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Bell satisfied with Newmarket going.

Having walked the course and then watched the races at Newmarket this afternoon, Michael Bell has declared himself happy with the going at Newmarket, and he is expected to give Sariska the opportunity to add the Champion Stakes to her two Group 1 wins in the Epsom and Irish Oaks contests.

Sea The Stars receives another boost.

While Steel Tango had finished fifth behind Sea The Stars in the Eclipse Stakes earlier in the season, he finished last behind the same rival in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, and yet Roger Teal's charge put in a strong late run to get home by a head from Sir Michael Stoute's Glass Harmonium in today's Group 3 Darley Stakes at Newmarket.

Apart from winning his first race since July 2008, Steel Tango's performance this afternoon certainly boosted the standing of Sea The Stars, and perhaps made us all realise what a majestic horse we have been watching over the 2009 flat season.

After today's race, Roger Teal suggested he would now be tempted to give Steel Tango one last run in this year's Hong Kong Cup.

Haggas admits error over Damaniyat Girl.

While William Haggas has been running Damaniyat Girl over seven furlongs and a mile this year without success, connections insisted for her latest run he should try her over six furlongs, and in this afternoon's Listed Boadicea Stakes at Newmarket, the connections were proved right, for responding to a Frankie Dettori drive, she overhauled the front running Vittoria close home, landing her first success in twelve months by a short head.

Fortune survives late Pachattack on Enticement.

Her Majesty the Queen can thank jockey Jimmy Fortune for Enticement's win in this afternoon's Listed Severals Stakes at Newmarket. Returning to the venue of her Montrose Stakes win last year, Enticement responded readily when Fortune asked her to go on at half way in today's contest, but it was the jockey's judgement of pace and his strong drive in the final half furlong which helped the royal filly to hold on by a narrow margin from the late thrust of eventual runner up Pachattack.

After the race, it was confirmed Enticement would now go to stud as a brood mare.

Scoop Six bonus fund could still be up for grabs.

While we wish the anonymous Betfair punter every success in trying to add tomorrow's Scoop Six Bonus Fund to his already large winnings from last week, if he should happen to miss out on picking the winner of the bonus race, there will be over three hundred thousand pounds in next week's bonus pot. But to potentially qualify for that option, you must first solve the riddle of tomorrow's six races:

Leg 1 - 1.50 pm Newmarket.

Leg 2 - 2.25 pm Newmarket.

Leg 3 - 2.40 pm Cheltenham.

Leg 4 - 3.00 pm Newmarket.

Leg 5 - 3.15 pm Cheltenham.

Leg 6 - 3.40 pm Newmarket.

For those who take notice of such omens, Frankie Dettori is the guest on tomorrow morning's Channel 4 Morning Line, so one or two of his mounts tomorrow afternoon may well be worth noting.

Severe colic causes death of Inglis Drever.

Three time World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever had to be euthanised after developing a severe case of equine colic. The ten year old, who only retired from racing in January of this year, was found thrashing on the ground on Thursday afternoon by owner Graham Wiley, but despite immediate and intensive overnight treatment, the hurdling legend failed to respond, and after a telephone conversation between Wiley and a senior vet this morning, the decision was taken to administer a euthanising drug.

Murtagh believes class can overcome inexperience.

Having only had the one outing when winning a Maiden at Naas in May, Steinbeck goes into tomorrow's Dewhurst Stakes as the most inexperienced juvenile amongst the classy field, but in an interview today, race partner Johnnie Murtagh exhibited confidence his mount will have the class to overcome his rivals, and thereby put himself at the head of the markets for next year's Classic races.

"He may have only had the one run, but we know from his work at home he is a classy type, and providing he does not get bumped around, I am confident he has the ability to overcome his Dewhurst rivals."

King takes Ascot route to avoid Masterminded clash.

Alan King is the first to admit former Champion Chaser Voy Por Ustedes takes a bit of time to warm up to his task during each national hunt season, so he was particularly keen to avoid an early season clash with the Paul Nicholls trained Masterminded in Cheltenham's two mile Connaught Cup on 15 November. Now thanks to Ascot changing the designation of one of their races, King has an answer to his problem, for instead of going to Cheltenham, he will give Voy Por Ustedes his seasonal debut in the new Grade 2 Amlin 1965 Chase, a contest over two miles three furlongs staged at Ascot on 21 November. Speaking about his decision, King said,

"Voy Por Ustedes always takes time to find top form, and I really didn't fancy putting him up against Masterminded in his first run, so the Ascot option is great for us, and I am pretty sure that is where we will go first."

Noseda hoping Newmarket avoids any rain.

Jeremy Noseda hopes the weather people have got it right for once, and Newmarket is spared any overnight rain, for the handler believes his comparative outsider Awesome Act will have a great chance in Saturday's Dewhurst Stakes if the ground rides fast. Giving his views, Noseda said,

"The faster the ground is for the Dewhurst, the better he will run, and I can only hope the forecast for daytime sun and dry overnight conditions is accurate for the next twenty four hours."

It would seem plenty of punters are paying attention to Noseda's diagnosis of his juveniles chances, for Awesome Act has been well supported in today's anti post market for the race.

Sir Michael unusually bullish about Doctor Fremantle.

In an interview this morning, Sir Michael Stoute was unusually upbeat about Doctor Fremantle's chances in tomorrow's Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes, commenting,

"He had problems with his feet last year, but we seem to have sorted that out, and apart from the race at Royal Ascot where they went very quickly and he failed to get into it, he has won his other three starts."

"I'm not bothered about him stepping back to ten furlongs, and providing the ground stays like it is, I give him a good chance in tomorrow's race."

Casey Jones stays on track for Hennessy bid.

Jumping well, and showing plenty of stamina, Noel Meade's Casey Jones showed why he was a Grade 1 winning novice when landing Thursday's Star 'best for racing coverage' Chase at Punchestown. Given a well paced ride by Paul Carberry the eight year old gelding took control between the last two fences, and after flying the last, he ran on strongly to score by a length and a half from Kilcrea Castle.

Meade was encouraged by the run, and intimated a return to top class company could be on the agenda,

"We would have to think about the Hennessy at Newbury after today's performance. If Denman heads the weights for the race, our lad could slip in at the bottom, and if he improves off today's effort, he could be well handicapped to put in a big showing in the Hennessy."

New whip to be handed out free of charge to British Jockeys.

The British Horseracing Authority has announced that a modified whip will be made available to British jockeys over the next few months. The new whips will initially be made available to flat jockeys, followed by jump jockeys.

The new whip, which is an evolved design of the existing cushioned whip, will include a microchip of the same type as used to identify racehorses. The purpose of this is to allow research into the longevity of the whip, in particular its cushioning properties. Enhancements have also been made to the grip following feedback from jockeys.

The original cushioned whip design was developed by manufacturers Old Mill Saddlery of Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, and the design came about after consultation with a Jockey Club panel, plus input from the RSPCA. The cushioned whip was introduced in 2004 for Jump racing and in 2007 for Flat racing. The success of this approach has been shown by the widespread international adoption of the principle of cushioned whips in horseracing and other equine sports. Once again, the modified whip has been developed with manufacturers Old Mill Saddlery of Carrickfergus.

The first batch of modified whips will be funded by the BHA and made available to all licensed professional jockeys at no cost to themselves. Jockeys with more than 500 rides per year will receive two whips.

Once the whips have been distributed to all jockeys the Rules for the specification of whips will be updated to include the requirement for a microchip.

Tim Morris, Director of Equine Science and Welfare for the Authority, said:

“At present we do not know if the cushioning effect is sustained over time. Identification of individual whips via the microchip will allow objective assessment of whip age, allow estimates of the number in races where it has been used and ultimately avoid any whip wear that might affect horse welfare.

“The use of these microchips for whip identification is a result of racing’s ongoing positive co-operation with the PJA and our dialogue with the RSPCA.

“We will continue to consult with the PJA on the Rules and Penalties for any whip offences, and work closely with the PJA and Racing Schools on education over proper use of the whip.”

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