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Always Right steps up in Grimthorpe.
The Keith Reveley-trained former Point-to-Point winner Always Right continued his climb up the handicap with a narow victory in this afternoon's Win With The coral.com Green Tick Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster.
James Reveley brought the nine-year-old with a great run to take over in the home straight on the final circuit in the 3 mile 2 furlong contest, but after looking like he would win by a wide margin, the leader seemed to idle in front between the last two fences, and this enabled veteran outsider Lothian Falcon to close in on Alwyas Right, with James Reveley then having to get serious after the last fence to enable Always Right to hang on for a narrow victory.
The well fancied Presenting Forever had been keen early on, but he had every chance turning into the home straight, but the Howard Johnson-trained gelding then made a bad mistake, and his fall at the fourth last also interfered with Minella Four Star, who was pulled up after coming to a halt after the incident.
Fine Parchment a big reward for Toole.
Claimer Peter Toole took a crashing fall in the first race at Newbury, but he dusted himself off, and riding through the pain barrier he accompanied the Charlie Mann-trained Fine Parchment to victory in the Wiltshire County Show Supports Greatwood Handicap Chase at the Berkshire venue.
With Toole working at full tilt, Fine Parchment got the better of Tail of the Bank, Swing Bill and Big Fella Thanks in a fine finish to the Grade 3 contest.
Winning trainer Charlie Mann said after the race:
"We had thought of running him in the Byrne Group Plate at Cheltenham, but he was about 63 in the list, so we decided to come here instead. I now want to see Fine Parchment race over the national fences at Aintree, and I would think he will now go for the Topham Trophy at the Grand National Meeting in April."
Big Fella Thanks' jockey Graham Lee commented after the race:
"He needed today's run, and he will come on a lot for it. I would say he is exactly where we want him as we try to get him ready for the Grand National."
Skippers the better of the Brigs.
While 8-13 favourite Ballabriggs jumped superbly for Jason Maguire in today's totesport.com Premier Chase at Kelso, and looked for a long time as if he would be the certain winner, he was outpaced on the run in by the Nicky Richards-trained Skippers Brig, with the latter eventually running out a length and three quarter winner.
While Donald McCain thought Ballabriggs had run a good enough Grand National Trial, winning trainer now thinks Skippers Brig should be taken as a serious Aintree marathon contender, and the trainer has also indicated his charge may still head to the Cheltenham Festival if the ground conditions are soft for this year's 4 day national hunt extravaganza.
Snow Fairy taking Sheema route.
Connections of 2010 dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy have declined the option of racing the four-year-old multiple Group 1 winner on an arttificial surface, and this means Ed Dunlop's charge will go for the Sheema Classic rather than the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse on 26 March.
Explaining the decision, Ed Dunlop said:
"We know Snow Fairy handles a fast turf surface, and that's what she would almost certainly face in the Sheema Classic, but she hasn't run on an artificial surface since her two-year-old days, and she's never raced on a tapeta surface before, and having discussed itamongst the whole team, we all agree, it is better to stick with what we know at this stage in her career, and that's why we opted for the Sheema Classic rather than the Dubai World Cup."
Harry out for remainder of the season.
Owner Paul Duffy has confirmed this season's Hennessy Gold Cup winner Diamond Harry has a suspensary ligament injury, and this will mean the eight-year-old not only misses the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but with a recovery period estimated at 4 months by trainer Nick Williams, it also means the gelding will not be seen in action again during the current national hunt season.
Discussing the situation, Paul Duffy commented:
"I understand from Nick Williams the injury is not as bad as a tendon problem, but it is obviously disappointing Diamond Harry will not get to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was well in front of Denman at Newbury in November, and we had high hopes for the Cheltenham Festival, but that's the ups and downs of being a racehorse owner."
Tizzard considering Aintree for Handy Andy.
Colin Tizzard has admitted he was impressed with Handy Andy's three and three quarter length win over the well regarded Our Father in Friday's Berry Bros & Rudd National Hunt Novices Hurdle at Newbury, and having paid £115,000 for the former Irish Point-to-Point winner at last year's Cheltenham Sale, Tizzard is now thinking he has invested well for his owners.
It would also seem Tizzard has high hopes for his new recruit, commenting after Friday's victory:
"He looks a natural over hurdles, and while I will be looking for a better race for him next time, knowing me, he will probably end up going to Aintree."
Over £500,000 up for grabs on this weekend’s totescoop6.
The totescoop6 should hit the half million mark this weekend after another rollover last Saturday left a total of £192,684 in the win fund whilst the bonus pot has risen to £196,982.
Armchair punters are in for a treat with all six legs of the bet live on Channel 4 with four races at Newbury and two at Doncaster.
The highlight of today’s bet sees a field of seventeen go to post for the ultra-competitive Wiltshire County Show Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury where both Niche Market and Big Fella Thanks put their Grand National credentials on the line.
For punters interested in trying to win the probable half million combined pot, the races you need to check out are:
Leg 1: 1.55 Newbury
Leg 2: 2.10 Doncaster
Leg 3: 2.25 Newbury
Leg 4: 3.00 Newbury
Leg 5: 3.15 Doncaster
Leg 6: 3.35 Newbury
Kammy Do It?
Former Footballer and Sky Sports Presenter Chris “Kammy” Kamara found himself in unfamiliar territory, when he stepped into the boots of a Jockey for his latest Soccer AM ‘Kammy Do It?’ Challenge.
The popular TV personality visited the Northern Racing College in Doncaster, to film a unique challenge against leading Jockey, Graham Lee, taking on the former Grand National winner in a full-speed race on a racehorse simulator.
Before saddling up for the big race, Kammy, who before the day had very limited skills in the saddle, mounted a real steed for an exclusive training session under the watchful eye of another racing Pro, former Grand National winner and current Presenter for the BBC, Mick FitzGerald.
Mick FitzGerald, who is in training at the College to become a Jockey Coach, spent the morning teaching Kammy how to walk and trot his horse while maintaining a Jockey’s standing position in his stirrups, before Kammy donned Soccer AM’s very own set of racing silks to prepare for his challenge against Graham Lee.
The challenge was borne as a result of Soccer AM’s increased interest in the sport of horseracing, which has seen the leading football show follow their very own racehorse, Teaforthree, throughout the Jumps season. The horse, trained by Rebecca Curtis, has been leased for the show by Racing for Change, in order to offer them, and their viewers, the chance to experience the thrills of racehorse ownership. Teaforthree’s next outing in the colours of Soccer AM will be in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, at The Cheltenham Festival on Friday 18 March.
Chris Kamara commented after the Challenge:
“That was tough. I can’t believe jockeys have to be that fit to ride in a race!”
Mick FitzGerald added:
“He was a natural. We might yet see him racing on a real horse!”
The Kammy Do It Challenge will be shown on Soccer AM on Saturday 5th March, so tune in to Sky 1 or Sky Sports 2 from 10am – 12pm to find out who wins!
Coral void bets on last night’s Wolverhampton race.
Coral have announced that they are voiding all losing bets on last night’s 5.45 Wolverhampton race, in which a stricken horse on the track caused a chequered flag to be waved resulting in considerable confusion amongst the participating jockeys.
Eventually the jockeys completed the race and after a Stewards Enquiry the result was allowed to stand.
"This was a bizarre, and sadly tragic episode, and we decided that refunding losing bets whilst paying out the winning ones was the fairest, though costly, thing to do in the circumstances", said Simon Clare, Coral Spokesman.
N.B. Since this item was originally posted, William Hill have also confirmed they will be voiding and refunding all bets on the above Wolverhampton race.
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