Telegraph Fantasy Racing Update

A decidedly mediocre performance from many of our selections has seen out stables fall down the rankings after the Ebor Festival at York.

The highlights were the 85 points earned from Declaration Of War’s win in the Juddmonte International and Ahzeemah’s 70 points earned with victory in the Lonsdale Cup.

Unfortunately we didn’t select Jwala at 40/1 (250 points) in the Nunthorpe Stakes.

There are four BCS races in September, including two at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting in the middle of the month.

The next window to change jockeys and trainers comes after September’s races and will be all important before the final races on British Champions’ Day itself at Ascot on 19 October.

Ebor 2013: Tiger Earns His Ebor Stripes

The TV cameras caught a definite puff of the cheeks from Tom Queally just after the winning post in the Ebor, as if to say ‘Phew! That was close.’ The jockey had just steered Tiger Cliff (5/1) to victory in the valuable heritage handicap but it had looked unlikely with just a few furlongs to go.

Tiger Cliff was still several lengths behind the leaders with two furlongs left to run. But Queally kept urging his partner onwards and hit the front with just a few strides left. The winning margin was half a length.

By contrast, Genzy (second at 11/1) perhaps hit the lead too soon and left himself open to just such a late attack as was launched by the winner.

Persistent, heavy overnight rain had softened the ground on the Knavesmire and resulted in a number of non-runners, reducing the field to 14. But softer ground was no concern to Lady Cecil’s gelding:
“He handled the ground well. We were happy to see the rain,” Queally said afterwards. “He always finishes he races well.”

The four-year-old has only raced seven times, which is not many for a gelding of his age. Indeed, he never saw the racecourse as a two-year-old, a product of Sir Henry Cecil’s patience and insistence on letting the horse tell him when he was ready. That patience was rewarded today.

Ebor 2013: Jwala Joy For Drowne

Jockey Steve Drowne continued his climb back up the professional ranks with victory in the valuable Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes aboard Jwala (40/1) at York’s Ebor Festival on Friday.

Drowne was forced to give up his jockey’s licence for over a year whilst a heart virus, which caused him dizzy spells, went undiagnosed.

But he showed that he is getting back to his best with a well-timed ride on Robert Cowell’s four-year-old in Friday’s feature race. He hit the front inside the final furlong and held off the fast-finishing Shea Shea (3/1f) and Sole Power (4/1).

Godolphin had had a quiet meeting until today but roared back with a hat-trick of wins. First up was Ahzeemah (4/1) in the Lonsdale Cup who had a ding-dong battle with Simenon (15/8f) over the final furlongs and won by just a head.

This win was followed by City Style (9/1) in the Strensall Stakes and Golden Town (4/1) in the 7f maiden stakes (16.20). All three were ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, giving the jockey a nice 249/1 treble.

Trainer David O’Meara added to yesterday’s tally by taking the opening staying handicap (13.55) with Chancery (7/1). The gelding was always travelling well and looked the likely winner a long way from home.

The Betfred Ebor Heritage Handicap is the betting highlight on the final day of the festival. There weather forecast is changeable overnight and it will pay to see how the ground changes and what happens in the earlier races on the card.

Ebor 2013: Ladies’ Day

The Fugue (2/1f) bounced back to form in the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, winning impressively from Venus de Milo (9/4) by four lengths.

John Gosden’s filly finished seventh of seven in the Coral-Eclipse last time out and suffered from an illness after the race which may have caused her poor run that day. But she was back to her best today on the fast going that she enjoys.

Speaking afterwards, her trainer said: "I'm happy for her as I thought she'd get very near to the colts in the Eclipse but she was very ill afterwards and that wasn't her running.”

Another smart filly is George Margarson’s Lucky Kristale (5/2jf) who quickened very well in the final furlongs to win the Group 2 Lowther Stakes. The two-year-old overcame the weight penalty she carried for winning the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) at Newmarket’s July meeting. Her only remaining entry this season is the Cheveley Park Stakes at the end of September but she was already being given quotes of around 25/1 for next year’s 1,000 Guineas.

Mont Ras (25/1) made every yard of the running in the mile handicap (15.05) and none of his rivals could get close enough to mount a serious challenge. It was a high-profile success for apprentice jockey David Bergin, claiming 5lbs.

Mont Ras’ trainer David O’Meara is having an excellent season, already having passed 100 winners, and the hot streak continued with victory for Dutch Rose (8/1) under Kieren Fallon in the closing fillies’ handicap (16.55).

Fallon had a good battle with Richard Hughes aboard Indignant (8/1) in the final strides and just prevailed by a neck. Dutch Rose made all the running to win this same race here last year and was always prominently positioned in this year’s renewal too.

Trainer William Haggas also had a good day with wins for Haikbidiac (9/1) in the opening yearling stakes (13.55) and Our Obsession (3/1f) in the fillies’ listed race (16.20).

It is speed to the fore on Friday for the 5 furlong Nunthorpe Stakes. Some familiar names go to post – the likes of Shea Shea (Mike De Kock), Sole Power (Edward Lynam), Kingsgate Native (Robert Cowell), and even Borderlescott (Robin Bastiman) back from retirement.

Ebor 2013: Juddmonte Goes To War

There were some race-hardened battlers in the 2013 running of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York but it was Declaration Of War (7/1) who showed the strength to defeat his rivals.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt was having his seventh race of the season and had already contested some of the season’s hottest races – the likes of the Lockinge Stakes, the Coral-Eclipse, and the Qipco Sussex Stakes. Not two weeks ago he had hopped over to Deauville for the Prix Du Haras De Fresnay Jacques Le Marois (Group 1).

But he showed no signs of fatigue and stayed on well to beat Trading Leather (5/1) and Al Kazeem (11/8f).

Toronado’s (9/4) exertions in beating Dawn Approach at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes at the end of July looked to have taken more out of him than was perhaps apparent. He was soon in trouble trying to keep pace with his rivals in the long home straight and eventually finished a distance last.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope (5/4f) put the disappointment of Haydock behind him by winning the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes in very good style. He seemed to be very keen in the early stages but jockey Ryan Moore said afterwards it was more to do with his long stride than any particular keenness that means he has to try and hold him in check.

It was the first part of a double for Moore, who also won aboard Clive Brittain’s Bahamian Heights (12/1) in the closing nursery race (16.55).

Telescope’s victory also marked Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s 400th winner, which is a fine achievement for the racing syndicate.

The opening sprint handicap on the card (13.55) gave a welcome win for Kevin Ryan’s Bogart (7/1). On his last run at York in July the saddle had slipped on him and gave jockey Amy Ryan an horrific high-speed fall. Ridden today by Neil Callan while Amy recovers, there was no such drama as he sprinted up the stands side to win from Goldream (9/1). It was good to see Amy in the winner’s enclosure to applaud him back.

The fillies take centre stage in Thursday with the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) over 1 mile 4f. John Gosden’s The Fugue is favourite but faces some younger rivals in the shape of Epsom Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture and Riposte, winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Racing Preview: York’s Ebor Festival

York’s Ebor Festival begins on Wednesday and provides four days of good racing and entertainment.

Wednesday’s card includes the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) and Sir Michael Stoute’s much vaunted Telescope is favourite. The colt was beaten by a length in the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park last time when 4/9f.

In the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes Al Kazeem faces five rivals in his bid to go five races unbeaten this season.

Roger Charlton’s horse has already won three Group One races this season: the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1), the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1), and the Coral-Eclipse (Group 1).

His rivals include Toronado, winner of the Qipco Sussex Stakes last time, and Irish Derby winner Trading Leather.

The rest of the week features the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup, Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes, and the Betfred Ebor Heritage Handicap.

Staying In The Limelight – part 2

Last month I wrote about the importance of jockeys staying the spotlight so that they do not become forgotten by owners and trainers when it comes to being booked for rides.

In the article I mentioned the contrasting fortunes of Hayley Turner and Saleem Golam in the years after they shared the champion apprentice title in 2005. At the time Golam was 0/48 winners-rides in 2013.

At Windsor on Monday night Golam rode his first winner of the season in the form of Mungo Park at rewarding odds of 33/1 in the selling stakes (18.30).

The jockey gave a very honest and sobering interview to Matt Chapman on At The Races after his win. He doesn’t shirk from the fact that his career has not gone as he would have wanted. But he is fully deserving of admiration for the attitude he has adopted towards the situation.

Here are some of his comments:

"It has been a bit of a disaster really. But you've got to keep working away. It is all about keeping the mind right. If you let that go then you're in trouble.”

"Obviously it's disappointing for me. It's not disappointing for anyone else. But I've always had the faith in myself and it's all about the opportunities you get and the horses that you are riding at the end of the day.”

"This is what I do, this is my job, I go to work every day and it's embarrassing basically to say I haven't ridden a winner this season when others have ridden 70 or 80.”

“But mentally if you let it go then you start getting a bit despondent and you can turn to drink or start partying and all the rest of it, but if you get your head right and just say hopefully if you ride it out it will come good in the end. "Whether it does or not, at least you can say you tried.”

“I go to Qatar in the winter and that probably doesn't help me because I get forgotten about, but that's my decision and I have no regrets about doing that. I firmly have the belief in myself that I can get the job done as well as 90% of them in the weighing room."

Jockey Club Takes Action On Each-Way Terms

The Jockey Club has revealed that from 1 September 2013 bookmakers at its 15 courses will offer punters “standard and consistent terms” when accepting each-way bets.

Dickon White, Group Betting Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, commented:   "We believe 1st September will be an important day for the on-course betting ring as the introduction of standard each-way terms for punters will give Jockey Club Racecourses’ customers greater confidence they are getting a fair deal when betting each-way at all 15 of our tracks.”

This seems like a good move by the Jockey Club on behalf of punters and has been taken after consultation with bookmakers the various tracks. The only concern might be that some bookmakers choose not to offer each-way betting at all or increase their minimum bet size.

The Jockey Club’s racecourses include: Cheltenham, Newmarket, Aintree and Epsom.

The Jockey Club’s standard each-way terms

Telegraph Fantasy Racing Update

Glorious Goodwood was not that ‘glorious’ for our fantasy racing stables. This was mainly because we completely forgot to make selections in the Sussex Stakes and Goodwood Cup, which didn’t help our points tally. So we have slipped to around 4,100th and 14,000th with our two stables.

But it is onwards to York next week for the Ebor meeting and there are four races in the Qipco British Champions Series to be tackled. Before then we also have the chance to make a few changes to our underperforming jockeys and/or trainers.

A Day At The Races: Ladies’ Day At Pontefract Races (7 August 2013)

Ladies’ day was certainly an eye-opening experience for my first visit to Pontefract races. For someone who lives as sheltered a life as I do, it was difficult to concentrate on the horse racing at times!

At Ripon on Tuesday evening trainer Ruth Carr was unable to win the race run in memory of her grandfather David Chapman but she did have family related success at Pontefract’s meeting the following day.

The Chaplins Club Handicap Stakes is a race run to remember a horse owned by Peter Savill. Chaplins Club was trained by Chapman and won 12 races (1988-1992), including two at Pontefract. This year the race was won by Carr’s gelding Chosen One (8/1).

In the parade ring at Pontefract

Jockey James Sullivan notched up a 152/1 double with Chosen One and then Fazza (16/1) in the veterans handicap.

The meeting was an awful one for favourite backers, as not a single market leader won a race on the card. The SPs for the seven race winners were: 8/1, 6/1, 12/1, 6/1, 8/1, 16/1, and 7/1.

In the three-runner Big Fellas Nightclub Handicap Stakes the racing adage of backing the outsider of the three was proved right again as Micky Hammond’s Correggio (12/1) trounced his rivals Buchanan (5/4) and Leitrim Pass (4/5f) by five lengths and 17 lengths respectively.

Correggio’s win was the first part of a 90/1 double for jockey Franny Norton, who followed up with Kiama Bay (6/1) for Richard Fahey in the 1m4f handicap.

There was a big crowd with a lively atmosphere for ladies’ day. The big screen is essential as viewing is not easy when horses are hidden behind the trees on the far side of the course. But you do get a good view of the short home straight from the grandstands and the horses walk through the middle of the premier enclosure to get out onto the track so you don’t even have to leave the bar to get a close look at your selection.

Pontefract's busy betting ring

A Day At The Races: Ripon Evening Meeting (6 August 2013)

A cloudy day made way for a beautifully sunny evening for Ripon’s meeting on Tuesday night, for which the David Chapman Memorial Handicap Stakes was the feature race.

 

View from the Grandstand at Ripon

There was to be no sentimental win in the race for Chunky Diamond, who is trained by David Chapman’s granddaughter Ruth Carr. Instead, the race was won in a photo finish by Ian Semple’s Cheviot (11/1) ahead of Adam’s Ale (10/1).

Cheviot dashing past the post

Drawn in stall 2 on the far side of the track, jockey Jason Hart brought Cheviot to the centre of the track, racing on his own for much of the race. He gradually worked his way over to the stands’ side and finished on the stands’ rail. The evidence of the evening was that the ground was faster on that side of the course, so it was a good but brave move by Hart to make the switch across the track.

Ventura Quest (2/5f) was the only favourite to win on the card, coming out a comfortable winner of the opening maiden stakes (6.00) for Richard Fahey. But the one to take from the race could be Mark Johnston’s An Chulainn (9/1). This was the filly’s first race and she was left in the stalls at the start and was well behind the field for the first half of the race. But she got her act together late on and was finishing well in fourth. There is certainly improvement to come from her.

Fuel Injection (3/1) lived up to his name in the nursery sprint (6.40). He was very jumpy in the parade ring beforehand but showed good speed on the track to win by an easy three and a half lengths from Anytimeatall (5/2jf), who went down to post almost as fast as she came back in the race itself.

Fuel Injection in the Winner's Enclosure

Esteaming (8/11f) was the almost unanimous selection in the Washroom Company Handicap Stakes and had every chance to win in the small field. But Franny Norton aboard Bushel (11/4) made every yard of the running and was not to be headed, winning by half a length.

Bushel heads out on to the course

Hughes The Daddy

If the racecard said Richard Hughes was riding a rocking horse in the next race at Goodwood I would still consider backing it, such is the jockey’s mastery of the West Sussex track.

Hughes has just won another top jockey award at Glorious Goodwood in 2013, recording eight wins over the five days of the festival.

He nominated Toronado’s victory over Dawn Approach in the Qipco Sussex Stakes as the highlight, not just of the week, but of his entire career. But his ride aboard Pether’s Moon (4/1) in the RAC Handicap on Saturday displayed both his horsemanship and track craft at their best.

Pether’s Moon was quite keen in the early part of the race and would never have won if Hughes had allowed the colt to continue pulling over the 1m 4f trip. Instead, he dropped him towards the back of the field as the Mark Johnston duo of Salutation (2nd at 16/1) and Royal Skies (6th at 5/1) set a good pace at the front.

The leaders had gone for home very early in the straight and could not maintain the pace. Hughes began winding Pether’s Moon up for his effort just over two furlongs out and, as the early leaders tired, he hit the front in the final furlong. The winning margin was a comfortable one and a quarter lengths.

Hughes’ knowledge of the Goodwood circuit was thrown into sharp relief by Seamie Heffernan in the Group 1 Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes, who seemed almost to take to wrong course altogether when the track split in two. Watching the Channel 4 virtual reality run of the track beforehand, it did strike me that there was the possibility of confusion at that point in the course. But I assumed jockeys in a Group 1 would know which way they were planning to go.

Winsili (20/1), trained by John Gosden and ridden by William Buick, took the contest ahead of Thistle Bird (33/1) and Hot Snap (5/1). Gosden also trained the winner last year in The Fugue. The result means that Prince Khalid Abdullah has won four of the last five runnings of the Nassau, with Midday’s three wins.

Rex Imperator (12/1) was an impressive winner of the Stewards’ Cup. It is usually a very competitive handicap but William Haggas’ four-year-old was more than two lengths clear of his rivals at the line.

Glorious Goodwood 2013: Day 3

Former England footballer Michael Owen had his best day as a racehorse owner so far when Brown Panther (13/2) landed the Group 2 Artemis Goodwood Cup.

At the line, Brown Panther, ridden by Richard Kingscote, was a comfortable three and a half lengths clear of Ahzeemah (12/1). The German runner Altano (8/1) finished in third.

Luca Cumani’s Mount Athos was sent off the 3/1 favourite but never really got into contention and finished in eighth.

Wild Coco (5/6f) looked good in winning the Lillie Langtry Stakes, the Group 3 contest for fillies, for Lady Cecil, especially as it had been almost a year since her last appearance on the racecourse (winning the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster (September 2012)).

Two surprises on the day: no winner for Richard Hughes and a winner for Frankie Dettori (Amazing Maria (7/2jf) in the fillies’ maiden race.