Lucinda Russell’s Apple Away has a new division in which to thrive after a facile chasing success at Leicester
The mare took some notable scalps at Aintree in the spring when winning the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at 16-1, defeating Donald McCain’s Maximilian, Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s Iroko and Paul Nicholls’ Stay Away Fay.
The latter two horses have since made very impressive starts to their chasing careers, with Iroko making light work of his debut over fences before injury interrupted his campaign and Stay Away Fay winning both chasing starts thus far including the Grade Two Esher Novices’ Chase most recently.
Apple Away’s first experience at the discipline was in a highly competitive Haydock graduation chase in late November, where she encountered two quality horses in Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning and Willie Mullins’ Galliard Du Mesnil.
The two greys finished in the above order with Apple Away behind them and although beaten, the experience seemed to have served her well when she lined up for the @leicesterraces Christmas Meeting 28th December Book Now Beginners’ Chase over nearly two miles and seven furlongs on Wednesday.
Under Derek Fox she ran prominently and jumped soundly to take an easy lead and stroll to a 31-length success over Nicholls’ Makin’yourmindup with Fergal O’Brien’s Alaphilippe a further length and a half behind – both horses being Grade Two winners over hurdles.
Apple Away is always well supported by members of Old Gold Racing, a large-scale syndicate headed up by CEO Ed Seyfried.
Seyfried was delighted to see the six-year-old get off the mark over fences, saying of the performance: “We are properly, properly excited about her.
“It was a three-horse race and you know the old adage, back the outsider in a field of three, but we were looking at a Grade One winner and two Grade Two winners and she put a very good race to bed by 31 lengths – we’ve got a proper little rocket on our hands.
“She’ll stay and stay, we’re a syndication business trying to give the experience of owning a racehorse to a much wider population of people and to have a horse as good as this that has people on social media squabbling about whether we should go for the Brown Advisory or the mares’ chase – what a wonderful decision to have to make.
“I said that it would give us a huge boost if she could win by 20 lengths but that there was no chance of that. She heard me and over-performed by 50 per cent!
“She’s a very, very tough mare, we let the trainers do their jobs and though it wasn’t set in stone that she would go chasing this season, I love the fact that she has and I think she’s a proper little chaser now. She causes happiness and mirth wherever she goes and I can’t wait to see more of it.
“You saw in the Sefton at Aintree that she can run from the front if we want her to, everyone loves a front runner and I think she’s just going to grab everyone’s hearts.
“In the home straight she jumped into a 30-length lead. She was very careful at Haydock and she was quite careful in the first circuit at Leicester, but by the time the second circuit came around she was fabulous. I loved watching her jump like that.”
Apple Away’s next outing is yet to be decided upon, with the Kauto Star at Kempton and a limited novices’ handicap Wetherby previously under consideration before the Leicester race was added to the calendar belatedly.
Those contests will come only a fortnight after her most recent run, however, and the mare is therefore more likely to return to action in the new year instead.
“If you look at how she was campaigned last year, they didn’t really go for any eyecatching big races until quite late on,” Seyfried said.
“She has so much potential and though we’re not counting our chickens, to have a horse with so much potential in syndicate ownership is wonderful.
“It’s just fabulous, she is a walking morale booster.”
Henry de Bromhead has indicated A Plus Tard is on course to make his comeback in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.
The chaser looked to have the world at his feet when sprinting clear to win the 2022 Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but things have not gone to plan since then.
He was pulled up on his first run since Gold Cup glory at Haydock and was then a late absentee last Christmas at Leopardstown. He made it back to defend his Cheltenham crown but was pulled up after being badly hampered by a faller.
A Plus Tard was last seen finishing third at Aintree to Shishkin and is expected to be joined by stablemate Envoi Allen in the Leopardstown feature.
“I hope both Envoi and A Plus Tard will run in the Savills,” said De Bromhead, speaking to Leopardstown Racecourse.
“A Plus Tard schooled well the other day, he has another big piece of work coming up but he’s in good form, he seems really well.
“Envoi seems really well, he’s in great form. He ran really well at Down Royal so fingers crossed we get a clear run into the race and he’ll be able to put in a good performance.”
Another Grade One contender for the yard over Christmas is two-miler Captain Guinness, who swerved the Tingle Creek in preference for the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase closer to home on December 27.
“That’s the plan at the moment, we’d love to win a Grade One with him,” he said.
“He’s been brilliant, so consistent. Look, it’s a very good race but we’ll take our chance and see.”
Only By Night has got Gavin Cromwell dreaming of March having watched her cruise to victory in the Care At Home Services Mares Maiden Hurdle at Naas.
A Listed bumper winner, she was entitled to score on her hurdling debut and was sent off the 2-5 favourite in a field of 17.
Ridden confidently by Keith Donoghue, her sole rival remaining, Gordon Elliott’s Magic Dawn, was just beginning to feel the heat when she unseated Jack Kennedy at the final flight, allowing Only By Night to coast home by 10 lengths.
Betfair cut her to 14-1 from 20s for the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham.
“She’s a nice mare and when she won a Listed bumper you would hope she could come on and do that,” said Cromwell.
“She jumped well and was very straightforward.
“The first day she was a little bit keen with Derek (O’Connor) and the last day in Navan she improved from that. You can even see it in her work at home she used to be a bit keen, but she’s grown up now and is very straightforward.
“Hopefully she could be good enough to aim at the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham. We might as well dream here as in bed!”
She was completing a double on the day for Cromwell and Donoghue following the earlier success of 7-4 favourite Money Heist in the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Handicap Chase.
Gordon Elliott has nominated Croke Park as a likely contender for the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle on January 7.
Unbeaten in two outings over timber, Croke Park landed the Grade Three Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan when last seen.
The Grade One at Naas has a rich history having been won by the likes of Mikael D’Haguenet, Bellshill, Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger.
There are 23 entries, with Elliott responsible for eight and Willie Mullins 11.
“The Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle is a race we really target every year,” said Elliott.
“There is a lot of racing over Christmas, but this race at Naas is over two and a half miles and we’ll be well represented. We’ve made a good few entries and will split some of the horses up over Christmas, but I’d definitely be thinking that Naas could suit Croke Park.
“Croke Park is a horse we really like. He won well at Clonmel and then went to Navan for a Grade Three over two and a half miles and we couldn’t have asked for any more. The Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle looks the next move for him, but I think we’ll have a few runners in the race.
“Firefox is in there after his win at Fairyhouse and is in good form, Search For Glory and Down Memory Lane also have Naas as an option so we’ll see what the next week or so brings.”
Among Mullins’ entries are Blizzard Of Oz, Daddy Long Legs, High Class Hero and Mystical Power, the son of Annie Power.
Owner Max McNeill feels Virgin Bet December Gold Cup favourite Thunder Rock may still have the required improvement up his sleeve to progress out of handicaps.
Olly Murphy’s seven-year-old spent most of last season competing in graded novice chases, just coming up short against the likes of Gerri Colombe and The Real Whacker.
However, the form of his last two races looks especially strong, as he signed off last season finishing second to subsequent Coral Gold Cup winner Datsalrightgino at Ayr before reappearing at Carlisle and beating Mahler Mission, second in the Newbury showpiece.
“His last two runs could not have worked out any better really,” said McNeill.
“I was really disappointed at Ayr last season, we thought he probably should have won but the winner has gone on and won the Coral Gold Cup.
“Then at Carlisle this season, beating Mahler Mission, who was second in the Coral, and we beat him easily, with the Topham winner (Bill Baxter) behind as well – the form has really been franked.
“This is a race we targeted straight after Carlisle with Olly. We are hoping we are a Graded horse, but this will tell us where we are; will he stay in these good handicaps or can he make the step up to graded level.”
Assessing the opposition, McNeill acknowledges the main threat could come from a camp he knows well, champion trainer Paul Nicholls.
“Looking at the race, there are six or seven you’d think can win. I was speaking to Paul Nicholls on Wednesday and he said he hoped I wouldn’t be too disappointed when he beats us on Saturday!” said McNeill.
“He really likes Monmiral, but we beat him quite nicely at Sandown I thought, and we were closing on him fast in the Dipper before that when The Real Whacker won, and we didn’t jump well that day.
“Paul is confident he’s got him right after a long break and Harry (Cobden) has chosen him but his other runner, Il Ridoto, has a chance, too. It’s going to be a tight race and it’s great to be involved.
“We’re sort of thinking we’ll get one chance to win a big handicap off 146 and, for once, we think he’s well handicapped. We think he’s a good horse and the dream is still alive that he can run in a Grade One here or there, and who’s to say he can’t have a crack at the Ryanair if he runs well in this.
“This time last year, we were in the Graded novice chases and he wasn’t a million miles behind Gerri Colombe and look what he’s rated now. I’m not saying ours is Gerri Colombe by any stretch, but I do think he’s handicapped to a level where he should be really competitive on Saturday.”
McNeill, who sponsors a contest at the Cheltenham Festival in March through his Ultima brand, has famously never won a race at the big meeting, and admits he would forego that for another year if it meant he was successful on Saturday.
He said: “I know this isn’t March, but if somebody said to me you can win a December Gold Cup but not have a winner at the Festival, I’d sign it now!”
A total of 12 were declared on Thursday, with JP McManus responsible for top-weight Fakir D’oudairies and Emmett Mullins’ So Scottish.
Fugitif, Grandeur D’Ame and Frero Banbou are also among the field, of which four are out of the handicap.
Blood Destiny made a seamless transition to fences for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins at Naas.
A leading juvenile hurdler last year, he was sent off second-favourite for the Triumph Hurdle, in which he ran too keen and faded into ninth.
Fences look like calming him down, however, as he was far more tractable in the Bar One Racing “Bet 10 Euro Get 50 Euro Sign Up Offer” Beginners Chase and he barely put a foot wrong, powering away after the last to beat Heart Wood by nine lengths.
“He was dynamite everywhere and always looking for the next fence really. He’s a real chaser,” said Townend of the even-money favourite.
“They tried to push me and get him lit up, but I wasn’t interfering with him and he was getting a length everywhere with his jumping.
“He’ll come on from it and most of Willie’s do. He has a lovely attitude for it.
“He jumps so fast that he could come back in trip, but he’d have no problem staying at that trip either.”
Mullins and Townend then doubled up with Quai De Bourbon in the ALTO EQUINE Building Solutions Maiden Hurdle.
The 11-10 favourite runs in the Gigginstown House Stud colours and was always towards the head of affairs.
It briefly looked as if Fenway Park would give him a battle having jumped the final flight upsides, but like so many from the yard, Quai De Bourbon stuck his head down and galloped on relentlessly to win by four and a half lengths.
“He’s a stayer and is still quite raw for a lad that had two runs in France. I’d say it was lack of concentration, so I gave him a slap and when I let him on, it (the last) was the best hurdle he jumped,” said Townend.
“He’s a staying type and one you would associate with these colours.”
Jordan Gainford was taken to Tallaght University Hospital in Dublin for further examination following a fall in the two-mile handicap chase from the Moses McCabe-trained Derridae.
An update posted on social media by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board read: “Jordan Gainford is being transferred to Tallaght Hospital for further assessment on his injuries following Race 2. Jordan was conscious and communicating at all times.”
Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo faces a new challenge in the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase when he returns to the scene of his finest hour on Friday.
The 10-year-old has a stellar record at Prestbury Park, famously providing trainer Henry de Bromhead with a first victory in the blue riband when getting the better of stablemate A Plus Tard in 2021.
He had previously claimed the Albert Bartlett in 2019 before going mightily close when chinned by the fast-finishing Champ in the following season’s RSA.
Although scoring twice since that herculean Gold Cup effort, and also placing in the following year’s renewal, his overall form has been hit and miss in the past few campaigns and, having been well held behind Gerri Colombe at Down Royal most recently, connections have decided to try a change of approach.
He is not the first classy operator to throw his hat into the cross-country mix and there have been positive reports from his handler ahead of this first try around the twists and turns of Cheltenham’s popular circuit.
“He seems to really enjoy it and has been schooling well, so we said we would let him take his chance,” said De Bromhead.
“He seems in great form and we have been delighted with him. We want to have a look at the race and see, we think it is something he enjoys and we will see on Friday.”
Rider Rachael Blackmore told Betfair: “This is obviously a new discipline for him, his first run in a cross-country race, but he has done plenty of cross-country schooling at home, and he has also had a pop over some of the obstacles at Cheltenham.
“Of course, you can’t beat racing experience around that track, but he has shown us plenty with the cross-country bits that he has done.
“It’s a handicap, so he has to give weight away to all his rivals, but he is a Gold Cup winner who retains lots of ability, and I’m hoping that he can run well.”
Few can match Gordon Elliott’s dominance at Cheltenham in this sphere, with the Cullentra House handler winning the Cheltenham Festival edition of this contest five times in the past seven years, as well as being denied another victory due to suspension.
Tiger Roll and Delta Work have become cross-country legends for Elliott in recent times, but both the latter and Galvin finished out of the money when appearing at the November meeting.
Festival runner-up Galvin was sent off favourite on that occasion and is given the chance to make amends as he continues on his path to March and he is joined on the team sheet by Fury Road, as Elliott searches for his first success in this particular contest since Bless The Wings’ triumph in 2017.
“Both horses are in good form, they would probably prefer better ground, but they are in good form,” said Elliott.
“Galvin will come on for his run there in November, but we’re just working back from Cheltenham in March.
“Fury Road has been great for us. It’s his first run over the fences, so a good education will do him well.”
It was Mouse Morris’ Foxy Jacks who took advantage of a rare off-day for the Elliott runners last month, but going down valiantly on his shield in second was Latenightpass and his regular jockey Gina Andrews.
The 10-year-old, who claimed the Aintree Foxhunters’ in 2022, is 3lb higher this time around but still receives over a stone in weight from some of his higher-calibre rivals, with trainer Dan Skelton anticipating another bold showing.
Skelton said: “He ran beautifully last time and I was very happy with what I saw.
“He’s got a low weight again this time and he’s got to be competitive again. He would have to be in the mix.”
Gesskille has relished a unique jumping test since joining Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero and the Grand Sefton hero arrives in search of a hat-trick, having secured another victory in Auteuil on his penultimate start.
His training team see this as the ideal spot to preserve the seven-year-old’s enthusiasm while they consider a Grand National tilt in the new year, while Didero Vallis was third here last month and represents the flying Venetia Williams stable.
Ciaran Murphy’s Irish raider Enjoy D’allen will sport the green and gold hoops of JP McManus, with Richard Bandey’s Diesel D’Allier 3lb lower than when successful two years ago and tried in a tongue-tie and cheekpieces combination for the first time.
Karl Burke expects stunning debut winner Night Raider to return with even more to offer as a three-year-old.
The Clipper Logistics-owned youngster is by Dark Angel and out of a Shamardal mare called Dorrarr, already the dam of two winners in Dubai Dawn and Group Three scorer Far Above, who now stands at Starfield Stud.
Making his debut in a 10-runner novice run over seven furlongs on Southwell’s all-weather track on Tuesday night, the colt was ridden by Danny Tudhope to travel smartly near the front of the field before cantering to an easy nine-length victory when barely pressed.
The triumph could have been by an even wider margin had he been pushed and came ahead of well-bred horses such as Roger Varian’s Midnight’s Dream, half-brother to Group winner White Lavender, and John and Thady Gosden’s Danielle, a Cracksman filly out of Crimson Ribbon whose half-siblings include Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami and stakes scorers Lion’s Pride, Crimson Rosette, Purple Ribbon and Astronomos.
Sectional timing data shows Night Raider to have run a notably quick final two furlongs while still on the bridle, a heartening statistic for a horse Burke hopes will only come back stronger next year.
“It was a very impressive debut, he’s a beautiful horse and a horse we’ve always thought an awful lot of,” he said.
“He got a slight niggle early in the summer which meant we had to back off him, but he’s very much a horse that’s going to improve from two to three as he’s a big horse.
“He’s been working nicely, but he’s not we’ve really drilled at home, there’s plenty of improvement in him.
“Visually it was a stunning performance and the time and ratings back that up as well, but there’s still plenty in the tank for him to improve from two to three.
“I believe he did an 11-second last furlong on the bridle, which is unheard of really.
“He was there just for the education and he won’t run again now until the spring, we’ll find a race for him then.”
Grey Dawning will take his “next step on the ladder” over fences in the Cheltenham & South-West Racing Club Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.
A Grade Two winner over hurdles last term, he lost little in defeat behind Stay Away Fay at Exeter on his chasing bow before showing his class over the larger obstacles in a competitive graduation chase at Haydock 20 days ago.
Grand National third Gaillard Du Mesnil and Grade One-winning hurdler Apple Away were among the beaten horses on Merseyside and with Dan Skelton resisting the urge to make the step up to Graded company at this present time, Grey Dawning gets a first taste of the undulations of Prestbury Park.
“I’m really happy with him and there’s a bit of soft ground there as well, which is great,” said Skelton.
“He carries a penalty but he has to wherever he goes really, unless it is a Grade One.
“It’s another step on the ladder for him, but I’m very happy with him.
“He can go to Warwick on the 13th (of January) for a Graded race after this and I’m very happy with him.”
Trelawne won three of his four hurdles outings and Kim Bailey’s seven-year-old thrived when switching to the larger obstacles at Carlisle last month.
Alan King’s Tritonic was once one of the favourites for the Triumph Hurdle but, now a six-year-old, he is another to take kindly to fences when making a winning start at Wincanton.
Jonjo O’Neill’s Crebilly had yet to be asked any serious questions when a faller two out in a race won by Ginny’s Destiny here last month and only 2lb separates the pair on official figures as they prepare to lock horns once again.
The latter went on to win the race by 10 lengths and his trainer Paul Nicholls is predicting another bold show, despite a 5lb penalty.
He told Betfair: “New to us this season, he relishes the current testing ground conditions and was impressive when winning on his second start over fences at this course last time.
“He made all the running that day, was two lengths ahead when his sole challenger fell at the second last and was subsequently raised 8lbs to a mark of 141. He is a decent prospect, worked well on Wednesday morning and I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on in this stronger race.”
Blue Hop has a great record when fresh and completes the line-up on his chasing debut for the ambitious Ben Brookhouse.
Jacqueline Williams is set to become the first female umpire from the West Indies to stand in a men’s T20 International featuring two Full-Member teams. The 47-year-old Williams will stand in the middle during the second T20I between West Indies and England at the Grenada National Stadium on Thursday.
She will be joined on field by experienced umpire Gregory, while Leslie Reifer jr will be the television umpire. The fourth umpire for the match is Patrick Gustard with Sir Richie Richardson, the former West Indies captain, as the Match Referee.
“It is like a dream come true. It’s a good feeling to be the first, but I hope I won’t be the last,” Williams told CWI Media.
“I’m truly honored to be given this amazing opportunity and I want to make sure I give my best when I take the field on Thursday. It is obvious that from what I have done so far in my career this would be a testimony to my work.
“Standing in full-member matches is something major for me. I don’t want to downplay the other international matches I officiated in before because that helped to prepare me for this. I am fully prepared.”
Williams added: “I am hoping that by virtue of other young females watching matches and seeing me in the middle as an umpire, it would inspire them to participate in cricket as players and as match officials. I am happy for the strides I have made so far, and I will always do my best so that those looking on will have someone to emulate.”
This is the first T20I between West Indies and England in Grenada. The match starts at 1:30 pm and fans in the West Indies will be able to catch the action LIVE in the Caribbean on Rush, the Flow Sports App, or the Sportsmax App and on TNT Sports in the UK. Visit the windiescricket.com website for further details on the live broadcast with our other media partners around the world.
West Indies lead the five-match series 1-0 following their impressive victory by four wickets in the opening contest at Kensingt0n Oval on Tuesday night thanks to a superb Player of the Match performance by Andre Russell.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Grenada National Stadium, Grenada
On-field umpires: Jacqueline Williams, Gregory Brathwaite
Television umpire: Leslie Reifer jr
Fourth umpire: Patrick Gustard
Match Referee: Sir Richie Richardson
FULL SQUADS
West Indies: Rovman Powell (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd; Daren Sammy (Head Coach)
England: Jos Butler (captain), Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Rehan Ahmed, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, John Turner; Matthew Mott (Head Coach)
SERIES MATCH SCHEDULE
12 December: 1st T20I – West Indies won by 4 wickets at – Kensington Oval, Barbados
14 December: 2nd T20I at Grenada National Stadium, Grenada (1:30pm/12.30pm Jamaica Time)
16 December: 3rd T20I at Grenada National Stadium, Grenada (1:30pm/12.30pm Jamaica Time)
19 December: 4th T20I at Brian Lara Academy, Trinidad (4pm/3pm Jamaica Time)
21 December: 5th T20I at Brian Lara Academy, Trinidad (4pm/3pm Jamaica Time)
American sprinter Britton Wilson, a finalist for the prestigious Bowerman Award, sees the opportunity not only as a chance for personal recognition but also as a means to overcome the disappointment of not winning the 400m/400m hurdles double or either of the two events at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships in Texas last June.
The award that will be presented later today, Thursday, December 14 is named after legendary Oregon track and field coach Bill Bowerman and stands as the highest honor bestowed upon the year's best student-athlete in American collegiate track and field.
Wilson, who is among the six finalists for the award, expressed her excitement about the possibility of a University of Arkansas sweep, particularly alongside her close friend and fellow athlete, Jaydon Hibbert.
"Yeah, I'm super excited and definitely even more excited that I'm there with Jayden. Me and Jayden have a really great relationship, so we become super close, so besties. So it's really exciting to get to be there with someone that's like one of my best friends and the fact that both the men's staff and the women's staff are all going to be there," Wilson remarked.
The American sprinter emphasized the camaraderie and positive attitude both she and Hibbert share, regardless of the final outcome. "So the environment's going to be really exciting...we're not going to be upset either way because we're both just like so happy and blessed to be there anyway and just to have this experience."
Reflecting on the setbacks she faced, Wilson discussed the impact of injuries on her mental state during the season. "The injury definitely was a little, a little bit of a bummer on like my attitude towards the future. It definitely made things a lot more mentally challenging, but other than that I think the season was really great and I have so many positive memories."
Detailing the severity of her injuries, Wilson explained, "It was both shins. My right one was a Grade 2 stress fracture, and my left one was a Grade 4 stress fracture."
Wilson who had been dominant in both 400m and 400m hurdles all season, attempted a feat no one had managed to accomplish before – win the 400m and 400m hurdles at an NCAA championship. Both events were 25 minutes apart.
Running with stress fractures in both shins, Wilson finished second in the 400m well behind fellow Bowerman finalist Rhasidat Adeleke, who ran 49.20, just missing Wilson’s NCAA record of 49.13. Wilson was well behind in second in 49.64. To add to the disappointment of not winning the flat-four, Wilson was a distant seventh in the 400m hurdles in 55.92, much slower than the 54.67 she ran in the preliminary round.
When asked if winning the Bowerman Award could make up for the disappointment of missing out on the historic double at the championships, Wilson shared her emotional journey.
"I actually was very, very, very heartbroken after the Nationals because I've done the double so many times. And doing that double has become really easy to me. And people think it sounds kind of crazy when I say that, but it feels really easy and I like enjoy doing it. So I was really just excited to do it at Nationals and get the chance to be the first person to do it," Wilson explained.
"But everything just kind of wasn't in my favor. The injury was worse. Mentally, I wasn't there. And so it was really heartbreaking because in my heart, I knew I could do it, but it just didn't happen that day," she continued.
Despite the setbacks, Wilson expressed gratitude for being a Bowerman finalist and believes winning the award could be a significant redemption. "Just being a finalist has meant a lot to me. And I think if I were to win it, it would definitely make up for all the little heartbreaks that I had from that Nationals race 'cause it was really hard on me."
Doddiethegreat will put the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in the spotlight again when trying to maintain his unbeaten record at Cheltenham on Friday.
Named after former Scotland rugby union great Doddie Weir, who died in November last year following a battle with motor neurone disease, all prize-money earned by the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding goes to the charity set up by Weir to raise funds to aid research into MND.
Owned by Weir’s friend and fellow Scotsman Kenny Alexander, the seven-year-old channelled his namesake’s fighting spirit when successfully overcoming a 746-day lay-off at Ascot last month.
That took his record to a perfect four from four and he now makes the step into handicap company in the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle.
“The whole thing is a dream with him and we’re trying to raise as much money for Doddie’s foundation as we can,” said Alexander’s racing manager, Peter Molony.
“He’s such an exciting horse and the whole thing is so exciting.
“We’re a little bit worried, as he’s coming back and hopefully the bounce factor won’t come into play.
“He ran so well the last day and we do think a little bit further would suit, but it’s the next step and hopefully we can pick up a bit more money for the foundation.
“Cheltenham is the place everyone wants to be and Jill Douglas, the sports presenter, is a trustee of the foundation and she is going to be there on the day. Sadly, myself and Kenny can’t be there, but Jill will represent us.
“The whole thing is building momentum now and hopefully it will continue.”
Fergal O’Brien’s Grade Two bumper-winning mare Dysart Enos impressed on her hurdling debut at Huntingdon and will bid to open the card in style in the British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
The race has a deep feel to it, with Paul Nicholls’ Meatloaf and Nicky Henderson’s Kintail both catching the eye on their respective hurdling debuts.
Nicholls told Betfair of Meatloaf: “He won two of his four bumpers and was then successful on his debut over hurdles at Wincanton last month with the form working out nicely.
“He has a penalty to carry and this is obviously a hotter race but he has run a cracker at this course on New Year’s Day and looks to have a fair chance.”
Meanwhile, Harry Fry thought long and hard before electing to send Beat The Bat to face the music at Prestbury Park, with the Ascot scorer getting the nod over fellow crack novice Gidleigh Park, who is bound for Newbury next week.
Fry said: “I just thought at this stage, Beat The Bat was more streetwise and there looks some lovely prospects in the race, that’s for sure, but we’re delighted with the progress he has been making so far this season.
“He pulled clear with what looks another nice recruit at Ascot the last day and although it’s a slight drop in trip, it’s on the New Course, which should play to his strengths really.
“It will be interesting to see how we get on against what looks some really nice novice hurdlers.”
There will be some familiar names on show in the Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase, with Kerry Lee going for back-to-back race victories with course scorer Storm Control.
Harry Cobden will link up with Philip Kirby’s popular front-runner Top Ville Ben, while Joe Tizzard’s Le Ligerien will be tasked with building on his decisive Kempton success over Danny Kirwan.
Tizzard said: “He has been a cracking horse for the yard, as he has won four races in under 12 months for us, and this series ticks a lot of boxes for him.
“Life doesn’t get any easier for him, as his mark is creeping up, but this is a good place to go for him, as it is better taking on horses of a similar age, rather than a field full of up-and-coming youngsters.
“As he has got older, he does like to bounce off the ground, but the softer ground here shouldn’t be a problem, as he has won on soft before.
“Whether he is better around an extended two and a half miles at Kempton or an extended two and a half miles around Cheltenham, we will see. He is already qualified for the final, but this is another good pot for him to go for.”
Today’s National Hunt meeting at Warwick has been abandoned but the jumps card at Newcastle survived an early-morning inspection.
Clerk of the course Tom Ryall had expressed concerns about waterlogging at Warwick after persistent rain had put the whole town on flood alert.
His fears proved warranted, with this afternoon’s fixture called off due to unsafe ground on parts of the course.
There was better news at Newcastle, where racing is scheduled to go ahead following a second inspection this morning.
Officials took a look at the track yesterday afternoon due to areas of standing water earlier in the week but it was deemed raceable.
The same view was taken this morning, although “conditions will continue to be closely monitored”.
Having lost their Fighting Fifth Hurdle card at the start of the month due to snow, today’s going is described as heavy, with a low risk of early showers before the weather should brighten up.
There will also be jumps racing at Taunton, where the ground is soft, good to soft in places, plus an all-weather Flat card at Chelmsford this evening.
For a fourth time in five seasons Clarendon College delayed their ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup celebrations in anticipation of Olivier Shield triumph. And for a fourth time in five seasons the decision was justified, as they reclaimed the badge of all-island supremacy after hammering Mona High 4-0 in the showpiece at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
Much like they did in a rampant display against neighbours Glenmuir High in the rural area decider, Clarendon College again demonstrated their class, seasoned with some individual flair at times, to secure their seventh Olivier Shield lien, with aplomb.
Christopher Hull with a brace in the 84th and 87th minutes, followed goals from the prolific Keheim Dixon (35th) and Deandre Gallimore (69th), and ensured that the title they first won in 1977 — then 1978, 1998, 2018, 2019 and 2022 — returned to their Chapelton base to complement their 11th daCosta Cup hold.
Winning Coach Lenworth “Teacha” Hyde was delighted that his players enjoyed themselves in the process, particularly the seven players, who were in their final schoolboy football season. Clarendon College just missed out on the treble after they lost the Champions Cup 2-3 to Glenmuir.
“I am very happy about it; I think we worked pretty hard this season; the boys wanted it really bad and as I told you before seven of the players are leaving us, so they were hell-bent on defending the Olivier Shield and it showed. They didn’t start out well in the first half but as the game went on the got into rhythm and they enjoyed themselves which is what I told them to do,” Hyde said in a post-game interview.
The much-anticipated clash between two of the most talked about teams this season, started as expected with Manning Cup champions Mona High showing first, as they got a warning shot off 30 seconds in.
Clarendon College gradually got into their rhythm and responded in the seventh minute with a series of chances after Mona failed to clear their lines.
Both teams continued their push for the go-ahead goal, and Mona again went close in the 27th, when a neat build up ended with ended with Kshaine Gordon driving a pass across the six-yard box, but none of his teammates was around to apply the finishing touch.
They rued that missed opportunity eight minutes later when an unmarked Dixon finished a free header at the far post from Gallimore’s weighted corner, for his 32nd goal of the season.
That goal knocked the wind from Mona, and gave life to Clarendon College’s attack, as they applied pressure in a decent passage of play at the backend of the half, but couldn’t get on target.
With the score unchanged at the break, the momentum stuck with Clarendon College and they almost doubled the lead in the 58th when Dixon twirled his way into space for a right-footed shot deep that was charged down at the near post.
Mona responded three minutes later and it took a big save from Clarendon College’s Roshae Burrell to deny Romarion Thomas’s head from close range.
But, any hopes Mona harboured of a comeback, were dashed when Gallimore fired home under pressure, for his seventh of the season.
The Craig Butler-coached Mona didn’t give up though, and Thomas again found space for a right-footer from a distance that was pushed over the crossbar by Burrell.
From there, it was all Clarendon College and Hull, who first rose above Mona’s custodian Ackeem Bernard to head home from a Jahmelle Ashley corner.
And three minutes later, the player sporting the number eight jersey secured a 14th goal for the season, when he struck a sweet left-footer from close range, that proved too much for Bernard, who helped the ball into the net.
Despite the loss, Butler was gracious in defeat.
“It was about not taking the chances and we eventually broke down. But I think the boys played well but Clarendon College was the better team on the day, and so we have to give them their respect for that,” Butler said.
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