Cue Card has been ruled out of competing in the Ryanair Chase at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival.
Cue Card won the race in 2013 and was 6/1 second favourite for the 2015 running.
Trainer Colin Tizzard has said the horse should be fit for Aintree in April.
Showing posts with label Turf notes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turf notes. Show all posts
03 March 2015
27 February 2015
Turf notes: 27 February 2015
Jockey David Crosse survived a series of jumping mistakes from his mount Kadalkin (16/1) to remain in the saddle and win the BetBright Cheltenham Festival Fund Novices' Chase (3.45) at Doncaster on Friday.
One jumping error close to home left the jockey with his foot out of the stirrup and perilously close to falling off the nine-year old. But Crosse recovered very well and composed himself to mount a challenge that saw him take the lead at the final flight and come home in front by eight lengths from Pure Oxygen (11/8).
This was only Kadalkin's sixth race under rules and was his first win. Trainer Nigel Hawke admitted he had been a "nightmare" to train but that his connections had also been waiting for the right ground for him (good).
The horse has no further entries at the moment.
One jumping error close to home left the jockey with his foot out of the stirrup and perilously close to falling off the nine-year old. But Crosse recovered very well and composed himself to mount a challenge that saw him take the lead at the final flight and come home in front by eight lengths from Pure Oxygen (11/8).
This was only Kadalkin's sixth race under rules and was his first win. Trainer Nigel Hawke admitted he had been a "nightmare" to train but that his connections had also been waiting for the right ground for him (good).
The horse has no further entries at the moment.
24 February 2015
Turf Notes 24 February 2015: Cheltenham Festival update
Jonjo O'Neill's More Of That has been ruled of the Cheltenham Festival 2015 and will not be able to defend his Ladbrokes World Hurdle title.
His participation was thrown into doubt a few weeks ago when he was reported to have bled after a workout and today's news confirms that the Festival will come too soon after that setback.
Paul Nicholls' Hinterland has also been ruled out of Cheltenham 2015 and will not run in The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. His trainer set Sandown in April as a possible target for a return to the track.
His participation was thrown into doubt a few weeks ago when he was reported to have bled after a workout and today's news confirms that the Festival will come too soon after that setback.
Paul Nicholls' Hinterland has also been ruled out of Cheltenham 2015 and will not run in The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. His trainer set Sandown in April as a possible target for a return to the track.
09 May 2014
Turf notes: 9 May 2014
Two winners at Chester's May festival have given a strong boost to Mecca's Angel's recent good win at Thirsk.
In Friday's five furlong sprint (3.15) Blithe Spirit (11/4) made all the running to win by 2 3/4 lengths from Viva Verglas.
On Thursday The Hooded Claw (6/1) took the six furlong handicap (4.25).
Both horses had finished behind Mecca's Angel in the five furlong sprint (5.10) on Thirsk's card on 12 April.
In Friday's five furlong sprint (3.15) Blithe Spirit (11/4) made all the running to win by 2 3/4 lengths from Viva Verglas.
On Thursday The Hooded Claw (6/1) took the six furlong handicap (4.25).
Both horses had finished behind Mecca's Angel in the five furlong sprint (5.10) on Thirsk's card on 12 April.
05 May 2014
Turf notes: 5 May 2014
A previous edition of Turf Notes highlighted Mecca's Angel as an impressive winner at Thirsk last month.
Michael Dods' sprinter won again on Sunday 4 May at Hamilton, coming home eight lengths ahead of Eccleston in the 5f conditions stakes (3.00). Although the price of 10/11 was not one to make you rich.
Michael Dods' sprinter won again on Sunday 4 May at Hamilton, coming home eight lengths ahead of Eccleston in the 5f conditions stakes (3.00). Although the price of 10/11 was not one to make you rich.
13 April 2014
Turf notes: 13 April 2014
The grey filly Mecca's Angel made a winning start to the season with a decisive victory in the five furlong sprint at Thirsk on Saturday (5.10).
Michael Dods' three-year-old was very consistent last season and is now 3/6 in wins over five furlongs.
She was twice second in Listed races last season and had no problem giving weight to her rivals back in a handicap on Saturday, coming clear by 4 1/2 lengths.
The filly has no future entries at the time of writing.
Michael Dods' three-year-old was very consistent last season and is now 3/6 in wins over five furlongs.
She was twice second in Listed races last season and had no problem giving weight to her rivals back in a handicap on Saturday, coming clear by 4 1/2 lengths.
The filly has no future entries at the time of writing.
07 February 2014
Turf notes: 7 February 2014
Trainer Nicky Henderson said Vaniteux was “one for the future” after the five-year-old won the novice hurdle race (1.50) at Doncaster by a comfortable 12 lengths on Thursday.
Vaniteux has two wins from three starts and, whilst he holds and entry for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, his trainer said he is unlikely to line up there in 2014:
Reported on sportinglife.com Henderson said: "I don't think we'll go to Cheltenham this year, the two-and-half-miler at Aintree might be more his cup of tea. He's one for the future and hopefully he'll be at Cheltenham one day."
On the same card First Mohican (Alan King) was having his first run over hurdles after a career on the Flat with Sir Henry and Lady Cecil. Sired by Tobougg, First Mohican had a winning start for Sir Henry back in 2010 and repeated the feat with a debut win over hurdles for Alan King (7/2).
The trainer was pleased with the horse’s performance:
"He really stuck his neck out on the run-in, his hurdling has been very good at home and physically he has been doing very well.”
“For a novice first time out that was as good a round of jumping as you could get.”
“He'll go to the Dovecote (Novices’ Hurdle, 2 miles, Kempton Park, 22 February) now, that has always been the plan. I'd love to get another run into him as I imagine he'll take it all very well.”
Vaniteux has two wins from three starts and, whilst he holds and entry for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, his trainer said he is unlikely to line up there in 2014:
Reported on sportinglife.com Henderson said: "I don't think we'll go to Cheltenham this year, the two-and-half-miler at Aintree might be more his cup of tea. He's one for the future and hopefully he'll be at Cheltenham one day."
On the same card First Mohican (Alan King) was having his first run over hurdles after a career on the Flat with Sir Henry and Lady Cecil. Sired by Tobougg, First Mohican had a winning start for Sir Henry back in 2010 and repeated the feat with a debut win over hurdles for Alan King (7/2).
The trainer was pleased with the horse’s performance:
"He really stuck his neck out on the run-in, his hurdling has been very good at home and physically he has been doing very well.”
“For a novice first time out that was as good a round of jumping as you could get.”
“He'll go to the Dovecote (Novices’ Hurdle, 2 miles, Kempton Park, 22 February) now, that has always been the plan. I'd love to get another run into him as I imagine he'll take it all very well.”
24 January 2014
Turf notes: 24 January 2014
Pearl Castle (17/2) was an eye-catching winner of the Sky Vegas App Novices' Hurdle (2m 110y) at Doncaster on Friday.
The four-year-old ran home 16 lengths ahead of his nearest rival on just his second start over hurdles after a career on the Flat.
Now trained by John Quinn, Pearl Castle seemed at home in a large field and showed an excellent turn of foot in the final furlong (perhaps remembering his Flat racing days).
He looked a little awkward at some of his hurdles, particularly early on in the race, taking some of them at an angle to the flight rather than head on. But he took a couple of hurdles at good speed in the home straight and jumped the final hurdle fluently.
No doubt his jumping will improve further with experience. One to watch if he is entered at Cheltenham.
The four-year-old ran home 16 lengths ahead of his nearest rival on just his second start over hurdles after a career on the Flat.
Now trained by John Quinn, Pearl Castle seemed at home in a large field and showed an excellent turn of foot in the final furlong (perhaps remembering his Flat racing days).
He looked a little awkward at some of his hurdles, particularly early on in the race, taking some of them at an angle to the flight rather than head on. But he took a couple of hurdles at good speed in the home straight and jumped the final hurdle fluently.
No doubt his jumping will improve further with experience. One to watch if he is entered at Cheltenham.
22 January 2014
Turf notes: 22 January 2014
A quiet afternoon of mid-week racing on Wednesday was galvanised by a series of winners that could prove very costly for the bookmakers.
First was jockey Frankie Dettori’s return to the track after injury. He is still a favourite of the betting shop customers and he was victorious on his first two rides back in the saddle at Lingfield. Eco Warrior (8/1) won the opening maiden stakes race (1.00) and Gone With The Wind (7/4f) took the maiden stakes contest an hour later, giving Dettori-backers a near 24/1 double.
But, elsewhere, someone clearly had an expensive Christmas that they needed to pay for with reports of a betting coup involving four horses across the cards at Lingfield, Catterick and Kempton Park. Maybe Dettori’s return helped divert attention from their plans?
Many of the horses involved have links to the fearless gambler Barney Curley. Several share a similar profile of a long absence from the track and more zeros next to their name than an England batsman.
Eye Of The Tiger (1.30 Lingfield) WON 1/1f
Seven Summits (1.40 Catterick) WON 9/4f
Indus Valley (4.25 Kempton) WON 4/6f
Low Key (6.25 Kempton) WON 4/7f
All the horses were cut sharply by the bookmakers. Eye Of The Tiger was available at 10/1 last night, 4/1 this morning and returned the even money favourite.
Indus Valley had not run for 700 days and had a form profile of 830000 and yet at one point in the afternoon was 2/5 favourite for the first race at Kempton (4.25), having been 20/1, 8/1, and 2/1.
A similar coup occurred in May 2010 when three horses linked to Curley won at Brighton, Wolverhampton and Towcester – Agapanthus, Savaranola and Jeu De Roseau. A fourth horse – Sommersturm – was beaten but the odds of the other three (11/2, 4/1 and 25/1) was enough to earn winnings of almost GB£ 4 million.
First was jockey Frankie Dettori’s return to the track after injury. He is still a favourite of the betting shop customers and he was victorious on his first two rides back in the saddle at Lingfield. Eco Warrior (8/1) won the opening maiden stakes race (1.00) and Gone With The Wind (7/4f) took the maiden stakes contest an hour later, giving Dettori-backers a near 24/1 double.
But, elsewhere, someone clearly had an expensive Christmas that they needed to pay for with reports of a betting coup involving four horses across the cards at Lingfield, Catterick and Kempton Park. Maybe Dettori’s return helped divert attention from their plans?
Many of the horses involved have links to the fearless gambler Barney Curley. Several share a similar profile of a long absence from the track and more zeros next to their name than an England batsman.
Eye Of The Tiger (1.30 Lingfield) WON 1/1f
Seven Summits (1.40 Catterick) WON 9/4f
Indus Valley (4.25 Kempton) WON 4/6f
Low Key (6.25 Kempton) WON 4/7f
All the horses were cut sharply by the bookmakers. Eye Of The Tiger was available at 10/1 last night, 4/1 this morning and returned the even money favourite.
Indus Valley had not run for 700 days and had a form profile of 830000 and yet at one point in the afternoon was 2/5 favourite for the first race at Kempton (4.25), having been 20/1, 8/1, and 2/1.
A similar coup occurred in May 2010 when three horses linked to Curley won at Brighton, Wolverhampton and Towcester – Agapanthus, Savaranola and Jeu De Roseau. A fourth horse – Sommersturm – was beaten but the odds of the other three (11/2, 4/1 and 25/1) was enough to earn winnings of almost GB£ 4 million.
10 January 2014
Turf notes: 10 January 2014
Trainer Brian Ellison had a good day at Catterick on Thursday (9 January) with three winners on the seven-race card.
Yorkist (5/2) was a confident winner in the two-mile novices’ hurdle race (14.05). The winning margin of 12 lengths was a bit flattering because the gelding’s nearest rival, El Massivo (also trained by Ellison), fell at the last hurdle and then hampered Dark Dune (15/8f).
But, nevertheless, Yorkist, was still galloping at the line and now has a record of two wins (both at Catterick) from four runs for Ellison.
The trainer said, “When you consider [jockey] Nathan [Moscrop] said he hated the ground [heavy, soft in places], it was a good performance. We'll look forward to running him on a bit of better ground and he'll go novice chasing eventually. We've already schooled him and he jumps very well."
Yorkist (5/2) was a confident winner in the two-mile novices’ hurdle race (14.05). The winning margin of 12 lengths was a bit flattering because the gelding’s nearest rival, El Massivo (also trained by Ellison), fell at the last hurdle and then hampered Dark Dune (15/8f).
But, nevertheless, Yorkist, was still galloping at the line and now has a record of two wins (both at Catterick) from four runs for Ellison.
The trainer said, “When you consider [jockey] Nathan [Moscrop] said he hated the ground [heavy, soft in places], it was a good performance. We'll look forward to running him on a bit of better ground and he'll go novice chasing eventually. We've already schooled him and he jumps very well."
02 January 2014
Turf notes: 2 January 2014
Trainer Harry Fry has had a couple of notable winners in the first two days of 2014.
Mendip Express (7/1) was a ready winner of the Foundation Developments Ltd Handicap Chase (3m 2f 110y) in difficult conditions at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
The King’s Theatre gelding now has three wins from four runs and has been climbing the classes in the quality of races he has contested.
At Huntingdon on Thursday (2 January) Bitofapuzzle (5/2) led for every yard in the Listed mares’ NH Flat Race (2m 110y) and barely saw a rival in the final furlongs.
That was the second NH Flat race she has won from the front and in strong galloping fashion.
Mendip Express (7/1) was a ready winner of the Foundation Developments Ltd Handicap Chase (3m 2f 110y) in difficult conditions at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
The King’s Theatre gelding now has three wins from four runs and has been climbing the classes in the quality of races he has contested.
At Huntingdon on Thursday (2 January) Bitofapuzzle (5/2) led for every yard in the Listed mares’ NH Flat Race (2m 110y) and barely saw a rival in the final furlongs.
That was the second NH Flat race she has won from the front and in strong galloping fashion.
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