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Sweeps Hill gets off the mark over timber.

We were only informing you yesterday about the impending debut of the J P mcmanus owned Sweeps Hill, and the top former bumper horse duly obliged in this afternoon's Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary.

Having travelled sweetly, the 2/5 favourite found himself in front at the last, and when Jowango came to challenge on the run-in, John Kiely's charge found plenty, going on to win by a length and three quarters.

Time will decide how good today's performance will prove to be, but Sweeps Hill looks technically able, and he can only beat what is put in front of him in each race.

Corrybrough euthanised after gallops injury.

Henry Candy has today sadly confirmed his sprinting star Corrybrough had to be rapidly euthanised after breaking a sesamoid bone and tearing a tendon while training on the gallops at Kingston Warren near Lambourn.

The young sprinter showed he had immense promise by winning his first four races, and he then followed that up by finishing as runner up to African Rose in a Doncaster Group 1 last season, but a series of setbacks had kept him off the track during 2009. It is understood Corrybrough was preparing for a belated come-back in one or two races before going to stud, so the timing of the fatal injury makes it a tragedy for all concerned.

Bell snaps up Fallon as Spencer replacement.

With Jamie Spencer due to be suspended on Saturday week, trainer Michael Bell has snapped up Kieran Fallon to ride dual Oaks winner Sariska in the Emirate Airlimes Champion Stakes.

Bell and Fallon will both be heartened to hear, the long range forecast for the next couple of weeks includes some predicted heavy downpours, and the more cut there is at Newmarket on 17 October, the better the chances Sariska can end her season with another Group 1 success.

Dale Gibson to retire after York.

Northern light weight jockey Dale Gibson has announced he will retire after this Saturday's meeting at York. In a career sspanning twenty four years, the jockey has recorded over five hundred winners, with his best moment coming aboard the Geoff Lewis trained Very Adjacent when winning the Stewards Cup in 1989.

The 41 year old started his career with a ride at York in 1985, and he had his first winner aboard Granny's Bank at Pontefract in October of that year. Speaking about his decision, Gibson said,

"As things have slowed down over the last couple of years, I think it is time to call it a day. I started my racing career at York, so it seems fitting to end my time in the saddle at York's final meeting of the year." Discussing his future, Gibson added,

"I still intend to keep my position on the Professional Jockeys Association Board, and I am looking at a couple of options to enable me to stay in the racing industry."

War Artist being aimed at Hong Kong prize.

James Eustace is hopeful War Artist's third in the Prix de L'Abbaye will be sufficient to give him an automatic invitation for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December.

"As he has shown in his last three races, he is competitive amongst the best over five or six furlongs, and although he has never run round a right hand bend over six furlongs, I do not think it will be a problem, particularly as we can give him practise at Kempton if he gets an invitation to Hong Kong."

Owners pull plug on Prfound Beauty Melbourne Cup attempt.

Despite disappointing on her last run in the Irish St Leger, most pundits had assumed the Dermot Weld trained Profound Beauty would compete in this year's Melbourne Cup - a race in which she finished fifth last year - but today the stable have announced owners Moyglare Stud have vetoed a return attempt on the prestigious Australian prize.

Stark option for Prix Dollar winner Pipedreamer.

According to owners Cheveley Park Stud, despite winning the Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp last Saturday, the John Gosden trained Pipedreamer faces a stark option if he is to retire to the comfort of the stud farm - He must win the Group 1 Champion Stakes on Saturday week, or it will be back into training for the 2010 season. Discussing the options, Chris Richardson of Cheveley Park said,

"As much as I would like to stand a son of Selkirk, in the present economic climate his two Group 2 wins do not make him an attractive enough proposition. But if he were to win the Group 1 Champion Stakes, that would put a different light on our thinking." Richardson added,

"If he fails to win at Newmarket, I suspect he will go back into training for another year."

Change of plan for Youmzain.

On a day when owners seem to be making the 'running', Jaber Abdullah has over-ruled Mick Channon's intended plans for Youmzain. Speaking through his racing manager Bruce Raymond, Abdullah indicated,

"We will resist the temptation to go for prizes in Canada and at the Breeders Cup. Instead, Youmzain will be put away for the winter, and if all is well in the spring, we will start a campaign which will take the then seven year old back to the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe next October." Raymond added,

"It is likely he will have exactly the same campaign as this year, and bearing in mind how close he was to winning it this year, we will certainly take in the Coronation Cup at Epsom."

Channel 4 to cover extra Ayr meeting.

Channel 4 and Ayr racecourse have announced Channel 4 Racing are to add coverage of Ayr's meeting on 02 January to their existing coverage of Scottish Grand National day in April, Scottish Sund day in June, and the Ayr Gold Cup Saturday in September.

Ayr will be sharing 02 January coverage with Sandown Park, with the 2.55 and 3.30 pm races being shown live on Channel 4.

Ayr executive are doubly delighted with the deal, as apart from greater public interest in the meeting, it will also help the racecourse to obtain better sponsership, and thereby help to improve the standard of the runners on show.

Noseda tops Tattersalls bids.

On the morning of the first day of the Tattersalls October Sales, acting on behalf of an un-named owner, trainer Jeremy Noseda put in the highest bid of the session, a 350,000 guineas confirmed offer for a filly from the last crop of Saddlers Wells.

Indeed, Saddlers Wells progeny were in big demand, with Paul Cole also paying 330,000 guineas for a final crop colt.

In the afternoon session, the Ballydoyle organisation in the guise of John Magnier, made two large successful bids, one of 550,000 guineas for a half sister to Damson, and 400,000 guineas for a half brother to Mastercraftsman.

Handicapper and Timeform leave Sea The Stars unchanged.

Sea The Stars may have rolled up his sixth successive Group 1 win in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, but setting aside the emotion of the occasion, the BHA handicapper and the Timeform organisation do not believe this year's Arc was the best renewal of the race, and as a result, Phil Smith the BHA handicapper has left Sea The Stars on his previous rating of 135, while the Timeform organisation have also left this year's 'wonder horse' on his previous rating of 140.

Based on the BHA handicapper's current mark, legendary champion Dancing Brave could give Sea The Stars ten pounds and still come out on top.

Editors comment: At Racingsight, we disagree with this rating, for we believe if anything had come out of the pack in the Arc, Sea The Stars would have found more. If Conduit , Dar re mi, and Rip Van Winkle go on to finish in the first three in their respective Breeders Cup races, it will require the assessors to rethink their current mark for Sea The Stars, otherwise it will make a mockery of the rating system, and that would not be good for racing.

Heaven Sent retired.

Cheveley Park Stud have announced their ultra consistant filly Heaven Sent is to be retired from racing following her fifth in Saturday's Kingdon of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes behind french filly Sahpresa.

A winner of two runnings of the Group 3 Dahlia Stakes, Heaven Sent was a 'pal' to the each way punter because she always seemed to be in the frame in Group 2 and 3 Fillies races, but her loss to the racing public will no doubt be made up in the fullness of time by the likely crop of tough racehorses she will produce in her new brood mare role.

Cavalryman to move to Newmarket.

Sheikh Mohammed was reported to have been very pleased with Cavalryman's third in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, particularly as he had an unfavoured outside draw and was racing on ground probably on the fast side for a horse who prefers a bit of cut. The net result of his effort will however see him move from Andre Fabre's stable in France. It is understood the three year old will now winter in Dubai before coming back to Newmarket, where he will don the Godolphin blue silks for his four year old campaign during 2010.

Cavalryman may be joined in Newmarket by Prix Marcell Boussac fourth Wedding March, as it is thought the filly will be trained with the intention of competing in next year's Epsom Oaks.

Henderson makes his first entries following ban.

At today's five day confirmation stage, Nicky Henderson has four entries at Sunday's national hunt card at Ffoslas. If all four go on to participate, they will represent the Sevenbarrows handler's first runners since he was given a three month ban from nominating race entries by the BHA Disciplinary Panel.

Despite his £40,000 fine and three month restriction imposed for giving a banned substance to Her Majesty the Queen's Moonlit Path, Henderson has actually increased the number of horses in his yard, and is due to start the new national hunt season with his largest ever number of runners.

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