaching staff has already been studying the club’s potential opponent.
“Our coaching staff is already busy analyzing Toluca and Herediano, so we will be prepared for whichever team we play,” Adipi shared.
On that note, Adipi reflected on last year's campaign which will forever live in the minds of Robinhood's players, coaches and supporters alike, even more so as their impressive double Caribbean triumph has etched the club's name in the annals of Suriname's sporting history.
Adipi recalled how the team registered big wins in the Shield, and later took that momentum all the way to the Caribbean Cup title.
“At the start of the Shield, we were a little nervous, but when the tournament started after the first game, we grew into ourselves and grew in the tournament, and we became champions. When we entered the Caribbean Cup, we were surer of ourselves. We played a good tournament and also became champions of that event. For the fans they enjoyed it very much and they have not stopped celebrating it. They were great fans in the games, even though it was late at night," he said with a smile.
Robinhood’s Caribbean conquest and Champions Cup qualification was timely, too. On the horizon is the beginning of a new professional league in Suriname, so no doubt Robinhood’s appearance in this year’s Champions Cup will bring plenty of eyes to the country's football and, by extension, its development.
“We know that not only are we playing for Robinhood, but we are also playing for the country of Suriname. It is a very important moment so that Robinhood can have prestige in this tournament, because we are going to start a professional league in Suriname. This is a welcomed moment that everyone can now see the level that Surinamese football has,” Adipi ended.
Saturday’s BetMGM Clarence House Chase fixture at Ascot has been abandoned due to a frozen track.
The Berkshire circuit was due to host a seven-race card, with the Grade One feature set to stage a mouthwatering rematch between old foes El Fabiolo and Jonbon.
However, a third clash between the pair will not take place this weekend, with the track deemed unraceable following a 4pm inspection Thursday and further freezing temperatures forecast.
A statement from Ascot posted on X, formerly Twitter, read: “The BetMGM Clarence House Chase Raceday has been abandoned.
“Temperatures dropped to minus 6C overnight into Thursday and the track is still frozen in places at 4pm under the covers.
“Given the forecast remains for sub-zero temperatures over the next two nights there is no prospect of improvement before raceday on Saturday.”
An inspection has also been called ahead of Saturday’s meeting at Haydock, with officials set to check on conditions at 8am on Friday.
Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright admits the card, which is headlined by the Sky Bet Peter Marsh Chase, needs a “miracle” if it is to go ahead.
“We’ve not had a great day and the frost hasn’t even got off the running rail, so we are not looking great,” Tellwright said on Thursday afternoon.
“We will wait to see if the thaw starts early but there is no indication of it, so I think we will be put out of our misery in the morning.
“We just need to pray there is a miracle and the thaw starts in time.”
Friday’s meeting at Market Rasen was called off following a noon inspection, with the track frozen after temperatures dropped to minus 8C overnight.
Taunton’s meeting on Saturday is subject to an inspection at noon on Friday.
West Indies Women's cricketers Anisa Mohammed, Shakera Selman, Kycia Knight and Kyshona Knight have confirmed their retirement from international cricket. All four players recently communicated their decisions to Cricket West Indies (CWI).
Mohammed and Selman, both served as vice-captain during their careers which spanned 20 years and 18 years respectively. Mohammed made her debut for the West Indies Women in 2003 at the age of 15 against Japan Women in an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in the Netherlands. Her last match was against Australia Women in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in March 2022.
She played 141 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 117 T20 Internationals (T20Is). She took 180 ODI wickets, with a career best of 7-14 against Pakistan. Additionally, she tallied 125 T20I wickets and in 2016 she became the first cricketer (male or female) to take 100 T20I wickets. She also has the distinction of being the first West Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in a Women’s T20I and was a member of the West Indies Women’s team, which won the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India in 2016.
Mohammed, in her announcement, said the last 20 years of her career have been truly amazing.
“I have enjoyed every single minute of it. The highs and the lows. I believe the time has come for me to step away from the game and allow the young players to live their dreams as I have lived mine. I was privileged enough to step onto the field wearing my maroon 258 times in my career. I have represented West Indies in five (5) ODI World Cups and seven (7) T20 World Cups. To my fellow teammates, thank you for all the love and respect shown to me during my time with you. You'll have made my journey a memorable experience. I would also like to thank WI, coaches, managers, and medical staff for believing in me and always ensuring I was in the best possible place to represent the West Indies. To my fans, it has been an honor representing you over the last 20 years. The love, support, encouragement, and respect from you'll gave me the motivation to keep doing what love most," she shared.
Selman, who started her international career against Ireland Women in Dublin in 2008, quickly established herself as a key member of the West Indies Women’s team. She played 100 ODIs taking 82 wickets and 96 T20Is where she took 51wickets. Selman was also a member of the 2016 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup winning squad.
In a heartfelt statement, Selman pointed out that the goal of her journey was to inspire others.
"This marks my final bow after 18 incredible years. I am proud of playing with and against legends, and lucky to have dismissed a few. My aim was always to inspire and assist others in their dreams. I owe immense gratitude to God, my supportive family and friends, and to CWI, my teammates, and the medical and management teams for their unwavering guidance. To the fans, your support has been my motivation. As I transition to the next phase of my career, I look forward to continuing to share my passion for the game in new ways," she said.
The Knight twins, Kycia and Kyshona made their debuts for West Indies Women in 2011 and 2013 respectively.
Kycia, a left-handed wicketkeeper/batter holds the record for the most dismissals in Women’s T20I innings with five, as well as the most stumpings in an innings of four, and tied for most catches in an innings also with four. She played 87 ODIs and amassed 1327 runs, complemented by her 70 T20I appearances in which she scored 801 runs.
Kyshona played 51 ODIs in which she scored 851 runs. That goes with her 55 T20Is appearances and 546 runs.
The Knight sisters in a joint statement said the memories of their respective journeys will be cherished. Both were also a part of the successful West Indies women's team that won the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup.
“As this marks the end of an enjoyable and amazing journey, we would like to take this time to thank our family, friends, teammates and supporters for the continued love and support throughout the years. None of this would’ve been possible without the support and love from you guys, and for that we are forever grateful. Lastly, thank you to CWI for the opportunities granted and memories that will be forever cherished," they said.
Meanwhile, CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe paid tribute to the four cricketers.
“Anisa, Shakera, Kycia and Kyshona have had all made significant individual impacts on women’s cricket the West Indies and the world. Their dedication, skill, and sportsmanship have not only elevated our team but also captivated cricket fans worldwide. Their legacies, as members of the title-winning ICC Women’s T20 World Cup squad of 2016 and individual milestones, will continue to influence and guide future generations to aspire to wear the Maroon," Bascombe noted.
West Indies Test head coach Andre Coley believes his team are still in with a chance to earn a positive result from the first Test against Australia but admits they have lost too many wickets, so far, in the second innings at the Adelaide Oval.
After a spirited bowling display that left Australia with a manageable 95-run lead at the start of the West Indies second innings, the tourists were 73-6 off 22.5 overs at stumps, needing a further 22 to make Australia have to chase a total.
“Obviously we had a good day on Tuesday and then a session and a half, maybe two sessions on Wednesday to claw our way back. Potentially two sessions a piece so even but, at the end of the day, we’re too many wickets down but, obviously, still in it,” Coley said in a press conference after the second day’s play.
“Generally, I thought out intent was pretty good but our decision-making was questionable. I think the challenge has been the consistency of the bowlers. Obviously, a wealth of experience in that Australian bowling attack so they’re able to stay patient,” he added.
The wicket of Cameron Green at the start of the day for 14 brought dynamic left-hander Travis Head to the crease and he was able to overcome a shaky start and take the game away from the West Indians with 119 off 134 balls, his seventh Test hundred.
“Originally, the plan to Head was to pretty much go short at him up front and plan B was to come back into him and shut him down which we did most of the time,” he said.
“By the time he was set, bowlers were jaded but I thought we stuck to the plans as well as we could and it worked well for the most part. The plan was simple, bowl out Australia in less than 90 overs. We never had a target in mind within 90 overs because we believed that if we were disciplined, we would bowl them out for a manageable total that we could chase down,” Coley added.
The star of the day, and the match so far for the West Indies, has been debutant Shamar Joseph.
After a swashbuckling 36 with the bat, Joseph starred with the ball to take his maiden Test five-wicket haul.
“I believe his performances speak for themselves,” Coley said on Joseph.
“What you see is what you get. We took him to South Africa earlier and we knew he was inexperienced but we knew he had pace. He had a natural ability to work to a plan and be consistent and disciplined around it and he’s done that. He shown what he’s capable of in this match,” he added.
Paul Townend will have an enviable book of rides at the Dublin Racing Festival as he seeks to find the top novice prospects to partner alongside proven stars.
The two-day meeting was created in 2018 and has quickly become a real highlight of the National Hunt calendar, with eight Grade One races across the weekend including the Irish Gold Cup and Irish Champion Hurdle.
Willie Mullins is guaranteed to field a powerful team of horses and as stable jockey, Townend has the pick of the bunch when it comes to selecting his rides.
In the novice ranks, where horses are yet to assert themselves in a clear hierarchy, this leaves the rider with a few tricky choices to make as the meeting, run on February 3 and 4, approaches.
“I’m trying to sit on as many as I can and see what’s going well,” he said.
“Especially the novices, because they can step forward so much, like the two-mile novice hurdle that was run at Christmas as an example (Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle).
“We’re still in the dark about what probably is our best. Daddy Long Legs didn’t turn up on the day. He could win at Leopardstown in February and he didn’t show up at all at Christmas. I thought I’d know a bit more coming out of Christmas, and I don’t.”
Another example the rider offers is El Fabiolo, a 10-length winner of the Goffs Irish Arkle last season when Townend had opted to ride the third-placed Appreciate It instead.
He said: “Then there’s the novice chasers. Last year, El Fabiolo showed up, I chose the wrong one. Novices can progress at different rates.”
Though there is this element of the unknown with less experienced horses, Townend generally views it as a positive rather than a negative as runners can improve significantly and sometimes unexpectedly as they progress.
“When they do something you’re not expecting it’s fantastic,” he said.
“The other side is the disappointment of the one you think is going to build and keep building throughout the year and it just peters out.
“At the very start of my career, as an 18-year-old, I had Hurricane Fly winning my first Grade One in the Royal Bond. So I probably always loved what might happen with the novices.”
While there will be decisions to be made regarding his novice rides, there is no question Townend will partner proven top horses like State Man and Galopin Des Champs.
State Man, a favourite of Townend’s, is odds-on for the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle, a race he won by nearly five lengths from Honeysuckle last season.
“He just turns up every time. You can rely on him,” he said.
“You can make the running if nothing else will or you can sit in behind. He just shows up and runs his race most of the time.
“He jumps, he gallops and he tries hard for you. I just get a great kick out of winning on him, I must say, and doing it for the Donnellys (owners) adds to that.”
Galopin Des Champs returned to winning ways in the Savills Chase after two beaten runs behind Fastorslow previously, and Townend is confident the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner can hold his own to retain his Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup title.
“He’s doing well and everything has gone well since the Savills Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas,” he said.
“He probably had a little bit to prove that day after losing twice, although we never lost faith in him and he was showing us all the same things at home. But that performance was as good as anything he had ever done before and if he were to repeat that every day, that would be good enough for me!
“It will be a strong race for definite and Fastorslow is obviously a big danger again but there hasn’t been all that much between them in the Punchestown Gold Cup and the John Durkan. I’d be confident if Galopin is firing, he would take all the beating.”
A Dream To Share is set to bid for back-to-back victories in the Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race at next month’s Dublin Racing Festival, after connections put a pause on plans to go hurdling this season.
The JP McManus-owned six-year-old is five from five in bumpers for veteran trainer John Kiely, also landing the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and a Grade One at Punchestown.
He was due to embark on a hurdling career this term and was at the head of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market, but a setback meant he missed his intended jumping debut at Punchestown in October and he was later ruled out until the new year.
And while A Dream To Share is reported to be back in good form, McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry has confirmed he will instead revert to the bumper route in Leopardstown’s Grade Two finale on February 3.
He said: “All being well, he’ll go for the bumper (at the Dublin Racing Festival).
“Basically he’s missed a few schooling days and a few things and with the setback it just didn’t give us a lot of time to get him jumping.
“He’s eligible for the bumper in Leopardstown and that’s the route he’s going to take, so let’s see how we get on doing this.
“He’s coming along nicely, John is happy with him. We’ll learn a bit more at the Dublin Racing Festival and see where we go from there.”
In a training session that is sending ripples through the track and field community, NCAA triple jump champion Jaydon Hibbert, who recently turned 19, displayed remarkable progress by shattering his previous standing triple jump best mark. Coach Travis Geopfert confirmed that Hibbert leaped out to an impressive 10.87m, a significant improvement from his earlier mark of 10.34m set just last year during his freshman year at the University of Arkansas. (See video below)
The half-metre enhancement in his standing triple jump could be a foreshadowing of greater achievements for the Jamaican athlete in this crucial Olympic year. With his world-leading and personal best mark standing at 17.87m, the question looms whether this remarkable training feat could indicate a trend toward surpassing his own records and possibly Johnathan Edwards' world record of 18.29m.
The year 2023 marked a milestone for Hibbert, securing NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles with record-breaking jumps of 17.54m and 17.87m, respectively—both ratified as World U20 records. Despite these triumphs, his World Athletics Championships campaign in Budapest was marred by a hamstring injury during the final, cutting his participation short after an impressive preliminary round performance.
Capping off an outstanding year, Hibbert clinched the prestigious Bowerman Award in December, becoming the first Jamaican and the youngest collegiate athlete ever to receive this accolade.
While the Jamaican athlete's recent training feat raises expectations for the upcoming season, Coach Travis Geopfert remains cautious about making predictions. Geopfert acknowledged Hibbert's improvement, stating, “It's almost, I think exactly half-a-metre farther... I think it's a direct correlation to his power more than anything else."
Geopfert emphasized Hibbert's commitment to strength training, noting a substantial increase in his performance, revealing that the Razorback sophomore has added 30lbs to his power clean. However, he remained guarded about predicting specific improvements in Hibbert's full jump, stating, "As far as how it equates to the full jump, it's all relative. Being stronger with the same body weight as last year and he's faster, those are two those are two positive things (but) to give you an exact indicator of how much farther you can jump, that, I don't know.”
The coach hinted at the possibility of surpassing last season's 17.87m personal best but underscored the team's strategic approach to Hibbert's training this year. "He's in better shape than last year, but we're also taking things a little bit slower, putting a little bit more emphasis on strength a little bit longer into the season because last year ended late. So we gave him a rest and started a little bit later this year."
As Jaydon Hibbert prepares for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, the athletics world eagerly anticipates whether this training benchmark is a precursor to more record-breaking feats in the triple jump arena.
Sandor Clegane will look to get off the mark over fences when he heads to Navan on Saturday.
The Paul Nolan-trained seven-year-old was a good quality hurdler who finished a close third in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last season and then went on to win the valuable Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final at Punchestown.
He made his chasing debut at Fairyhouse in early November and finished fourth whilst gaining experience around an insufficient trip of two miles and a half a furlong.
At Punchestown later the same month the gelding was stepped up in both trip and level to contest the Florida Pearl Novice Chase, a Grade Two run over three miles for which he was a 7-2 chance.
Gordon Elliott’s Favori De Champdou was an easy 14-length winner of that race as Sandor Clegane finished second with Flooring Porter, Affordale Fury and Quilixios behind him.
Navan will be the next port of call for the bay, who holds an entry for the Jack Kiernans Celebrating 55 Years In Business Beginners Chase over three miles on Saturday.
“He’s in good form, we were a bit disappointed by how far he was beaten the last day but hopefully we have our reasons,” said Nolan.
“Hopefully he’ll jump well and run a nice race, we’ll know a lot more after Saturday.”
Reflecting on the Punchestown run, the form from which is varied as Favori De Champdou was well beaten next time out yet Quilixios won comfortably, Nolan added: “There were a couple of fences that he was perhaps a little bit scratchy at, but I thought he was far better the last day than he was the first day and he looked like he enjoyed himself far more.
“We were way happier with his jumping than the first day so it was definitely a step forward, but when you’re beaten a long way you always start asking questions.
“That can happen at times, horses can perform out of their skin on certain days and that might be totally reversed the next day.
“You can’t read too much into other horses, you have to concentrate on what you have yourself.
“He’s the best we have so we’ll concentrate on him and find the race we think is most suitable for him.
“That’s what we’re doing, we’ll creep before we walk and see where it will take us.”
Kerry Lee’s Nemean Lion has a whole host of options open to him after coming home the runner-up in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-year-old began his season by winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle, a length-and-a-half success that then led him to Greatwood at Cheltenham where he was fifth under the burden of 12st.
In the Lanzarote only one of his 18 rivals shouldered more weight than him and under Richard Patrick he produced another fine run to go down by a length and a quarter to Dan Skelton’s Jay Jay Reilly.
The run was a step up to two miles and five furlongs for the gelding and provided ample proof that the extended trip was to his liking, leaving an array of hurdle races open to him as the season progresses.
“I was absolutely delighted with him, these big handicaps are a lottery and he was giving away a lot of weight,” said Lee.
“I think he’s run incredibly well, I’m very proud of him.
“He’s given us a lot more options after that, we can really shop around for which way to go now.”
Nemean Lion was a well-regarded performer on the Flat before joining Lee, finishing second in the Group Two Prix Chaudenay on his final start for Andre Fabre in 2020.
Over two years off the track followed due to injury and while soft ground is not mandatory, Lee is naturally mindful of preserving the horse’s soundness after waiting so long to campaign him under the National Hunt code.
“I think he’s proven that he doesn’t need soft ground, it’s just that he is so fragile,” she said.
“When a horse has had two years off the track, you’ve got to respect that they’ve had an injury that could recur if you run them on the wrong ground.
“I’m very careful with him, I thought the ground at Kempton was absolutely beautiful and I walk the track every time before running him – or not as the case may be.”
Nemean Lion, who is by Golden Horn, holds entries in a host of races including the two key hurdle events at the Cheltenham Festival, though the Stayers’ is now more likely than the Champion Hurdle after his performance at Kempton.
“We’ve got to look at all our options, literally every single one of them, and get our heads together based on how the horse comes out of the race,” said Lee.
“We’ll look at everything, he has a cheeky entry in the Stayers’ and I think that would be a more likely option now than the Champion Hurdle – exciting times.”
Banbridge could head straight for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival following his successful reappearance at Kempton.
Joseph O’Brien’s charge proved his worth at the highest level as a novice over fences last term, placing in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse and the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown before enjoying his day in the sun in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in the spring.
Banbridge made his first competitive appearance in nine months in last weekend’s Silviniaco Conti Chase, and O’Brien believes his defeat of the race-fit Pic D’Orhy is clear evidence the eight-year-old has improved since last season.
He said: “It was a lovely ride from J J (Slevin) and a lovely performance from the horse. It was a career-best on figures and we’re looking forward to the spring with him.
“You’re always hoping they might put up a nice performance on their reappearance and he has been delayed a couple of times so he was a little bit rusty, particularly in the straight jumping the second- and third-last, but he got a good jump at the last and went and won nicely.
“It’s one thing being a Grade One novice, but it’s another jump up to hold your own in open company. It looks as though he might be able to do that in the spring.”
Banbridge is a 5-1 shot with Paddy Power for the Ryanair Chase, and while he will be aimed for Cheltenham, O’Brien hinted he could look elsewhere should testing conditions prevail in the Cotswolds, adding: “The programme will map itself out and the Ryanair is the obvious next spot for him, but we’ll be watching the weather.”
Gavin Cromwell is leaning towards running his dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter in the National Hunt Chase at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
The nine-year-old dominated from the front to lift the Stayers’ crown in 2021 and 2022, but having had to make do with fourth place when bidding for the hat-trick last season, he has this term embarked on a career over fences.
He made a successful start at Cheltenham in October, but has since had his limitations exposed in Grade Two and Grade One company at Punchestown and Leopardstown respectively.
With Cromwell deciding against entering his stable star for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, he faces a straight choice between the three-mile-six-furlong National Hunt Chase or switching back to the smaller obstacles for the Stayers’ Hurdle, with the former currently his preferred option.
“It (National Hunt Chase) is probably more likely anyway, but we’re keeping an open mind and seeing how things go with everyone else and what way the races are closer to the time,” he said.
“He’s very versatile, so there’s no reason why he couldn’t switch back to the Stayers’ Hurdle.”
Keith Donoghue has taken over in the saddle from Danny Mullins this season, but neither will be eligible to ride in the National Hunt Chase, which is of course confined to amateur jockeys.
Asked whether he had considered who might take the mount if Flooring Porter does line up over fences, Cromwell added: “That is obviously a bit of a dilemma, but we’ll work on that.”
A Plus Tard, winner of the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been retired from racing.
Owned by Cheveley Park Stud and trained by Henry de Bromhead, A Plus Tard gave jockey Rachael Blackmore a historic victory in the Prestbury Park feature as she became the first woman to ride the winner of jump racing’s blue riband.
The 10-year-old rocketed to a 15-length success that day, supplementing three previous Grade One wins, including a 22-length verdict in the 2021 Betfair Chase.
However, A Plus Tard has struggled to make his mark since that Gold Cup win, pulling up on two occasions and finishing third at Aintree in April before bowing out when unplaced in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown last month.
Richard Thompson, director of Cheveley Park Stud, paid tribute to the gelding who realised the dream of his late father, David, when winning at Cheltenham.
He said in a statement: “My father and I sat down in early 2018 and agreed a plan to buy some National Hunt horses to be trained in Ireland with the aim of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“Just over four years later, we achieved this objective when Rachael Blackmore rode A Plus Tard to victory in front of 70,000 people at the first Cheltenham Festival post Covid.
“My father watched A Plus Tard win the Savills Chase in a thrilling finish on television on December 28, 2020. He died the very next day. It was the last horse race he ever watched.
“A Plus Tard was also the first Cheltenham winner in the red, white and blue Cheveley Park Stud colours and also Rachael Blackmore’s first winner at Cheltenham in the 2019 Listed Close Brothers Novices’ Chase. Rachael rode him to five of his six victories and Darragh O’Keeffe rode him in the other one.
“For all of the above reasons, A Plus Tard will always be a very special horse in the history of my parents’ ownership of Cheveley Park Stud.
“A special thank you to Henry de Bromhead and all the team at Knockeen and to Rachael too. To win the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the Holy Grail of National Hunt racing and we will never forget March 18, 2022.”
A Plus Tard will remain at De Bromhead’s Knockeen yard in the immediate future before returning to Cheveley Park in Newmarket to enjoy his retirement.
De Bromhead added: “A Plus Tard was our first horse to train for Cheveley Park Stud and the Thompson Family. He was bought from France by Alex Elliot and gave us many memorable days, culminating in the 2022 Gold Cup.
“He was sublime that day, not only visually impressive, but also one of the highest rated winners of the Gold Cup in the last 30 years, as well as being one of the best horses we have ever had in our yard.
“We were delighted when this very special horse won Cheveley Park Stud their first Gold Cup.”
A Plus Tard bows out the winner of eight of his 23 career starts, with over £957,000 in prize money.
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