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Small problems put back Mikael D'Haguenet novice chasing debut.
In an interview with ATR, Willie Mullins indicated a bone splint and a small cut on the leg had delayed Mikael D'Haguenet's training programme for his intended novice chase debut, and the impressive winner of major novice hurdle races at Cheltenham and Punchestown earlier this year, will probably not be seen in racing action until December at the earliest. In his explanation, Mullins said,
"The splint has been resolved, and the stitches he had in the cut have now been removed, but the two setbacks have put him a month behind in his intended training programme, and I would guess it will be December before he is now ready to make his debut over fences."
Strangles case confirmed at Stan Moore's yard.
A case of the infectious, and potentially lethal throat disease 'strangles' has been confirmed at Stan Moore's yard in Hungerford. The yearling filly who arrived from Ireland on 02 October has been quarantined, and a deep disinfection of the whole yard is now being undertaken.
Harchibald and Sizing Europe clash appears to be on!
With the track at Punchestown reportedly offering perfect yielding ground, Noel Meade and Henry de Bromhead have decided to allow top class hurdlers Harchibald and Sizing Europe to clash in tomorrow's Grade 3 Buckhouse Novice Chase.
At face value, the advantage would seem to be with Sizing Europe, for he obtained chasing experience when landing a Beginners Chase at Punchestown in May. In addition, at seven years of age, Sizing Europe has three years on old stager Harchibald.
However, as the enigmatic Harchibald proved in last year's Kempton Christmas Hurdle, on a going day, he is a match for most of his peers, so Sizing Europe's connections will certainly not be taking tomorrow's result for granted.
Channon happy with Halicarnassus ahead of Milan raid.
Having put Halicarnassus through a final work-out, Mick Channon is reported to be very happy with the preparation his Bospherus Cup winner has received ahead of his raid on Milan's Gran Premio de Jockey Club this coming Sunday. Discussing Halicarnassus's chances in the forthcoming Group 1, Channon said,
"He is in the same form and condition as when completing his win in Turkey, and providing he gets his preferred fast ground on Sunday, I expect him to do very well."
Chapple Hyam very hopeful about Challenge Stakes representatives.
After watching his two Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes representatives go through their paces this morning, Peter Chapple Hyam admitted he was very hopeful both would figure in the closing stages of Saturday's seven furlong Newmarket contest,
"Al Qasi finished second in the same race in 2007, and he put in an excellent piece of solo work on the training gallop, and providing the ground does not become too fast on Saturday, I am very hopeful he will go one better than his previous second." Discussing Tariq, the trainer said,
"He worked well this morning, and if he could just recapture the form he showed as a three year old, he could take Saturday's race with some to spare."
Going on to discuss his recent Autumn Stakes winner Morana, Chapple Hyam indicated,
"He has come out of the Ascot race in good heart. We always knew he was a Stakes winner, but it has taken him some time to realise his potential. He will have one more run, and at the present it is a toss up between the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, or we could send him to France for the Grand Criterium de Saint Cloud."
Lemaire gets all clear for Newmarket.
French jockeys must be made of tough stuff, for just like his counterpart Christophe Soumillon, Christophe Lemaire has made a remarkably quick return from a broken collar bone.
Lemaire has been passed by France Gallop to ride at Newmarket this weekend
where he has three rides for Jean Claude Rouget, but it is understood he was particularly keen to ride Never On Sunday in Saturday's Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes.
War heading to Thurles.
Mouse Morris has decided War of Attrition's participation in the Star Best for Racing Chase at Punchestown comes too soon after his seasonal bow at Gowran Park, so the trainer has decided to by-pass tomorrow's race, and instead, his 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will have his next outing in the Thurles Chase on 05 November. Speaking about his decision, Morris commented,
"War of Attrition did not overly enjoy the ground at Gowran Park, and he came out of the race a little stiff. He seems fine now, but I thought I would give him the extra fortnight to put himself right, and we will go to Thurles on 05 November."
Sea The Stars obtains Timeform retrospective upgrade.
Following the decision to retire Sea The Stars from competitive racing, it was obvious the son of Cape Cross and Urban Sea would not be competing in this year's Breeders Cup Classic, and consequently, the Yorkshire based Timeform organisation have decided their temporary grading of Sea The Stars on 135 was too low, and they have now given the John Oxx trained colt a retrospective final grading of 140.
This rating makes him one of the top racehorses of all time, and the following figures indicate how Timeform rate him amongst his fellow 'greats'.
Highest Timeform Ratings since 1970
BRIGADIER GERARD 144
MILL REEF 141
DUBAI MILLENNIUM 140
DANCING BRAVE 140
SEA THE STARS 140
SHERGAR 140
Highest Timeform Ratings of all-time
SEA BIRD II 145
BRIGADIER GERARD, TUDOR MINSTREL 144
ABERNANT, RIBOT, WINDY CITY 142
MILL REEF 141
DANCING BRAVE, DUBAI MILLENIUM, SEA THE STARS, SHERGAR VAGUELY NOBLE 140
Current Timeform Global Rankings
SEA THE STARS 140
RIP VAN WINKLE 134
FAME AND GLORY 133
GOLDIKOVA 132
CAVALRYMAN 130
CONDUIT 130
SACRED KINGDOM 130
YOUMZAIN 130
MASTERCRAFTSMAN 129
PACO BOY 129
RACHEL ALEXANDRA a129
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