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Former trainer Pip Payne found hanged.

Pip Payne, who handed in his training license in 2004 after renting his Hamilton Road yard out to Sheikh Mohammed, has been found hanged in woodland near to Newmarket.

The highlight of the former trainer's career was when Night Prospector landed the Temple Stakes in 2004, and his retirement from training came as a shock to many people.

It is not known at this stage the circumstances of the 61 year old's death, but police have not indicated that they are looking for anyone else at present.

Fahey and Stoute consider next move for Ask.

Reported to be in fine condition following his third position behind stable mates Conduit and Tartan Bearer in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ask is now the subject of debate between his owner Pat Fahey and trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

It is thought the owner is keen to have another crack at the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, a race in which Ask performed very well last year, particularly if the ground at Longchamp looks like it will exhibit preferred 'give' on Arc day.

However, the Canadian International is also thought to be under consideration, and it will be interesting to observe what thinking processes shade the eventual decision on Ask's next target.

Chapple Hyam cuts back on boxes.

Peter Chapple Hyam has relinquished the twenty four box section of Newmarket's St Gatien stables he previously rented from owner John Clark. The trainer commented,

"It is pointless having one hundred boxes for seventy horses, so we are centralising our operation on our main Machell Place yard."

As apoint of interest, the former Chapple Hyam boxes at St Gatien once housed his Derby winner Authorised, along with other high profile horses like Dutch Art.

Mourilyan a definite non-runner in Ebor.

Gary Moore has today confirmed Goodwood Cup runner-up Mourilyan will miss the Totesport sponsered Ebor Handicap at York. Explaining his decision, the trainer said,

"He would have been saddled with top weight, and that is a virtually impossible task in such a tough handicap. Instead, he will either go for the Wetherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York on the same afternoon, or the CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury this Saturday."

Cecil making major race plans.

Talking today about his Nassau Stakes winner Midday, Henry Cecil indicated the three year old's next target would probably be the Prix L'Opera at Longchamp on 04 October, and if she performs well in France, then she will probably earn a crack at a race at the Breeders Cup in California in November.

Cecil also indicated he was very happy with Royal Ascot victor Father Time ahead of his run in next week's Great Voltigeur Stakes at York,

"I think he has matured both mentally and physically, and I am hopeful of a good run at York. If all goes well, he will probably go on to Doncaster for the St Leger."

It has been speculated, if Father Time disappoints at York, Cecil also has recent Newmarket nineteen length winner Manifest as a possible entrant for the St Leger, but as they are both owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, it is unlikely both will compete in the mile and three quarter Classic.

An additional suggestion to add to racing promotion package.

The Racing for Change projects team have now come up with several suggestions to be considered by the major players in the british racing industry over the next three months. In short, apart from the normal twelve month racing programme, the panel are suggesting;

- A flat premier championship season running from the Craven Meeting in April through to a potential new Champions Weekend to be held at Ascot at the end of September. As part of this new premier championship, more Group 1 races would be moved to the weekends, and qualifying races would have minimum guaranteed prize money.

- A team premier handicap competition, involving teams of owners, trainers, jockeys and sponsers, the competition to be run over six consecutive summer Saturdays.

- A national hunt championship running from Cheltenham's mid November Meeting and culminating at the Aintree Grand National Meeting in early April.

- Cheltenham Festival qualifying races to be run throughout the national hunt season, thus ensuring only proven top notch horses can run at Cheltenham's flagship meeting.

Now we have to admit, there is some merit in these talking points, but it does not address the real problem of attracting increased interest from the general public - So at www.racingsight.co.uk we have an additional suggestion:

- Undertake a media campaign, and then offer lottery style scratch cards over supermarket and betting shop counters on which a qualifying horse's name can be exposed. Whenever the horse wins one of the designated premier races, the lucky recipient can pick up a prize, and if the horse wins one of the Champions races at the end of the season, the lucky holder picks up another bigger prize. There could even be major prizes for the most successful horse, etc.

As everyone over 18 years of age could play in this proposed competition, it would increase interest in watching the premier race meetings, and that interest would increase the number of people who would start to form an attachment to the sport of horseracing, thus increasing our long term audience.

One of two options for Mourayan.

The John Oxx trained Mourayan has been the model of consistancy at the highest level amongst his three year old peers. He has not finished out of the placings in his three pattern races so far this season, including finishing third behind Fame and Glory and Golden Sword in the Group 1 Irish Derby, but he has yet to score his first win of the campaign.

Handler Oxx has now ear-marked two potential winning opportunities for his son of Alfaarth, but as the trainer explains, the ground will be the key as to which option is finally chosen,

"Mourayan has to have cut, and conditions at Leopardstown for this Thursday's Ballyroan Stakes look favourable, so he will probably go there."

"If the ground at Leopardstown becomes unsuitable, Mourayan also has an entry in the Great Voltigeur at York, but again, his participation would be dependant on some give in the ground."

Blythe Knight retired.

Blythe Knight, a winner of over £400,000 in both codes of racing, and also the winner of consecutive Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom in 2007 and 2008, is to be retired to the paddocks.

Speaking about the decision regarding his nine year old charge, trainer John Quinn said,

"He has been a grand servent, and he owes us nothing. I just hope he has a long and problem free retirement."

Murphy baby stands to land £60,000 if he emulates dad!

At just two months old, little Lucas Murphy seems a long way from even sitting on a pony, let alone guiding a thoroughbred around Britain’s daunting Grand National course, yet the tiny lad has been backed to win an amazing £60,000 with leading bookmakers William Hill.

Lucas’s proud uncle Dominic contacted the leading bookies just after the birth of his nephew to place a bet as a unique Father’s Day gift for his Dad – leading racehorse owner and entrepreneur Raymond Anderson-Green. Hills immediately offered odds of 500-1 on the newborn ever riding a Grand National winner, and 100-1 that he manages a victory at Jump racing’s mecca – The Cheltenham Festival.

With two bets of £100 placed, the firstborn of Timmy and Verity Murphy could win £50,000 if managing a victory in the Nation’s favourite race, and a further £10,000 if he at any time during his career wins a race at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival.

But the 6lb 3oz bouncing baby boy has a little trick up his babygro. His Father is none other than leading Jumps jockey Timmy Murphy, who guided Comply or Die to victory in the 2008 Grand National, adding the famous race to a tally that includes countless victories in National Hunt’s top races.

Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ‘’ Every year we lay bets to hundreds of parents looking to back their offspring to achieve sporting greatness. Racing has one of the best strike rates of breeding future champions, with a long illustrious list of sons, and daughters, all matching or exceeding their parents’ achievements. It will be a long wait but in this instance we’ll be praying that the apple falls a long way from the tree!

Timmy Murphy has good news.

Apart from the interesting story about his offspring, Timmy Murphy has also received the good news his dislocated shoulder injury is healing well, and his medical advisers suggest he may be able to return to race riding in the middle of September.

Quick return to track for Snaefel.

Despite just losing out to James Ryan's Perfect Polly in Sunday's Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary, trainer Michael Halford is likely to give Snaefel the opportunity to redeem himself in this weekend's Patrick O'Leary Memorial Stakes at the Curragh. As the handler explains,

"He was closing at Tipperary, and six furlongs is probably his best trip now, and as he is in such fine condition, we thought this weekend's race was an ideal opportunity for him to get his head back in front."

Bobbyscot may be given pattern race opportunity.

Having only lost out by a half length in Tipperary's Listed Hurrican Run Stakes to the highly regarded Viscount Nelson on ground not entirely suited to his action, the Paul Deegan trained Bobbyscot is now likely to be stepped up to Group 3 level for his next outing.

Leading by two lengths at the start of the last furlong, Bobbyscot was only just worn down as the line approached, and connections believe on better ground, he is quite capable of adding a Group victory to his Maiden success at Leopardstown.

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