Reductions ON thousands of CD's, DVD’s, Games & Computer Equipment and Software + FANTASTIC PRICE REDUCTIONs on clothing and books, Plus FREE Delivery:
Josh Gifford passes away.
As a consequence of a heart attack he suffered last night, the death has been confirmed of 70 year-old Grand National winning trainer Josh Gifford.
Gifford had only recently returned home from hospital after being treated for septicaemia, but his death still comes as a shock to all who knew him.
The former jockey and trainer will always be remembered for his role in training Aldaniti to win the 1981 Grand National, particularly as the feat of bringing a damaged horse back to his best for the cancer recovering Bob Champion to get the pairing home in front in the Grand National was later turned into a very successful feature film.
The trainer’s son Nick Gifford, who took over the training license from his father at the Findon yard in West Sussex, broke today’s sad news, with Gifford jnr commenting:
“I’m afraid he passed away in the early hours.”
Prior to commencing his training career, Josh Gifford was a very talented jockey, winning the British Champion National Hunt Jockey’s Title on 4 separate occasions. He scored 4 victories at the Cheltenham Festival, and was second when remounting Honey End to finish behind the legendary winner Foinavon in the 1967 ‘Pile-Up Grand National’ at Aintree.
Gifford started riding when he was only 12, and had his first winner 2 years later in 1956, when coming home in front aboard Trentham Boy on the flat.
In addition to training Aldaniti to win the National, Josh Gifford had over 1,500 winners as a trainer, and he had some outstanding horses during his training career, including; Door Latch,Deep Sensation, Bradbury Star, and Katabatic.
Nick Gifford added:
“He’d been home for about three weeks, but he took a turn for the worse yesterday evening, and by the early hours, he was in a very bad way, and he eventually succumbed to a heart attack.”
Aintree officials pay tribute to Josh Gifford.
On hearing today’s sad news about the death of Josh Gifford, Julian Thick, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse, commented:
“It was with great sadness that we heard the news of Josh Gifford’s passing this morning.
“He was, and forever will be, a key character in Grand National folklore as the trainer of 1981 Grand National winning horse, Aldaniti.
“Josh had brought Aldaniti back from injury and stayed loyal to Bob Champion through the jockey’s fight against cancer, and their victory together in the race remains as one of the most emotive and heroic Grand National wins ever witnessed here at Aintree.
“He will be missed greatly, and his contribution to the race will remain as one of the most iconic Grand National stories of our time.”
The Chairman of Aintree Racecourse, Lord Daresbury, remembers Josh Gifford:
“Josh was a true gentleman; he was charming, witty, accomplished and very knowledgeable about horses and racing.
“I was lucky to have known him through George Sloan, who came over from America to be Champion Amateur and had horses with him - they were some pair together. Josh will be sadly missed by so many friends in England and America.”
Newbury playing waiting game.
Officials at Newbury have an anxious eye on the weather over the next 24 hours, for while the Berkshire venue is perfectly raceable today ahead of Saturday’s high profile Betfair Meeting, snow is forecast for tonight, and frost could then become a problem on Friday night.
While officials at Newbury have to play a waiting game, it seems punters on Betfair are equally uncertain as to which way things will go, with the betting exchange confirming the odds on the meeting going ahead are currently 10-11, but it is also Even Money that the meeting will not go ahead.
Saturday meetings at Warwick and Uttoxeter abandoned.
Having examined their respective courses today, officials at Warwick and Uttoxeter have already called time on their scheduled national hunt meetings this coming Saturday.
Both courses reported a covering of snow over frozen ground, and with the likely hood of more snow fall and overnight freezing temperatures in the next 24 hours, officials took what they considered to be the only option, with both meetings announcing abandonment earlier this afternoon.
In Warwick’s case, it means the influential Grade Two Kingmaker Novices Chase is unlikely to be run this year. While Uttoxeter will lose their Betfred sponsored national hunt card.
Nicholls has strong Betfair Hurdle team.
After today’s 48 hour decleration stage, and subject to the meeting going ahead, a field of 22 will line-up for Saturday’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.
In a race apparently dominated by big hitters from the Paul Nicholls yard, the two withdrawals today from one of Europe’s most valuable hurdle races were Sailor’s Warn and Orzare.
On paper, Paul Nicholls does have a strong hand, with last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar due to have his seasonal debut in the race, and with the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices Chase having been added to Saturday’s card, it means Zarkandar will have the able assistance of Ruby Walsh – his riding ban not applying on day’s when a Grade One race is run.
Nicholls also has the top-weighted Brampour, who was very impressive at Cheltenham earlier in the season. While Daryl Jacob is set to ride the Nicholls third string Empire Levant – the latter also highly regarded by connections in the Ditcheat yard.
With Edward O’Grady deciding not to send Sailor’s Warn over, Irish hopes rely on the Willie Mullins-trained Final Approach. The winner of last season’s County Hurdle, Final Approach returned to winning ways on his most recent outing after failing to impress in Grade One company on his penultimate run.
Jonjo O’Neill will be hoping Get Me Out Of Here can improve on his second to Final Approach in last year’s County Hurdle. While Brian Ellison is sending Marsh Warbler and Abergavenny down from his County Durham yard.
Nicky Henderson has a good record in big handicap hurdles, and his unbeaten and unexposed Darlan could be anything, and he will be accompanied in the race by fellowSevenbarrows representatives Soldatino and Ericht.
Other interesting runners include; the Alan King-trained Ladbroke Hurdle winner RayaStar, Colin Tizzard’s Third Intention, and Gary Moore’s two representatives Sire de Grugy and Via Galilei.
Synchronised joins list of Hennessy defectors.
Following the withdrawal of two high profile entrants yesterday, this weekend’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown has today seen the defection of Lexus Chase winner Synchronised from the list of entrants for the Grade One contest.
Connections today reported, they were unhappy with the preparation work done this week by Synchronised on trainer Jonjo O’Neill’s Jackdaw’s Castle gallops, and based on his inability to shine in his home work, connections have reluctantly taken the decision to withdraw their nine-year-old from the Hennessy.
However, it seems Synchronised should be available to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month, with owner J P Mc’Manus’ Racing Manager, Frank Berry, commenting today:
“Jonjo was not happy with him today, so he’s not going to send him over for the race.
“He won’t run again now before Cheltenham, but hopefully, Jonjo will get him right for the Gold Cup.”
Synchronised’s withdrawal comes on top of the sidelining of Jessies Dream and Quito de la Roque, announced on Wednesday, but one piece of good news comes from the Jessica Harrington yard, where connections feel last year’s RSA Chase winner Boston’s Angel will put a disappointing season behind him.
Harrington’s charge is due to be fitted with head-gear for the first time in a race this Sunday, and from all accounts, he has responded well to the new head attire at home, with Harrington Tweeting:
“Boston’s Angel schooled brilliantly with cheek-pieces earlier this morning. It’s now full steam ahead for the Hennessy on Sunday.”
Pete set for Aintree marathon.
Trainer Malcolm Jefferson is hoping that According To Pete can continue his excellent recent form in this year’s £975,000 John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 14.
Weights for the world-famous handicap chase will be revealed on Tuesday, February 14, at the 2012 John Smith’s Grand National Official Launch in London.
According To Pete has posted a pair of Grade Three handicap chase victories on his most recent starts as he made all of the running to take the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on December 26 and followed up with another excellent round of jumping to win the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park on January 21. The 11-year-old is rated a 25-1 chance with Betfred for the John Smith’s Grand National.
Discussing his charge, Jefferson revealed today:
“According To Pete is in great form at the moment. We are just waiting to see what weight he receives on Tuesday before committing him but the John Smith’s Grand National is very high on his agenda because I think that the race will suit him.
“You would be hopeful that he will be allotted less than 11st but it’s very hard to tell what mark you will get.
“We might give him one more start beforehand in the Premier Chase at Kelso. It’s a long time between now and the John Smith’s Grand National but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he went straight to Aintree. It would be nice to give him a pipe-opener beforehand.
“He won his two most recent starts this term but he didn’t really do a lot wrong last season. He was only just beaten at Catterick and made a mistake at the last and nearly fell when going down by a head to Skippers Brig in a decent race at Haydock.
“He’s won on all types of ground and he goes on anything and everything. The Peter Marsh Chase was a bit of a slog through heavy ground but he has won on good going as well. I would think that the ground will be on the softer side of good this year for the John Smith’s Grand National.
“I can’t see my other entry King Fontaine getting into the John Smith’s Grand National, which is a pity because he ran quite well in the race last year. Things have just gone wrong for him this year and I don’t really know why. I thought that he was just coming back to himself at Wetherby but then he fell at the second in the Peter Marsh Chase.
“He’s come down a fair bit in the weights and, all being well, he will go back to Haydock for the Grand National Trial before probably heading to Ayr for the Scottish Grand National.”
A total of 82 entries were made for the 2012 John Smith’s Grand National on January 31 and they include two of the past three winners, Ballabriggs and Mon Mome. Grade One Lexus Chase victor Synchronised has been entered and represents the owner/trainer combination of J P McManus and Jonjo O’Neill, who were successful with Don’t Push It in 2010.
Kempton opt for Jumpers Bumper Card.
With sub-zero overnight temperatures just aggrevating the frozen ground conditions on Kempton’s turf track, Clerk of the Course, Barney Clifford, was able to make a decision on Friday’s Meeting prior to the arranged 8.00 am inspection time this morning, with Clifford opting to swop the meeting over to the provisional Jumpers Bumper Card, which had been put in place by the BHA earlier in the week.
Kempton’s Friday card will now include 6 races on the all-weather track, with 4 being open to existing steeplechasers and hurdlers in so-called Jumpers Bumper Races, while the remaining 2 races will be official National Hunt Flat Races – which will be open to horses who have not yet jumped in public.
Bangor lose out to cold snap.
With temperatures dropping as low as -4c in North East Wales last night, and with the course at Bangor-on-dee already frozen throughout its length due to previous hard overnight frosts, officials at the track found no solace from the weather forecast for the next couple of days, and consequently, they were left with no option at this morning’s inspection but to abandon the national hunt card du to take place tomorrow – Friday 10 February.
===========================================================================
News Archives
2012:
2011:
2010:
2009:
2008:
News Stories prior to July 2008
