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Yeats very poor in defeat behind Alandi.
Connections may blame the ground for Yeats's poor performance when finishing unplaced behind John Oxx's Alandi in today's Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan, but truth be told, on this performance, Yeats does not appear to be the horse he was over the last three season's!
Alandi looks the type of Oxx horse who will go on to better things in middle distance races, while the former Ballydoyle inmate Hindu Kush put in a good performance in finishing second over an inadequate trip, but Yeats, who is now an eight year old, is going to have to show marked improvement on a sound surface if he is to regain the Ascot Gold Cup for a fourth successive year.
Vision D'Etat lands Prix Ganay.
Controlling the pace of today's Group 1 race from the outset, 2008 French Derby winner Vision D'Etat returned to winning ways in today's Prix Ganay at Longchamp.
Injecting pace at a crucial time, he opened up a gap on his rivals, and although Loup Breton closed near the post, Vision D'Etat ran out a clever winner of today's contest.
British and Irish raiders including Tajaaweed and Thewayyouare could not even obtain a placed position, and the continuing failure of non-french horses to land prizes in France this season is becoming a bit of an enigma.
Kasbah Bliss continues bad run of form.
Although today's Group 3 Prix de Barbeville at Longchamp was a tactical affair, Kasbah Bliss's last position in the race continued a worrying reversal of fortune for Francois Doumen's dual purpose charge.
A series of fine performances on the flat last season had been followed by an easy win over hurdles at Haydock in February, and Kasbah Bliss was for a long time the anti post favourite for the Cheltenham World Hurdle. But on the day, he ran in a disappointing fourth, and this poor form has now followed him on to the flat.
The winner of today's race, Pointilliste, set a slow pace in front, and turned the Group 3into a sprint, but even so, last season's Kasbah Bliss would have been involved in the finish of today's race, and trainer Doumen must now be worried as to why his stable star has had such a reversal of fortune.
Bizarre incident leaves Hills groom in hospital.
It is believed the noise from a roll along suitcase, being pulled by a jockey leaving last night's meeting at Wolverhampton, may have been the catalyst which left a man in hospital. The noise from the offending object spooked the Barry Hills filly Rockson as she paraded in the Wolverhampton parade ring prior to last night's Fillies Maiden contest. The youngster lashed out, and caught groom John Cannon squarely in the chest.
It soon became apparent the Hills stable staff member had been severely injured, and he was rushed to the new Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, where he was later diagnosed with a punctured lung.
Commenting today, a spokesperson for the Hills yard said,
"John will have to stay in hospital for at least three days, but the prognosis is good, and he should be home by the end of the week".
Presvis gives Cumani deserved international Group 1 success.
Having had five runner-up positions in Group 1 races in Australia, Dubai and Hong Kong over the last eighteen months, many people would not begrudge Luca Cumani a deserved victory in an international Group 1 contest, and at Sunday's meeting at Sha Tin in Hong Kong the Newmarket trainer duly achieved this illusive feat.
Given a confident ride by Ryan Moore, the Cumani trained Presvis turned in a sustained run over the home straight to see off local hero Viva Petaca by a length in today's Group 1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Gold Cup.
Cumani was to say the least pleased with the result, but he now intends to bring Presvis back to europe for the summer season, with the intention of adding to his initial Group 1 tally.
Punchestown going expected to be soft.
After the last influx of heavy rain over most of Ireland, officials at Punchestown expect the going for the first day of the Punchestown Festival to be at least soft, and this may give an edge to the home trained horses in Tuesday's races.
Ted Walsh's record falls to Patrick Mullins.
When Patrick Mullins rode his father Willie's Borrowaddy to victory at yesterday's Kilbeggan meeting, he broke a record for the number of wins scored by an amateur in Irish racing.
Set in 1976 by Ted Walsh, the original record of forty eight wins actually related to a full calendar year, while young Patrick has achieved forty nine victories in the shorter span of the 2008 2009 national hunt season.
Although riding for his father Willie mullins is obviously an advantage, no one can deny this is a fine performance by an amateur, but it will now be interesting to see if Patrick decides to ply his trade as a professional jockey in the future, as this could limit the chances of Ted Walsh's son Ruby picking up top rides for Willie Mullins.
An honest punter among the winners.
Tony Wonnacott, a south west businessman, was amongst the three winners of yesterday's Scoop Six Win Fund, and for the two pound stake he put on at his local Ladbrokes in Exeter, the 45 year old picked up a cool £310,408.
However, Tony has admitted he was oblivious of his win for much of the afternoon, as after placing the bet, he went to watch his beloved Exeter City take on Morecambe at St James's Park, and only popped back into the Ladbrokes shop after the match.
When told of his win, Tony had a few mad seconds of joy before he phoned his wife, and while advising her of his win, he admitted the Scoop Six win probably just covered all the money he had lost on the horses since he started betting.
This honest man now has the chance next week to turn a clear profit on his lifetime stakes, but to do so, he has the difficult task of picking the winner of next weekend's bonus race. if he proves successful in this objective, he could add another four hundred thousand pounds to his lifetime winnings.
Hennessy will be aimed at his namesake race.
With many pundits still waxing lyrical about Tony McCoy's ride aboard Hennessy in yesterday's Bet 365 Gold Cup, Hennessy's trainer Carl Llewellyn was already eyeing an initial objective for the start of next season, and his preferred option would be his horse's namesake race of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November.
In an interview after yesterday's victory, Llewellyn commented,
"He has earned a good rest now, but if we can get him ready in time, I think the Hennessy would be the ideal option for the start of next season".
Kalahari a bit of a hero in defeat.
When Kalahari King made a mess of the first jump in yesterday's Celebration Chase at Sandown Park, he also pulled muscles in his back, so the remainder of his lack lustre performance behind Twist Magic is put into some kind of context, for by finishing second while injured, he showed he has guts and determination, and when these are added to his undoubted ability, he should be a major force in two mile chasing during the 2009 2010 national hunt season.
Trainer Ferdy Murphy has confirmed after remedial treatment for the injury to his back, Kalahari King will then get the rest of the summer off, and will return to the track in November of this year.
Morning News:
Today's Prix Ganay pretty much the Recovery Stakes.
The three main protagonists in today's Prix Ganay at Longchamp all have reasons to get back on the winning trail.
Sir Michael Stoute's Tajaaweed looked like he could be a leading three year old when winning at last May's Chester meeting, but he was never able to progress beyond his Group 3 win.
Aidan O'Brian has this year acquired Thewayyouare from Andre Fabre's yard. As a two year old he looked top class, winning the Group 1 Criteriam International at Saint Cloud, but he was never able to recapture that form as a three year old, and it remains to be seen as to whether a change of scenary will rekindle his racing ability.
Vision D'Etat was the most consistent during last season, winning the French Derby, plus races at Chantilly and Longchamp, but in a Group 2 contest earlier this season he was well held by Trincot at Longchamp, and he has yet to show he retains the ability to be victorious as a four year old.
Celebrate your winnings, or commiserate with others with fine wines & champagne’s:
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