Former-Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton was denied a win on her debut ride as an amateur jockey aboard Royal Etiquette (14/1) at Ripon on Monday afternoon.
Pendleton finished second in the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Riders' Handicap just beaten by the 33/1 shot Jordaura in a photo finish.
Her mount Royal Etiquette was slowly away from the stalls and was dropped in behind. But the very slow early pace meant Pendleton was quickly able to make her way to the head of the field. Turning for home she was actually battling for the lead with Chocolate Diamond and the pair was ahead of the field by five lengths with four furlongs remaining.
With three furlongs to go Pendleton and Royal Etiquette had a clear lead but the pack was closing. She was always battling for the lead but was headed on the line by Jordaura who came through late on to win.
Pendleton has the long term aim of riding in the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next March,
31 August 2015
Stobart Flat Jockeys Championship 2015
The new format of the Stobart Flat Jockeys Championship means that the competition now runs from 2 May 2015 (QIPCO 2000 Guineas Day) until Saturday 17 October 2015 (QIPCO British Champions' Day).
There was a lot of fanfare at the start of the season about the revamped format with Stobart carrying the names of various jockeys in a launch at Ascot racecourse.
Stobart lorry launch at Ascot
https://vimeo.com/126433596
But as the season has gone on, interest in the title has not been sparked. Injury to Ryan Moore and the mid-season retirement of Richard Hughes have not helped the situation.
At the launch Hughes was quoted as saying some PR guff: “I have made it clear from the start that I
won’t be giving up my title without a fight and will doing my best to win it for a fourth and final time. I have backed the new format since it was first announced and we are grateful to Stobart for their sponsorship and support.”
This was all true until something more important came along - i.e. retiring to start a training career mid-season.
As August comes to a close the leader in the race is Silvestre De Sousa - whose name was not on one of the launch lorries, too long perhaps? - who has reached 100 winners from 489 rides. 28 wins behind in second place are William Buick and Paul Hanagan.
If the general public were asked to name the current top 3 riders in the jockeys championship, not many respondents would be able to name any, even if they were racing fans.
The jockey most people would guess, Frankie Dettori, is not even in the top 20. But he does lead the list if the championship were measured by total prize money. Dettori has amassed nearly GB£ 3.5 million in prize money, some way ahead of De Sousa's GB£ 1.6 million.
Stobart is the sponsor on a one-year deal. The choice to take up the option to extend the association or not will be revealing as to the value the company places on the new format.
Stobart Jockeys Championship (as at 31 Aug 2015)
1. Silvestre De Sousa (100 wins)
2.= William Buick (72)
2.= Paul Hanagan (72)
4. Luke Morris (68)
5. James Doyle (66)
There was a lot of fanfare at the start of the season about the revamped format with Stobart carrying the names of various jockeys in a launch at Ascot racecourse.
Stobart lorry launch at Ascot
https://vimeo.com/126433596
But as the season has gone on, interest in the title has not been sparked. Injury to Ryan Moore and the mid-season retirement of Richard Hughes have not helped the situation.
At the launch Hughes was quoted as saying some PR guff: “I have made it clear from the start that I
won’t be giving up my title without a fight and will doing my best to win it for a fourth and final time. I have backed the new format since it was first announced and we are grateful to Stobart for their sponsorship and support.”
This was all true until something more important came along - i.e. retiring to start a training career mid-season.
As August comes to a close the leader in the race is Silvestre De Sousa - whose name was not on one of the launch lorries, too long perhaps? - who has reached 100 winners from 489 rides. 28 wins behind in second place are William Buick and Paul Hanagan.
If the general public were asked to name the current top 3 riders in the jockeys championship, not many respondents would be able to name any, even if they were racing fans.
The jockey most people would guess, Frankie Dettori, is not even in the top 20. But he does lead the list if the championship were measured by total prize money. Dettori has amassed nearly GB£ 3.5 million in prize money, some way ahead of De Sousa's GB£ 1.6 million.
Stobart is the sponsor on a one-year deal. The choice to take up the option to extend the association or not will be revealing as to the value the company places on the new format.
Stobart Jockeys Championship (as at 31 Aug 2015)
1. Silvestre De Sousa (100 wins)
2.= William Buick (72)
2.= Paul Hanagan (72)
4. Luke Morris (68)
5. James Doyle (66)
17 August 2015
BHA Horseracing bettors forum
The inaugural meeting of the Horseracing bettors forum will take place on 4 September 2015. The nine members who will comprise the forum were announced on Monday 17 August and include its chairman Simon Rowlands (Timeform) and Tanya Stevenson (Channel 4 Racing).
The purpose of the forum is to "deliver proposals and recommendations to the BHA and the BHA Racing and Betting Group for developments to British Racing that would be of benefit to the wider community that bets on British Racing".
http://www.britishhorseracing.com/bha/horseracing-bettors-forum/
Judging by the BHA's response to its role in the Speculative Bid shambles at Ascot and the publication of the results of its internal investigation, the forum will have its work cut out to improve the punter's lot.
In that publication the BHA said:
"Rule (B) 10.5.2
The Rule itself is a relatively new one, established to protect betting operators and bettors in the event that a horse is denied a run in particular circumstances. The fact that this was a relatively new (and little-used) Rule certainly contributed to its failure to be delivered effectively.
The BHA will review whether Rule (B) 10.5.2 should remain in place, or is in effect unwieldy to operate even in straightforward circumstances. The Horserace Bettors Forum, set to hold its first meeting next month, will be asked for its views in this area, and in relation to associated on-course announcements."
http://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/bha-publishes-findings-of-internal-investigation-relating-to-speculative-bid-incident/
The purpose of the forum is to "deliver proposals and recommendations to the BHA and the BHA Racing and Betting Group for developments to British Racing that would be of benefit to the wider community that bets on British Racing".
http://www.britishhorseracing.com/bha/horseracing-bettors-forum/
Judging by the BHA's response to its role in the Speculative Bid shambles at Ascot and the publication of the results of its internal investigation, the forum will have its work cut out to improve the punter's lot.
In that publication the BHA said:
"Rule (B) 10.5.2
The Rule itself is a relatively new one, established to protect betting operators and bettors in the event that a horse is denied a run in particular circumstances. The fact that this was a relatively new (and little-used) Rule certainly contributed to its failure to be delivered effectively.
The BHA will review whether Rule (B) 10.5.2 should remain in place, or is in effect unwieldy to operate even in straightforward circumstances. The Horserace Bettors Forum, set to hold its first meeting next month, will be asked for its views in this area, and in relation to associated on-course announcements."
http://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/bha-publishes-findings-of-internal-investigation-relating-to-speculative-bid-incident/
Sporting Life Pick 6 - Newmarket, Newbury and Ripon
The weekend's Pick 6 got off to a flying start with a winner in the opening leg. Bahaarah (8/1) showed good resilience to thwart the challenge of Sharaakah (8/1) in the Betway Fillies' Nursery at Newmarket.
But it was downhill from there was a series of disappointments, not least of which was Romsdal in the Betfred Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.
1.40 Newm Bahaarah 1st
2.15 Newm Iseemist 6th
2.35 Newb Romsdal 6th
3.10 Newb Withernsea 3rd
3.30 Ripon Spinatrix 11th
3.45 Newb Breton Rock 3rd
But it was downhill from there was a series of disappointments, not least of which was Romsdal in the Betfred Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.
1.40 Newm Bahaarah 1st
2.15 Newm Iseemist 6th
2.35 Newb Romsdal 6th
3.10 Newb Withernsea 3rd
3.30 Ripon Spinatrix 11th
3.45 Newb Breton Rock 3rd
12 August 2015
Guru frustration turns to farce
Dishy Guru's starting stall problems plummeted from frustration to farce at Salisbury last week in the six furlong handicap.
Wearing blinkers and blindfolded in the stalls, Dishy Guru's jockey had trouble removing the blindfold as the stalls opened. Needless to say, none of this helped the six-year old make a better start than he usually does and he was again several lengths behind his rivals before they'd gone half a furlong. He was some 25 lengths behind the winner at the finishing post.
Wearing blinkers and blindfolded in the stalls, Dishy Guru's jockey had trouble removing the blindfold as the stalls opened. Needless to say, none of this helped the six-year old make a better start than he usually does and he was again several lengths behind his rivals before they'd gone half a furlong. He was some 25 lengths behind the winner at the finishing post.
03 August 2015
British champions series - fantasy racing 2015
A mixed bag of results for our stable at Goodwood last week.
In the Qatar Sussex Stakes trainer Richard Fahey did well for us by earning 220 points for Gabrial's (50/1) third place.
In the same race Andrea Atzeni and Arod (6/1) earned 43 points for their second place.
It was bits and pieces in the Qatar Goodwood Cup - Graham Lee 40 points aboard Trip To Paris (5/1) and 10s and 20s for our other jockeys and trainers.
The Qatar Nassau Stakes only yielded 35 points in total.
But going into August we have passed 2,700 points and are just outside the top 300. Next up are four races at the York August festival.
In the Qatar Sussex Stakes trainer Richard Fahey did well for us by earning 220 points for Gabrial's (50/1) third place.
In the same race Andrea Atzeni and Arod (6/1) earned 43 points for their second place.
It was bits and pieces in the Qatar Goodwood Cup - Graham Lee 40 points aboard Trip To Paris (5/1) and 10s and 20s for our other jockeys and trainers.
The Qatar Nassau Stakes only yielded 35 points in total.
But going into August we have passed 2,700 points and are just outside the top 300. Next up are four races at the York August festival.
01 August 2015
Sporting Life Pick 6 - Goodwood and Newmarket
Frankly, if you win the Pick 6 today you cheated somehow because it looks all but impossible with the 27-runner Stewards' Sprint Stakes (Goodwood), the 28-runner Stewards' Cup (Goodwood) and a 20-runner nursery at Newmarket just three of the races.
Selections (combined odds: 302,939/1)
14.00 Jan Van Hoof 14/1
14.15 Gretchen 7/2
14.35 Senrima 7/1
14.50 Dutch Mist 11/1
15.10 Legatissimo 7/4
15.45 Related 16/1
Gretchen (4/1) was a resolute winner of the Fillies' Listed Chalice Stakes at Newmarket. She did her own thing down the centre of the track, racing alone for much of the race. But she was always up with the leaders and battled on to win by a nose from the closing Sahrawi (3/1).
It was good to hear commentator Mark Johnson use the line that Strawberry Martini was being "shaken along" at one point. As Bond fans know, a Martini should always be shaken not stirred.
Selections (combined odds: 302,939/1)
14.00 Jan Van Hoof 14/1
14.15 Gretchen 7/2
14.35 Senrima 7/1
14.50 Dutch Mist 11/1
15.10 Legatissimo 7/4
15.45 Related 16/1
Gretchen (4/1) was a resolute winner of the Fillies' Listed Chalice Stakes at Newmarket. She did her own thing down the centre of the track, racing alone for much of the race. But she was always up with the leaders and battled on to win by a nose from the closing Sahrawi (3/1).
It was good to hear commentator Mark Johnson use the line that Strawberry Martini was being "shaken along" at one point. As Bond fans know, a Martini should always be shaken not stirred.
Guru the master of frustration
Sprinter Dishy Guru must be a very frustrating horse to train and own. The six-year old clearly has good speed but he doesn't like being in the starting stalls or coming out of them at the same time as the rest of his rivals.
His race notes frequently begin "dwelt", "slowly into stride", "restless in stalls" etc. But if his starting problems could be overcome he would be a very useful sprinter.
At Sandown on 22 July he was again slow out of the stalls and gave most other runners three lengths' headstart.
But two other runners were also slowly away alongside Dishy Guru - Pour La Victoire and Rocket Rob.
By the finishing post Dishy Guru was in fourth and over three lengths ahead of Pour La Victoire and more than nine lengths in front of Rocket Rob. He never challenged the leaders but was less than two lengths behind the winner, despite the lead he gave his rivals.
In a class 5 five-furlong handicap at Leicester in May Dishy Guru was eight lengths behind his five rivals with three furlongs to go but led inside the final furlong and won the race by two lengths.
Admittedly, it was not a high grade race but to turn around that deficit - reducing eight lengths in two furlongs - and then extending a lead of two lengths in less than a furlong still requires some talent.
It's just that in higher grade company you can't afford to give better horses a few lengths' advantage from the start.
His race notes frequently begin "dwelt", "slowly into stride", "restless in stalls" etc. But if his starting problems could be overcome he would be a very useful sprinter.
At Sandown on 22 July he was again slow out of the stalls and gave most other runners three lengths' headstart.
But two other runners were also slowly away alongside Dishy Guru - Pour La Victoire and Rocket Rob.
By the finishing post Dishy Guru was in fourth and over three lengths ahead of Pour La Victoire and more than nine lengths in front of Rocket Rob. He never challenged the leaders but was less than two lengths behind the winner, despite the lead he gave his rivals.
In a class 5 five-furlong handicap at Leicester in May Dishy Guru was eight lengths behind his five rivals with three furlongs to go but led inside the final furlong and won the race by two lengths.
Admittedly, it was not a high grade race but to turn around that deficit - reducing eight lengths in two furlongs - and then extending a lead of two lengths in less than a furlong still requires some talent.
It's just that in higher grade company you can't afford to give better horses a few lengths' advantage from the start.
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