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Bolger delighted with Intense Focus.When a trainer like Jim Bolger says he is delighted with one of his horses, it is well worth paying attention to the claim. Bolger's comment was directed at his October 2008 Dewhurst Stakes winner Intense Focus, and although no plans have yet been made to give the three year old a preparation run, in our little black book, the comments make him a live prospect for the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas. J p may make foray into flat territory.J P Macmanus is well known for his high profile national hunt horses, but he may have a runner in next Saturday's Lincoln Handicap, if Spectate qualifies at the forty eight hour decleration stage. The seven year old has been quietly putting together three wins on the Wolverhampton all weather circuit, and he is reported to be in fine form, so he could give J P an outside chance of a first Lincoln winner. Connections have confirmed if Spectate does not get into the Lincoln, he will go for the Spring Cup instead. Black Bear impresses in Curragh work-out.Aidan O'Brien gave a large number of horses a work-out after yesterday's initial flat race fixture at the Curragh. Splitting the work party into three groups, Mastercraftsman, the current favourite for the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas, was among the horses in the first gallop over seven furlongs, were he finished fourth. The second group galloped over a mile, and the forward looking Black Bear Island led them home, with the result his price for the Epsom Derby was slashed. In the third group, former 2,000 Guineas favourite Rip Van Winkle came in sixth, but O'Brien later said he was not disappointed with Mastercraftsman or Rip Van Winkle, as he knew the pair still needed plenty of work before they would be ready for their proposed run at Newmarket at the end of May. Out of the other runners, both Septimus and veteran Yeats looked forward in their work, and both can be expected to make early appearances during the up coming flat season. First stage of auction closes this afternoon.At Racingsight, we are enthusiastic supporters of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust's 2009 Auction, with all the money raised going towards the organisations new purpose built facilities, which amongst other things, deals with the retraining and resettlement of retired racehorses. The first section of the auction, involving Lots 1 to 90 closes this afternoon at 5.00 p m, with the remaining Lots 91 to 184 still available until 5.00 p m on Monday 30 March. To bring potential bidders up to speed, the package for four people to visit Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle operation currently stands at 800 euros, while a similar package for Paul Nicholls Ditcheat operation is standing at 500 euros. A golfing package for two to play with Ruby Walsh and Johnnie Murtagh is being led by a bid of 475 euros, and two riding lessons with Edward Doyle stands at 800 euros. The opportunity for a party of 24 to have a VIP day at the Curragh stands at 2,500 euros, but there are plenty of smaller VIP packages for racecourses like Leopardstown, Market Rasen, Punchestown and Nottingham, which are still available below real market value. There is still plenty of time for you to help, and possibly pick up a bargain. All you have to do is click on the following link - www.ihwt.ie/auction Lee ban does not affect Kilbeggan ride.Having missed the marker for the division between the steeplechase and hurdles courses before the third last hurdle in the Turf TV Hurdle at yesterday's Huntingdon races, Graham Lee was among five riders who took the wrong course and had to run the gauntlet of angry spectators on the way back to the weighing room. The five jockeys then had to face the wrath of the Huntingdon stewards who quite rightly handed twelve day riding bans to all of the five jockeys involved. But Graham Lee must be thanking his lucky stars he made the mistake yesterday and not on Saturday, for with a fourteen day gap between the offence and the start of his ban, it means he can still take the Grand National ride on Kilbeggan Blade, which he had secured from trainer Tom George on Sunday morning. Seamus Durack, who made the mistake of missing the water jump on Saturday at Stratford on Avon is not so lucky, as his twelve day ban comes into effect on Grand National day, and he is ineligible to obtain a ride in the Aintree centre-piece. Nicholls rules out Auteuil!Having recently walked the courses at France's top jumping venue at Auteuil, trainer Paul Nicholls was disgusted with the state of the racing surface, and he has decided not to send any of his horses to the major French jump meeting, due to be held in May. This decision ends any hopes the French Jockey Club may have had of enticing Denman to participate in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. On this occasion, the french cannot blame this decision on 'anglo pique', as top french trainer Francois Doumen has already put on record he agrees with Nicholls about the poor state of the racing surfaces on the Auteuil courses. BHA definite about blank Sundays in 2010.The British Horseracing Authority had intended to have four Sundays free of horseracing during the current calendar year, but the large number of cancellations over the winter, plus complaints from various racing bodies, caused a change in this policy for 2009. However, the BHA have made it known well in advance, they intend to ensure there will be four Sundays during 2010 which will be free of horseracing. Indeed, if the recession continues into next year, this policy may be a very wise move, as the funds necessary for sponsorship and attendance at meetings may come under even more pressure, so fewer fixtures could be the right move in the short term. No explanation given for Epson swoop.The decision to undertake a drugs swoop on five Epsom stables during the latter part of last week has not been clearly explained by the BHA. A statement indicating, 'due to information provided', does not adequately cover the reasons behind the in depth sampling of horses at the Epsom yards of; Michael Attwater, William Boyle, Roger Ingram, Brett Johnson, and Roger Teal. What can be said with confidence, is all five trainers have confirmed they had no problem with the drugs inspection, so the mystery deepens! Totting up procedure hits another two jockeys.Last week it was Jamie Spencer, now his rival for the all weather jockeys title Chris Catlin, along with fellow professional Greg Fairley, are the latest two jockeys to fall foul of the 'totting up' procedure of racing bans. The latter two jockeys will now miss a substantial part of the early flat season as they serve lengthy suspensions on the sidelines. Although the BHA indicated last week they were to discuss the format of the 'totting up' rules, it does seem, certainly in the cases of Spencer and Catlin, the more successful the rider, the more likely they are to incur a long ban under the current rules.
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News Stories prior to July 2008
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