Two Willie Mullins-trained youngsters who both ran in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham made winning hurdling debuts at Punchestown on Thursday.
It’s For Me finished better of the pair in March when fifth to A Dream To Share and was sent of the 8-13 favourite in the hands of Paul Townend in the Ladbrokes Play ‘1-2-Free’ On Football Maiden Hurdle.
Townend’s mount was keen early and was then was hard pressed turning into the straight by Jack Kennedy on Gordon Elliott’s Caldwell Potter.
While it looked like he could have a race on his hands, he eventually pulled a length and a half clear. To give some substance to the form Henry de Bromhead’s Ascending, fifth in the Triumph Hurdle, was back in third.
“He was very keen the whole way round. He showed it in his bumpers as well and he wore a hood today,” said Townend.
“Maybe a stronger pace will help him to settle but when he got a bit of light he just ran with me. He has a huge engine to run away that far from home.
“He had a blow down the straight and picked up again so the engine is definitely there, but we’ll have to calm it a small bit. I was never going to get beaten and had the luxury of popping the last.
“He hit the line well and is another exciting one for these silks (Simon Munir and Isaac Souede).”
Loughglynn (2-5 favourite) made all under Townend in the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.
He finished ninth at Cheltenham and was starting out over two miles and five furlongs but did not jump fluently at times despite winning by 10 lengths.
“He enjoyed the scenery around Punchestown and had a look at every hurdle and the big wide-open spaces,” said Townend.
“The race wasn’t that competitive, and he’ll be better when he’s concentrating on what he’s doing. When he got there, he was well able to jump but was dossing everywhere. He has loads of power and he’ll jump all right.
“He’s a stayer and is going to be chaser.”
With March next year in mind, Betfair cut It’s For Me to 16-1 from 20-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and introduced Loughglynn at 25-1 for the Albert Bartlett.
Dan Skelton’s Galia Des Liteaux made a winning start to her season in the Rhino.Bet Bud Booth Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen.
The Listed contest attracted five runners, of which she was the 5-6 favourite as a proven Graded-race performer who was set some tough assignments at the latter end of last season.
Fifth in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and fourth in the Mildmay at Aintree, the bay made her return over three miles in Lincolnshire and was partnered by usual rider Harry Skelton.
Martin Keighley’s Found On made the running and jumped soundly in front with the favourite in her slipstream, and it was on the home turn that the market leader first began to throw down a challenge.
Initially she look set to easily pull clear, but Found On was dogged behind her and Jedd O’Keeffe’s Fairfield Ferrata did not fold readily and so Galila Des Liteaux looked grateful for the staying trip when regaining dominance late on.
“She is talented, we got the job done in the end but I think the track was probably sharp enough for her,” said the winning jockey.
“It’s a Listed race, this is where Dan wanted to come right from the end of last season. This was were we wanted to start her off, she stays really well and got the job done well at the line.
“Sean (Bowen, Found On) was going a good gallop in front, she was jumping well but it was all just happening a bit quick for her. I was mindful that I didn’t want him to have it his own way up front and then turn in and be gone on me, I knew I wouldn’t pick him up late on.
“I’ve let her pop three out, pop the second-last, I looked around and I knew I’d need a good one and she had plenty left and would keep finding for me. She was good at the last and then galloped on.
“I don’t think we’ve seen her at her best there, but she’s one that tries and that’s what you need.”
Ruth Jefferson’s Southern Babylon impressed when taking the Download The Rhino.Bet App EBF Mares’ “NH” Maiden Hurdle under Richie McLernon.
The five-year-old was second in a point-to-point before joining Jefferson’s yard and made her debut for the stable in a Sedgefield maiden in late October, finishing second over two miles and one furlong in an encouraging run.
She was stepped up to just over two and a half miles at Market Rasen and seemed to relish the trip, jumping neatly and travelling well throughout before pulling away down the home straight to cross the line two and a quarter lengths ahead.
“I wasn’t going to step her up in trip after last time but this race was here and she’s seemed to really like going further,” said Jefferson of her 4-1 scorer.
“She’s a nice, straightforward horse and she’s done that well. She didn’t do much wrong last time and came on for it.
“She’ll be versatile with her trip, I’m really pleased with her there.”
Harry Derham continued in fine form as Picks Lad (6-4 favourite) made a faultless chasing debut in the Daily Charged Up Offers At Rhino.Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase.
The gelding was making his first start for the stable after a hurdling career with Kim Bailey and was the 6-4 favourite for his first attempt around a course of fences.
Under Paul O’Brien he made the running all the way over the three miles and jumped with great fluency throughout, gaining ground at the head the field in the home straight and finding himself comfortably clear at the last.
“I’m delighted with that and most of all for the syndicate OLBG have put together, who own him,” Derham said.
“We knew he’d make a nice chaser and he’s jumped really well around there, he’s a nice horse and Paul just does so well with these novice chasers.
“We’ll plan something out for him at the end of the season and see how we go up until then.”
Norman Fletcher ran a pleasing race to land the Discover What’s Trending At Rhino.Bet Casino Maiden Hurdle for Sam and Nigel Twiston-Davies.
The four-year-old is a dual bumper winner and although he fell on his hurdling debut, he was the runner-up on his second attempt over obstacles and came into this contest the 5-6 favourite.
In a busy field of 14 he travelled well and comfortably strode to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory to get off the mark over hurdles.
Caro Des Flos went one better than his effort 12 months ago to take the Follow Us On Twitter @betrhino Handicap Chase for Julian Smith and Harry Bannister.
The 11-year-old stayed on at the front of a well strung out field of 10 and crossed the line at a canter having started as the 4-1 favourite.
The Big Doyen attempts to continue his fine form from the summer when he heads to Cheltenham in search of ideal conditions in the Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle.
Peter Fahey’s six-year-old brings plenty of experience to the table and having bumped into plenty of useful operators when failing to shed his maiden status last term, has thrived over timber of late, winning two of his last three and finishing second in Listed company in his most recent outing.
His trainer is no stranger to success in this race, having sent out the 20-time winner Peregrine Run to score in 2016, and feels his charge is an improved model in his second season hurdling.
“It is a very competitive race and we are bringing him over looking for some bit nicer ground,” said Fahey.
“His experience is a big plus, he was tipping away in good maiden hurdles last year and he has come to the fore this year on nicer ground, stepping up in trip.
“He’s in good nick and he’s definitely improved a bit since we’ve stepped him up in trip. I hope he puts up a good run for the lads.”
There is further Irish representation in the race thanks to John McConnell’s hat-trick-seeking Kinbara, but the undoubted class among the opposition is Paul Nicholls’ Captain Teague, who bids to give the Ditcheat handler back-to-back victories in the Grade Two event.
The champion trainer saddled subsequent Grade One scorer Hermes Allen to strike in this contest 12 months ago and looks to have another candidate right out of the top drawer judged on Captain Teague’s Champion Bumper third and emphatic hurdles bow in the Persian War.
“He’s a class act and this race has been the plan since he made a pleasing winning debut over hurdles last month in the Grade Two Persian War at Chepstow where he jumped well, cruised to the front before the second-last and readily drew clear of some useful types,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“Captain Teague is a gorgeous, big horse and that was his first gallop on grass this season so he will have learned plenty because he was still a bit green.
“He had a nice school out on the grass earlier this week and goes to Cheltenham with a big chance.”
Joe Tizzard won the Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Handicap Chase with Amarillo Sky last year and will attempt to repeat the dose with Triple Trade.
The seven-year-old kept on stoutly to pick up a silver medal over course and distance at the October Meeting and is just 1lb higher bidding to go one better.
“He ran a blinder last time. It was his first run of the season, he was a bit rusty for the first mile and then stayed on really well,” said Tizzard.
“In time we might step up in trip, but on this ground we’ll ride him a bit more positively and off the back of that run he has to have a lovely chance in this.
“Perhaps on spring ground we’ll step him up, but on this ground I think he’s got enough pace – I’m not worried about sticking at two (miles) for the minute, especially round Cheltenham.”
Chief among Triple Trade’s rivals could be Do You Know who drops back to the minimum distance on his second start for Lucinda Russell, while Dan Skelton’s Calico and Olly Murphy’s No Risk At All are others of note in a competitive two-mile handicap.
Gavin Cromwell claimed the opening Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle in 2022 with Sweet Will and will try for a repeat with Fathom Two, while Irish handlers also have a strong hand in the concluding Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle where the Fahey-trained Showman could bring the curtain down on the opening day of the November Meeting in style.
“Showman’s last couple of runs have been pretty good,” said Fahey.
“He lost nothing in defeat the last day at Cork and I think he will run a really nice race. Hopefully he puts up a good performance for Chris (Blair, owner).”
The Real Whacker will have the weight of history on his shoulders in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but his trainer Patrick Neville is unconcerned.
It is two years since the Irish handler made the move from his home in County Limerick to set up at Ann Duffield’s Sun Hill Farm in the Yorkshire Dales, a switch which coincided with the unearthing of a horse that would take his career to new heights.
The Real Whacker was a €21,000 purchase by Neville as an unraced three-year-old in 2019 – and but for the Coronavirus pandemic, there is every chance he would now be in different hands.
“I took a chance on him as I bought him myself a store horse and I had him a year and a half before he was ready to run in a point-to-point. The plan was to run him in a point-to-point and sell him,” Neville explained.
“I knew he was a good horse, we had him ready to run in a point-to-point as a four-year-old and then Covid struck and that was it.
“We said that was our chance gone then as he was a five-year-old, so said we’d keep him and give him a run on the track.”
The Real Whacker finished sixth of 18 as a 150-1 shot on his racecourse debut in a Listowel maiden hurdle in the autumn of 2021, after which he was packed up to make the move across the Irish Sea.
It did not take him long to make an impact on British soil, bolting up at Carlisle in Duffield’s name, as Neville – who currently trains a string of around 20 horses and rides his stable star every day – worked on getting set up in the UK in his own name.
He said: “When we ran him in Listowel the ground was a bit too good and he was a couple of weeks off being really ready. He had an educational run and he ran very well.
“It was a good race he won in Carlisle and we then took him to the Grade Two in Doncaster (River Don Novices’ Hurdle), where he was a bit unlucky because there was a woeful head wind that day, he got pulled across the track in the straight and lost a lot of ground. He was still a bit green at that stage as well as it was only his third run, so it was a good run to finish second (to Mahler Mission).
“He was to run in the Albert Bartlett then, but he got a knock so we didn’t run him and he was left off then for the season. He came back and had run over hurdles at Cheltenham in October on ground that was a bit quick for him and we decided after that we’d go straight over fences.”
While the son of Mahler was clearly a high-class operator over the smaller obstacles, it is since being switched the larger obstacles that he has really excelled – winning each of his three starts to date, all at Cheltenham, including the narrowest of Festival triumphs over leading Gold Cup contender Gerri Colombe in the Brown Advisory in March.
“I always thought he was going to be a proper chaser. His run in Doncaster showed me that he was a real good horse and the day he won in Carlisle, the way he pulled away from good horses over three-mile-one, he just galloped away from them,” said Neville.
“Going to Cheltenham in March, I wasn’t even thinking of any other horse in the race, only our own horse – that’s the way I think every day.
“You could be sizing up everything else and thinking about different tactics and all that, but I just like to think of our own horse and what we’re going to do.
“Gerri Colombe is a good horse, he’s proved it every time he’s run. I’m still listening to people saying ‘if there was another stride’ he’d have won, but life is full of ifs and buts, isn’t it?
“If they both run in the Gold Cup and he annihilates us, well isn’t it good to be there taking him on and having a go?
“I had a great craic with the owner of Gerri Colombe (Brian Acheson) in Aintree earlier in the year. He’s a good sport and if we finish second to him in the Gold Cup we wouldn’t mind!”
Having sidestepped a small-field engagement at Carlisle a couple of weeks ago, The Real Whacker will instead make his comeback on familiar territory in one of the season’s most prestigious handicaps with 12st on his back.
Al Ferof 11 years ago was the last horse to carry top-weight to victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, while you have to go back to Dublin Flyer in 1995 to find the last winner rated in the 160s.
Neville, though, is not one for worrying about statistics, instead focussing on getting his pride and joy to Prestbury Park in the best possible shape for what he views as a starting point rather than the end goal for the season.
He said: “I don’t get too nervous about these things. All we can do is look after him and get him there healthy and well and fit and as good as we can.
“I don’t take much notice of all this carry on with people saying ‘if he doesn’t win on Saturday, he’s not this or he’s not that’. It’s only the start of the season for us.
“He’s come back a bit stronger, so we’d be hoping he’d improve. He’s only ran seven times, so he’s still a very lightly-raced horse for his age.
“We gave him that time and gave him time between races because he’s such a lightly-framed horse and he tries so hard. Even in his work and his cantering he puts everything in, so I think if you ran him too often you’d end up with a very light horse.
“He’s fit and ready for his run and whatever happens on Saturday, and I’d be expecting a big run, he’ll definitely improve.
“You can’t be confident in a race like that, but we’re going there hoping he’ll run very well.”
While looking forward to this weekend’s assignment and another stop or two along the way, in Neville’s mind there is one day that matters above all else and it arrives in four months’ time.
He added: “We’re working back from the Gold Cup and after Saturday we’d be looking forward to Christmas and going for the King George. There’s no reason why not, there isn’t a whole pile else.
“The Cotswold Chase at the end of January might be nearly too near the Festival, so if he ran at Christmas we might just leave him then, but we’ll see.
“Obviously there’s a lot of water to flow under the bridge between now and March and there’ll be a lot of talk about different horses and there’s always a new kid on the block coming.
“There’s a lot of good horses around at the moment, but we have something to dream of anyway, which is what it’s all about.”
Connections of Delta Work believe the dual Festival hero has plenty on his plate as he goes in search of a third win around Cheltenham’s cross-country course in Friday’s Glenfarclas Handicap Chase.
The five-time Grade One winner was something of a pantomime villain when denying his stablemate Tiger Roll a fairytale farewell at Prestbury Park in 2022, but punters roared him home when he successfully defended his crown in March at the chief expense of another Elliott-trained runner in Galvin.
The Cullentra pair lock horns again in the Cotswolds on day one of the November meeting – but while their class came to the fore in a conditions race at the Festival, this contest is a handicap, meaning they will have to concede weight to the rest of the field.
With 7lb-claiming amateur Rob James offsetting some of Galvin’s 12st burden, Delta Work will carry top-weight of 11st 13lb under Keith Donoghue – and that hefty load, combined with the rain-softened ground, means Gigginstown House Stud’s Eddie O’Leary is not overly optimistic.
He said: “As expected he’s carrying an awful lot of weight and it’s very hard to fancy him in that ground off that weight.
“We’d be hopeful more than confident, I’d say. There’s a big difference (with the weights) in March on March ground.”
Elliott’s duo are joined on the trip from Ireland by the Mouse Morris-trained Foxy Jacks and Gearoid O’Loughlin’s Whatsyourstatus, while the home team is headed by Martin Keighley’s Back On The Lash, who bids to win the race for a third time.
The nine-year-old struck gold in 2021 and in last season’s renewal when it was run in January. He was subsequently pulled up behind Delta Work at the Festival and again failed to complete in the Grand National or on his recent reappearance at Exeter, but Keighley is hopeful of an improved performance.
“He schooled around there last week and he was really good,” he said.
“Obviously the two Gordon Elliott horses are going to be really hard to beat, but he loves it round there and it’d be great to see him bounce back to form. We could just do with not too much more rain.
“He needed that run (at Exeter), he seems in top form again now. He just comes alive around the cross-country jumps, he loves it round there as long as the ground is not too soft.
“He’s actually 2lb lower than when he last won it. He’s won this race the last two years, so hopefully he can make it a third.”
Diesel D’Allier finished third to Back On The Lash in 2021 before winning at the track the following month and finishing fourth to Delta Work in March.
His last two runs over the fences have not been so positive, but trainer Richard Bandey was encouraged by a comeback run over hurdles at Worcester last month.
He said: “He had a nice run over hurdles the other week, just as a prep run which he hasn’t had before, so it was good to get that into him.
“He’s in much better form than he was last year – we were always up against it last season with a few little issues, but we’ve had a much clearer run this year so hopefully he’ll give a good account of himself on Friday.
“It’s always going to be hard work with Delta Work and Galvin in there, but we’ll give it a go.”
JPR One could have been found the perfect opportunity to showcase his class over the larger obstacles in the SSS Super Alloys Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
The six-year-old has always been held in high regard by trainer Joe Tizzard and the team at Venn Farm, but injury has hindered his progress and delayed the start of his chasing career by a season.
A winner of four of his eight starts, JPR One now takes the next step up the fencing ladder after a successful debut in his new discipline at Newton Abbot last month.
“He was impressive the last day and this is obviously a step up, but I was quite keen to keep him at two miles as he showed plenty of pace and jumped well at Newton Abbot,” said Tizzard.
“Soft ground over two miles should be ideal for him. He had a school on Wednesday morning and schooled lovely and this is the next step.
“He got an injury last autumn which held us up and stopped us going novice chasing and he’s only a six-year-old now, so it might have been a blessing in disguise.
“He bounced back and won at Taunton and then went to Aintree. He’s a strong horse now who has always jumped well. I’m excited about him.”
Champion Chase winner Put The Kettle On (2019) and Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge 12 months ago have both taken this prize back to Ireland in recent years and looking to join them on the roll of honour is Cian Collins’ Mighty Tom.
The eight-year-old had to settle for second behind Gavin Cromwell’s Letsbeclearaboutit in a Cork Grade Three on his chasing debut and brings some smart hurdling form to the table.
“He probably bumped into a Grade One horse at Cork last time and the drop back to two miles will suit him on Friday,” said Collins.
“The ground will be nicer on Friday which will be to his liking, it is just the 12 days since his last start that is the biggest worry. But I’m happy with him and hopefully he will handle it.”
There are only four going to post for the Grade Two contest with Jonjo O’Neill’s Petit Tonnerre and Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s Homme Public completing the quartet.
The latter took on an experienced cast when making a successful first start over the larger obstacles on good ground at Wetherby and his training team are hoping for similar conditions at Prestbury Park.
“He definitely seemed to improve for fences (at Wetherby), he just wouldn’t want it too soft,” said Greenall.
“He’ll take his chance and I would say he enjoyed the ground at Wetherby as well. It should be ideal for him.”
As the excitement continues to build towards Thursday's start to this decisive window in the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League, the other pair of League A quarter-final fixtures are also expected to serve up a treat, as Jamaica host Canada and Honduras welcome Mexico for their respective first leg matches on Friday.
All four sides are aiming to advance to the Concacaf Nations League final in March, as well as secure qualification to next year's CONMEBOL Copa America.
Jamaica vs. Canada
Friday's action kicks off with Jamaica and Canada renewing their rivalry at the National Stadium.
On the line is Jamaica’s unbeaten streak in Concacaf Nations League play, as they have amassed nine wins and five draws in 14 all-time Nations League games, including three wins and a draw in Group B on their way to the quarterfinals.
In 22 all-time matches between the two, the Canadians have won 10 and Jamaica six, with the other six fixtures ending as stalemates. However, Jamaica currently boasts and immensely talented group to improve their record, provided they execute accordingly.
Demarai Gray was sensational in the group stage, as he tallied three goals, while Shamar Nicholson continued his rich form in Nations League action with two goals. He also moved his all-time Nations League assists mark to six.
Bobby Reid, another player capable of producing the spectacular, supplied two goals and an assist. He was also present defensively in terms of his eight ball recoveries.
Canada, who is one of the teams to receive a bye to this phase of the tournament due to their FIFA rankings, enters the fray after finishing as runners-up in last year's edition.
They will be keen to make a return trip to the finals, but they will also be mindful of the fact that their previous match-up in Kingston ended in a goalless stalemate in October 2021, during Concacaf World Cup Qualifying, and also of the fact that Jamaica's squad has been significantly boosted since then.
Still, many of the players who led Canada to their second ever FIFA World Cup qualification, are back in the fold for this two-way series, including star striker Jonathan David, winger Junior Hoilett and flying left back Alphonso Davies.
David and Davies are tied for the most Nations League goals for Canada with five each, while Davies has 14 goals in 42 total appearances with Canada. Hoilett delivered top performances for Canada during the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, scoring a goal and chipping in two assists.
That said, it is anybody's guess which way this first-leg engagement between two talented teams will go, if not again ending in a stalemate.
Honduras vs. Mexico
Long-time rivals Honduras and Mexico square off at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles in Tegucigalpa.
This will mark the 44th encounter between the two nations, with Mexico accounting for 26 wins and Honduras seven, with the others 10 ending in stalemates. Mexico also outscored the opponents 81-29 in those games.
Honduras secured their quarterfinals berth by virtue of a second-place finish in Group B. After opening with a 0-1 loss to Jamaica, Honduras rallied to earn seven points from their final three matches.
Edwin Rodriguez was a force to be reckoned with in the group stage. He scored two goals and contributed two assists.
Luis Palma was an attacking threat as well with a goal and two assists.
Deybi Flores has for years been a workhorse in the Honduras midfield, and the four matches in Group B were no exception. He completed 241 of 273 passes and made four ball recoveries.
Many of the players who helped Mexico win the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup will lead El Tricolor into the opening 90 minutes in Tegucigalpa. Those include goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who won the Gold Cup Golden Glove Award for the four clean sheets he recorded during the tournament.
Striker Santiago Gimenez, the hero of the final for his late goal to defeat Panama 1-0, is also back in the ranks, as is ever-dangerous free-kick specialist Luis Chavez, who scored two goals in the Gold Cup and led the team in shots with 18.
The last time Honduras faced Mexico was in the Gold Cup when the latter registered a comfortable 4-0 victory.
By all indications, Mexico are heavily favoured to secure three points.
Sir Alex Ferguson may have one of the most decorated footballing CVs around, but he is attempting to break new ground when his horse Spirit Dancer lines up in the Bahrain International Trophy on Friday.
The Group Two event has a $1million prize fund and Ferguson’s candidate, who is trained by Richard Fahey, booked his ticket when picking up York’s Strensall Stakes in the summer.
Spirit Dancer now faces the toughest assignment of his career as he takes on a strong cast that includes Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale and the Group One-winning Above The Curve among others.
However, despite being known as one of the most fiercest of competitors on the touchline, Ferguson believes he cuts a much more relaxed figure in the paddock before a big race and would relish the chance to get his hands on yet another international sporting trophy with the talented son of Frankel.
“I think my competitive element was left in football,” he told Racing TV’s Raceday.
“I never question the trainer and I never get upset if the horse loses because its a different sport for me – I can’t tell a horse what to do, but at least I could tell my players what to do. In that respect I’m not a critical judge at all, ever.
“I enjoy being there and if a horse wins of course you are excited, especially in big races.
“Spirit Dancer has given us great joy and I’ve started a stud and he’s the first product of the stud.”
Meanwhile Spirit Dancer’s trainer is optimistic the six-year-old’s calm demeanour will be an asset when dealing with the rigours of international competition.
“The target all season was Bahrain because it’s a million dollar race and a good opportunity in trip, track and everything will suit,” Fahey told Great British Racing.
“He’s a very laid-back horse. When you go on about international runners, you’ve got to pick the right horse and this horse’s mind is great and I’m sure he’ll probably drive the plane back on the way home because he’s just so laid back. There’s no issues with him at all.”
Defending champion Dubai Future is one of two in the race for Saeed bin Suroor, who also saddles Real World.
They are just two of a strong Godolphin challenge which also features Andre Fabre’s Birr Castle and two from Charlie Appleby’s stable, Nations Pride and Highland Avenue.
John and Thady Gosden’s Princess Of Wales’s Stakes winner Israr and Noel Meade’s Layfayette are other familiar names taking part, while Cambridgeshire winner Astro King has been in great form this term and bids to cap a fantastic year for Daniel and Claire Kubler.
Claire Kubler said: “He is going to be our biggest runner outside of Europe which is incredible. It’s very exciting.
“It’s great having Bahrain putting on a race like this to attract international contenders and hopefully Astro King can put his best foot forward and do us proud.”
Aidan O’Brien’s St Leger winner Continuous will miss the Japan Cup next weekend due to stiffness.
His scheduled run at Tokyo racecourse on November 26 had garnered plenty of interest amongst the locals.
Not only was he due to take on the brilliant Equinox, currently rated as the best horse in the world, but Continuous is a son of Heart’s Cry.
Heart’s Cry was a quality performer in Japan and beat Deep Impact, the sire of O’Brien’s dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin, in the Arima Kinen of 2005 as well as winning the 2006 Sheema Classic in Dubai.
Continuous was far from disgraced in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when a little over three lengths behind Ace Impact in fifth, however, his trip to the Far East has now been scuppered.
O’Brien said: “Unfortunately Continuous was stiff after his latest exercise which means he won’t be going to Japan.”
Ruth Jefferson’s classy chaser Sounds Russian is on the road to recovery after an injury sustained when he was brought down in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
The gelding had a fruitful season prior to the fall, winning the Edinburgh Gin Chase at Kelso on debut and then finishing second by narrow margins in both the Rowland Meyrick and the Cotswold Chase.
His next start was a return to Prestbury Park for the Gold Cup, where he started at 50-1 under Sean Quinlan in a field of 13.
Six fences from home he was still in contention when the leader, Ahoy Senor, fell and knocked him off of his feet as he followed on behind.
The resulting knee injury has required an operation and Sounds Russian has now started the pre-training phase of his return to action.
Jefferson said: “He’s in pre-training so he’s been doing some treadmill work, he’s seen the physio, he’s been doing a lot of flat work and fitness work at the moment. He’ll probably be back with me in the next month or so.
“He’s not always behaved himself so he might not be as fit as I was hoping he’d be when he gets back to me, which will push me back to February.
“He doesn’t take a lot of getting fit, that’s one thing about him, but it does mean everything has to slow down a stride.
“He damaged his knee and had to have it operated on, they took 12 chips of bone out. It was a funny injury really but he’s been sound on it, that’s the main thing. Ridden or otherwise, he’s been very sound on it.”
Jefferson predicts the bay will not make it to the racecourse before February and when he does a switch to hurdling is open to him as he is still a novice over smaller obstacles.
She said: “I’ve got no idea what he’ll be doing, he’s still a novice over hurdles so it’s possible we could revert to hurdling for the rest of the season because I don’t know what there’ll be for him when he comes back chasing-wise.
“He’s only rated 111 over hurdles so if the handicapper leaves him at that I’ll be delighted, it might make more sense to do that but there’s a few more bridges to cross before then.”
Elaine Thompson-Herah’s management has confirmed the separation of the athlete and her coach Shanikie Osbourne after a breakdown in negotiations over compensation. The double-double Olympic champion’s management, Andi Sports Management, made the confirmation in a statement released late Wednesday that also revealed that the search for a new coach is currently underway.
Thompson-Herah, who won the 100m/200m double at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the Tokyo Olympics, struggled in 2023 failing to earn an individual spot on Jamaica’s team to the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.
During the championships she brought Osbourne onto her coaching staff and the impact was almost immediate with the 30-year-sprinter who ran 11.06 at the Jamaica national championships, running times of 11.00, 10.92, 10.84 and 10.79 to end the season on a high.
It is against that background that when the situation became public earlier this week, it came as a surprise to many. However, there was no official confirmation. That came on Wednesday.
“Five-time Olympic Games Gold Medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah and her temporary coach has parted ways,” the statement began. “The professional separation came about due to a breakdown in negotiations on a compensation package for the services that would be provided by Coach Osbourne.”
According to the athlete’s management, the package proposed by Osbourne was “by any measure of what is the norm for such services, was extremely excessive and without any flexibility to negotiate by the other party.
“Collectively, we had no choice but to seek the services of another coach.”
Thompson-Herah’s management acknowledged the progress made with Osbourne and thanked her for her contribution.
“Mrs. Elaine Thompson-Herah benefitted from the services of Coach Osbourne, especially towards the end of the 2023 athletic season and for that Mrs. Thompson-Herah is grateful and would like to express her thanks for her impact in a very short space of time,” the statement read.
“With the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, fast approaching, Mrs. Thompson-Herah is fully focused on her preparations for the season and the defense of her Olympic titles. In this regard, we have undertaken a process to procure the services of a coach who would be able to ensure the high standards of Mrs. Thompson-Herah are exceeded and her goals for the 2024 outdoor athletic season are met.
“Once our search is complete and a final decision is made we will once again use this medium to officially notify the fans, followers, supporters and the general public. Rest assured that the best interest of Mrs. Elaine Thompson-Herah supersedes all other concerns and all decisions will be made to fortify her legacy as one of the World’s premier female athletes.”
Following a display of raw athletic talent, Vernez Nelson from Lacovia High School and Osmond Holt from Muschett High School emerged as the top performers at the MVP Grassroots Athletics Training Camp held in Cornwall County, Jamaica. Suzanne Richie-Brown of York Castle High was the top coach.
The training camp, organized by the MVP Track & Field Club, witnessed an overwhelming turnout of aspiring young athletes eager to learn from the best in the field. The event, held at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in St. James, marked the successful commencement of the training camps for this year.
The standout performers, Vernez Nelson and Osmond Holt, were crowned as the PUMA girl and NCB boy of the camp, respectively. Their achievements reflect not only their individual prowess but also the effectiveness of the comprehensive training provided by the MVP coaching staff.
The rankings were determined by the cumulative scores given by six technical coaches, each specializing in hurdles, jumps, throws, middle distance, relays, and sprints. The athletes showcased their competence in each technical area, emphasizing the holistic approach adopted by the MVP Track & Field Club.
Head Coach Paul Francis, who led the team to exceptional results at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, has stressed the significance of sharing knowledge and training methods, fondly recalling the success story of Antonio Watson, a participant in the 2016 MVP Grassroots Training Camps, who went on to win gold in the 400m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August.
"The journey of nurturing young talent begins here," declared Coach Francis. He outlined the upcoming Advanced Level Training Camps, with the Middlesex edition scheduled for November 18th at the GC Foster College in St. Catherine and the Surrey edition to be held at the National Stadium in Kingston on November 25th, 2023.
The West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under 19 Selection Panel has named 15 players for a two-week training camp in Trinidad. This will form as part of the ongoing preparations for the ICC Men’s Under 19 Cricket World Cup.
During the camp the players will have five matches at the National Cricket Centre at Couva. Three matches will be against the Trinidad and Tobago Under 23 team while the other two will be against the USA Under 19 squad, who will also be participating in the World Cup.
The West Indies will again be led by Stepan Pascal and the squad includes several members who toured Sri Lanka for four-day “Tests” and Youth One-Day Internationals in August and September.
The next ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup will be played in Sri Lanka in January and February 2024. The West Indies squad for the tournament will be named in early December.
FULL SQUAD: Stephan Pascal (captain), Jewel Andrew, Mavendra Dindyal, Joshua Dorne, Nathan Edward, Tarrique Edward, Reon Edwards, Deshawn James, Divonie Joseph, Zishan Motara, Tamarie Redwood, Nathan Sealy, Raneico Smith, Steven Wedderburn, Adrian Weir,
MATCH SCHEDULE (all matches at National Cricket Centre, Couva)
16 November: vs Trinidad and Tobago Under-23
18 November: vs Trinidad and Tobago Under-23
20 November: vs Trinidad and Tobago Under-23
23 November: vs USA Under-19
25 November: vs USA Under-19
If the confidence exuded by Neveal Hackshaw and Reon Moore is anything to go by, then Trinidad and Tobago are poised to give United States a tough run in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals.
Both Hackshaw and Moore, declared the Soca Warriors intentions of taking a positive result off their highly-fancied opponents in their first-leg encounter at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on Thursday.
The return-leg fixture is scheduled for four days later at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
The Angus Eve-coached Trinidad and Tobago secured their quarterfinals berth after they finished second in the six-team Group A on nine points. Their last two meetings with United States ended in 0-6 and 0-7 losses.
Despite the United States holding a significant advantage over Trinidad and Tobago based on those scorelines and others in the past, both Hackshaw and Moore rate their chances of upsetting the applecart, highly.
Hackshaw, who has 39 caps and two goals for Trinidad and Tobago, first expressed satisfaction with the preparation heading into the encounter.
“These sessions have been very important as we try to get match fit with these games we have been playing here and I think the guys are playing and doing pretty good. Now we're just waiting to meet up with the rest of the guys and I think it's going to be fun,” Hackshaw said prior to their departure.
“I think with the bunch of guys we have now; I think we're going to give them (United States) a good fight. It's not going to be easy both ways for us and for them, and I think we are going to do good.
“This team we have here is a fighting team. It's a younger group, but I think everyone is always up for the fight, and with the addition of Levi (Garcia), I think we are going to do great,” he added.
Should they pull a surprise in Texas, the midfielder pointed out that it would be a significant boost to ensure local fans are entertained when they return home for the second leg.
"It's not going to be easy for us, but we are going there to give them a show, and we are not going to step short, and we are going to go full hundred,” Hackshaw declared.
Meanwhile, Moore, 27, who has scored seven goals in 24 appearances, echoed similar sentiments.
“I think we will do well in Texas. The training session with the boys have been high intensity so far, we are fully enthusiastic about the task at hand, and we are going to go there and show that we have what it takes to beat the USA,” he stated.
The striker also welcomed the return of captain Levi Garcia, who missed all four matches for the Soca Warriors in the six-team League A qualifiers.
“It will be a big plus for all the guys and the technical staff to have Levi back in the team because what he brings to the table for us is great,” Moore noted.
The other quarterfinals fixtures will see Canada against Jamaica, Mexico against Honduras, and Panama against Costa Rica.
At the end of the two-leg ties, the four winners will progress to the Nations League semi-final in March next year, as well as the Copa America tournament.
The four losing quarterfinalists will engage a single-match direct elimination play-in for the final two spots to next year’s Copa America, which will be hosted in the United States.
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