Get the facts about your family tree from Genes Reunited, and dependant on your level of interest you can obtain either our Standard or Premier package. For full details, click the link below:
Burke ban to start tonight!
The BHA have this afternoon confirmed Yorkshire based racehorse trainer Karl Burke's twelve month ban from racing will start with immediate effect from midnight tonight. Although they have agreed to hear his appeal against the severity of his suspension from racing, the authority are not inclined to delay the start of his ban.
Burkes intended runners in tomorrow's Goodwood races, including Lord Shanakill in the Group 1 BGC Sussex Stakes, will from midnight tonight transfer to the training care of Alan Jarvis.
Owners having horses with Burke at Spigot Lodge have until 04 August to transfer them to alternative training facilities, but they must realise they have to be registered with the new trainer for fourteen days before they can race under the new regime.
The BHA have granted the concession allowing Burke to stay at Spigot Lodge until such time as his appeal is heard, but from midnight, he will not be allowed to enter any premises connected with horse racing.
Monsieur Chevalier lands his first Group success.
He may be a 'hold-up horse' who gives favourite backers the jitters, but Monsieur Chevalier is extremely quick over the final furlong of his races, and his devastating late burst in this afternoon's Molecomb Stakes gave him his sixth victory of the season, and his first ever win at Group 3 level.
The David Nicholls trained Mister Manannan tried to make all over Goodwood's down hill five furlong course, and apart from Monsieur Chevalier he succeeded, hanging on strongly to obtain second place, while the ever consistant Mick Channon trained Archers Road ran on for third place.
Tregonning hails Finjaan success.
It would be an understatement to say Marcus Tregonning was delighted with Finjaan's victory in this afternoon's seven furlong Betfair Cup. After being in the doldrums for several months as a virus ravvaged his stable, the trainer had said at the weekend he thought his horses were coming back to form just in time for Glorious Goodwood, and certainly 2008 Molecomb Stakes winner Finjaan came back to form this afternoon, on what is turning out to be his favourite track.
It could be argued the market leaders - Main Aim and J J the Jetplane - set too fast an early pace, as both faded in the final furlong of today's Group 2 contest, eventually taking the last two places as the field passed the winning post.
But whichever way you look at it, it was a tremendous training feat by Tregonning, as Finjaan was always cruising, and came with a well timed run to land today's spoils in the style of a very good horse.
Runner up Balthazaars Gift and the third placed Regal Parade reversed the placings of their recent Chester outing, but as both like to come off a strong early pace, it backs up the theory that Main Aim and J J the Jetplane went too fast in the first six furlongs of today's contest.
Harbinger shows his class.
Sir Michael Stoute and stable jockey Ryan Moore are on fire at present, so when Harbinger went to the front in today's Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, the result was inevitable.
Despite being absent from the track due to a muscle pull, Harbinger showed at only 90% fit, he is far too good for Group 3 class, holding on comfortably from upgraded handicapper Fire Bet, and the late finishing Urban Poet.
Although Conduit used this particular race to lay the foundation for his winning run in last year's Doncaster St Leger, we suspect Harbinger may be aimed at the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp or possibly the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita.
Drop in class suits Drum Fire.
Trainer Mark Johnston got his 2009 Goodwood Festival off to the best possible start when his top weighted Drum Fire landed the first race - the ten furlong Class 2 Heritage Handicap.
Having finished only a length and a half behind Cima de Triomphe in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes earlier in the season, Drum Fire was still within his potential handicap mark despite carrying 9 stone 10 pounds in today's race, and he made it count, breaking for home in the final furlong, and staying on to hold a late run by Sweet Lightning, the latter perhaps being a little unlucky in the run he obtained in today's race.
Caracciola to face ten rivals.
With Henry Cecil's Ajaan, Jack Brown Stakes runner-up Alanbrook, and Godolphin's Age of Reason all today being withdrawn from the line-up for Thursday's Goodwood Cup, veteran Royal Ascot Queen Alexandra Stakes winner Caracciola could well find himself as the favourite for the below par running of Thursday's Group 2 contest.
With Age of Reason out of the running, Frankie Dettori has switched to Sciaparelli, but the major danger to Caracciola could come from Enroller, particularly if he gets the soft ground he obtained when winning at Newbury earlier in the season.
Channon secures Dettori for Som Tala.
Northumberland Plate winner Som Tala will have to give weight all round in tomorrow's Goodwood Stakes, but he will now have the advantage of Frankie Dettori as his partner, and if he gets an uninterupted lead in Wednesday's long distance contest, trainer Mick Channon thinks he will take all the beating.
Roscommon steeplechase course currently unraceable.
Consistant heavy rain has made the steeplechase course at Roscommon currently unraceable, and the situation is so concerning, Horse Racing Ireland have ordered an inspection at 8 a m on Monday 03 August to assess as to whether steeplechase races can be held as part of the card planned for Tuesday 04 August.
Goodwood going good today.
The predicted going for today's first day of Glorious Goodwood is for genuinely good ground, but it has to be said, overnight showers and possible heavier rain tomorrow may cause concern for connections of Paco Boy in Wednesday's Group1 BGC Sussex Stakes. Although trainer Richard Hannon has confidence his Queen Anne Stakes winner can give eleven pounds to Ghanaati and still defeat the leading three year old female miler, Hannon's assumption is based on the fact tomorrow's ground will be no worse than good. So if conditions deteriorate too much before the race, do not be suprised if connections pull Paco Boy out and re-direct him to Deauville.
Conversely, Clive Cox believes more rain within the nnext twenty four hours will improve the chances of his Beacon Lodge pulling off a major suprise in Wednesday's Goodwood centre-piece.
Hoo la Baloo drops out as twenty two stand their ground.
After withdrawing Hoo la Baloo from tomorrow's Galway Plate, Paul Nicholls's Roby de Cimbre is not only favourite, he is now the only British representative left in the twenty two horse line-up for Galway's premier race.
The Tony Martin trained Royal County Star is now tomorrow's top weighted horse, but although handicapped to his best, his recent form suggests he could well carry top weight to victory. With Martin keen to win the Galway Plate, Royal County Star is joined by stable mates Northern Alliance and Green Mile in the remaining twenty two entries.
With Irish Grand National runner-up Church Island and the Dermot Weld trained Majestic Concord also being withdrawn, the well supported Wins Now has just crept into the last available place in tomorrow's field.
Leading Irish national hunt trainer Willie Mullins is to rely on his sole entry Bothar Na for a potential win, but based on the anti post market, it would seem most punters think Paul Nicholls holds the key to victory in tomorrow's race.
Smullen hopeful Bobb can see of Maria and Miranda.
Despite his many successes over the year's at the Galway Festival, jockey Pat Smullen still has not notched up a victory in the Tote Galway Mile, but he is hopeful Bob's Pride will put that right for him in today's renewal of the ultra competitive handicap. The Dundalk winner is reported to be fit by trainer Dermot Weld, and Smullen is hoping for a clear run to end his drought in this particular Galway race.
On the book, Bob's Pride would seem to have most to fear from James Coogan's Maria's Dream and Thomas Cleary's Miranda's Girl. The former has already won twice this season, and was unlucky in her last outing at the Curragh, where her jockey dropped his stick a furlong and a half out, but despite the error she still ran on for second place. Meanwhile, Miranda's Girl won twice at the 2008 Galway Festival, and the trainer confirms she has been trained specifically with this race in mind.
Carson loses job with Johnson Houghton stable.
Having only secured four winners during the current flat season, jockey Steven Carson has been told he is to lose his position as stable jockey for trainer Eve Johnson Houghton. Formerly employed by Eve's father Fulke, thirty year old Carson is not being replaced by another stable jockey, but as Eve Johnson Houghton describes,
"With Steven's current lack of form the decision to part company looks like we are kicking him while he is down, but we owe it to our owners to give them the best chance of winning, so for the foreseeable future, we will seek the best possible available jockey for our runners where ever they are competing."
Weld starts his defence with a double.
As one would expect from the handler who has captured the top trainer title at the Galway Festival for the last twenty three years, it did not take Dermot Weld long to put his name on the score board for this year's Festival.
Odds on favourite Stunning View gave Pat Smullen an armchair ride when landing the seven furlong juvenile maiden, while Ghimaar scored his first victory since last year's Galway Festival when landing the first day feature race - the Galway City Handicap over two miles.
Speaking after Stunning View's win, Weld commented,
"He is a very useful recruit who will perform at the highest level, and he will now go for the Goffs Million or National Stakes."
J J the Jetplane could swoop to victory.
Connections of South African raider J J the Jetplane believe the seven furlongs of today's Betfair Cup at Goodwood could be the ideal course for their multiple pattern race winner to show his true ability. In an interview yesterday a spokesperson said,
"We know our horse will get the seven furlongs, and although Main Aim must be respected, our fellow now seems to be fully acclimatized, and we are expecting a big run at Goodwood."
Celebrate your winnings, or commiserate with others with fine wines & champagne’s:
==================================
Archives:
2009.
2008.
News Stories prior to July 2008
Return to text based index page
