Grand National hero Corach Rambler kicked off his campaign by finishing fifth behind Elvis Mail in the Edinburgh Gin Chase at Kelso.
The nine-year-old, who was giving a stone and more away to all of his rivals, has tended to need the outing when making his seasonal reappearance and a slow pace did not suit the out-and-out stayer.
Derek Fox was content to bide his time at the back of the six-runner field in the early stages, as Empire Steel and Highland Hunter dictated the pace at the head of affairs.
Lucinda Russell’s charge jumped fluently for much of the contest but was caught flat-footed when those ahead of him quickened up from the third-last fence.
Corach Rambler was untidy at the penultimate obstacle and was then left to coast home, while 11-4 chance Elvis Mail kept on strongly to get the better of Highland Hunter by two lengths.
Corach Rambler remains the 16-1 favourite with Coral to defend his Grand National crown at Aintree next April.
The Dominican Republic made a big statement in their hopes to win Group C of League B as the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifiers continued on Friday.
Bermuda remains first in the group after a draw in Barbados. That point is the lone separator between Bermuda and Dominican Republic, who now has a superior goal difference and is chasing the playoff spot.
St Vincent and the Grenadines vs. Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic took an 8-0 win against St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex in Kingstown.
The visitors took the lead in the first as Vanessa Kara lobbed a perfect ball under the top post, which gave goalkeeper Tishana James no chance at a save.
Jazmin Jackson added a second in the ninth with her elusive footwork inside the box and a right-footed shot just inside the left post.
Kathrynn Gonzalez extended the lead in the 17th by putting away a loose ball in the box.
Winibian Peralta earned a penalty after she was felled inside the area. Peralta converted from the spot in the 23rd to make it four unanswered.
Aaliyah Anderson tried to get one back for the home side in the 30th but visiting goalkeeper Odaliana Gomez was alert with the save.
Kathrynn Gonzalez completed a double in the 33rd with a rocket from distance.
Jackson also earned her second of the day in the 40th with a header. Lucia Marte was instrumental by starting the play from an interception and dribbling into the box to cross it across goal.
Jackson completed her hat-trick in the 58th with another header in front of goal. Brianne Reed provided the long cross into the box for the assist.
Dahien Cabrera added an eighth in the 87th to complete a build-up through the right flank as the Dominican Republic obtained his second win of the group stage.
Barbados vs. Bermuda
Barbados and Bermuda tied 1-1 at the Wildey Astro Turf Stadium in Bridgetown.
Bermuda’s Aaliyah Nolan was denied by the left post in the 10th in a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Nolan would eventually get the opening goal in the 24th with a drive through the middle of the field and a left-footed shot to the back of the net. Eva Frazzoni delivered the long service for the assist on the play.
The visitors then generated a free kick opportunity in the 36th but Victoria Davis’s attempt was just wide.
Adrienne Forde notched the equalizer in the 47th off a corner kick opportunity earned from an aggressive Barbados to start the second half.
Bermuda’s Akeyla Furbert nearly got around the defense in the 86th, but Barbados goalkeeper Kamilla Burke impeded the through ball becoming a more dangerous situation.
Jaden Masters then looked to have the winner in the 88th, but Burke delivered a crucial save to keep the score level.
Henry de Bromhead enjoyed a birthday winner at Cheltenham when Dancing On My Own was driven home by Rachael Blackmore in the Epic Value At William Hill Handicap Chase.
De Bromhead was celebrating his 51st birthday but the race was still in the balance on the approach to the last as Gary Moore’s Haddex Des Obeaux, who had made every yard of the running, was still holding a slender lead when coming down at the final fence.
Having set a searching gallop, Haddex Des Obeaux had seen them all off bar the eventual winner and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Guy, who were the only three in contention for the final half mile.
As Guy began to weaken up the hill and Haddex Des Obeaux came down, Dancing On My Own (14-1), the winner of Aintree’s Red Rum Chase in April, was left to come home alone. He had two lengths to spare over Triple Trade, with In Excelsis Deo and Notlongtillmay both making good progress for minor honours.
De Bromhead said: “Rachael gave him a super ride, she was brilliant on him.
“I was worried about his big weight and he was up 7lb for Aintree but I’m delighted with him, he jumped super.
“He’s funny, he just loves to go a good decent gallop the whole way, so the other horse going on suited him, and Rachael knows him better than anyone.
“Let’s see what the handicapper thinks, but he could come back for the Schloer maybe, we might need to look at conditions chases as he’s boxing up there.
“We haven’t managed to win the two-mile division (Queen Mother) but even with Energumene out, there are plenty of good horses in it.”
A second half strike from Jillienne Aguilera handed Puerto Rico a 2-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Group A of League A of the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifiers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Friday.
It is Puerto Rico’s first victory of the campaign, moving them into second place in the group with three points through two games, while Trinidad and Tobago remain without a point after two matches.
It was a fairly even first half-hour before Puerto Rico broke the deadlock in the 30th with Juelle Love making a run to the end line and cutting back to Skylynn Rodriguez, who fired in a right-footed shot for a 1-0 Puerto Rico lead.
Trinidad and Tobago would have a response, though, and the home side pulled level in the 49th through Alexcia Ali, who gathered a pass on the right wing and fired in from the narrowest of angles to make it a 1-1 affair.
Puerto Rico were unfazed and quickly regained the lead in the 54th thanks to Aguilera, who pounced on a loose ball, made a move past a defender and blasted a left-footed shot into net for a 2-1 advantage.
From there, the Puerto Rico defense did the job the rest of the way in keeping Trinidad and Tobago from getting an equalizer to secure the full three points.
Romantic Warrior created history at Moonee Valley when the Hong Kong star won Australia’s most prestigious race, the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
A multiple Group One winner in his homeland, the five-year-old was facing a completely different test on Saturday.
Trained by Danny Shum, the Irish-bred son of Acclamation was ridden by home jockey James McDonald and his local knowledge proved crucial.
Caught wide on the turn into the short home straight, Romantic Warrior looked to have a mountain to climb as seven-time Group One winner Alligator Blood hit the front before being challenged by Mr Brightside.
However, McDonald got Romantic Warrior rolling and managed to get home by a short head.
Since Able Friend’s eclipse at Royal Ascot in 2015, the majority of Hong Kong’s best horses have stayed closer to home with such big prize money on offer, but Shum’s and owner Peter Lau’s adventurousness was rewarded.
“It has big meaning for me as a trainer. It makes me happy. I’m more happy than I can tell you,” Shum told www.racing.com.
“I don’t know how to tell you how happy I am. I am really happy.
“I want to thank Peter the owner for giving permission to come here. James McDonald, all the team, all the Hong Kong fans, my wife Christine, my son Aaron. I love you! I love you!”
McDonald said: “I showed belief. This horse is pretty special to me. I mentioned if he came to a Cox Plate he’d be a suitable horse.
“I meant what I said and credit to Peter and Danny, it takes a hell of a lot of balls to come out of Hong Kong with all the prize money. It is one of the best racing jurisdictions in the world and they come here and showcase their boy.
“I was comfortable. I knew I was on the right horse; I kept going ‘he’s the best horse, he’s the best horse’ so I’d ride him like it.
“I took a gamble about the 1000 (metres) or 1200. We elected to come back a spot and to the minute right now I believe that was the winning move. Giving my horse an extra length to come back.
“I let Alligator Blood near him knowing I think I can still beat him letting him out and having last crack.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Victoria Road finished back in ninth under jockey Blake Shinn.
Brian Ellison believes if Tashkhan can reproduce his brave Cesarewitch run he will win Sunday’s Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp.
Carrying top-weight, the five-year-old hit the front inside the final quarter-mile, but his welter burden told inside the last furlong and he was passed by The Shunter and eventually Pied Piper.
Ellison rated it as a career-best effort, despite it coming in a handicap, but does harbour some doubts about whether those exertions may have taken the edge off his stable star.
“He ran a blinder in the Cesarewitch. You wonder if he had too hard a race there but you don’t know until you run them, that’s the danger,” he said.
“To be fair to the horse, he is tough, he seems well at home, I’m quite happy with him even though he’s just been ticking over and it’s his last run of the year, so we’ll see.
“If he performs like he did in the Cesarewitch, he’ll win, won’t he. I think it was just about his best-ever run when you take into account the weight he was carrying. All the ratings people tend to agree, too. It was some run.
“He was only beaten by two proper horses, giving them a stone. The winner has proven his class by winning at Cheltenham and Pied Piper was running against Champion Hurdle horses most of last season.
“I don’t think there’s anything like those two in this race, but the danger is we’ve got to travel all the way to France. But he is tough and if he can repeat his Newmarket run he won’t be far away.”
Fellow British raiders in what is the French version of the St Leger include Chester Cup winner Metier and James Fanshawe’s Novel Legend, while the home team is headed by the three-year-old Double Major.
Sam Thomas has made a superb start to the season and will be looking for Al Dancer to continue his fine run of form in Sunday’s Jewson Fast Set Finish Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree.
Al Dancer was one of the stable’s three high-profile winners at Chepstow’s big two-day meeting earlier this month, when scoring by seven and a half lengths from fellow joint-favourite Nocte Volatus.
“We were really happy with his first run at Chepstow, which has put him up to a career-high mark,” said the Glamorgan handler.
“So, with him being a 10-year-old now, we thought it was worth having another go at a good race with him.
“It’s a tough ask because it looks a very hot race, but he’s very well in himself and that’s always a big plus.
“We didn’t manage to get much out of him last season, so it’s great to get him back enjoying himself.
“Touch wood, a lot of our horses have been firing on all cylinders so far, so long may that continue.”
Tommy’s Oscar is another who will have fitness on his side after a smooth Kelso success on his seasonal reappearance for Ann Hamilton, who won here with Nuts Well in 2020.
Hitman was second in this race last year for Paul Nicholls, going down by just a head to Riders Onthe Storm.
He went on to finish third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and the champion trainer said: “He loves to be fresh and I am sure he will win a nice race. He is still only a young horse.”
Do Your Job was sent off favourite 12 months ago, finishing sixth, and has since switched from Michael Scudamore to the in-form Lucinda Russell.
The Scottish handler said: “I always admired him when Michael had him in training and he seems to be well suited to our gallop.
“He’s a big, strong horse who takes a little bit of getting to know. We’ve done a lot of schooling, Derek (Fox) rides him and I’d love him to do well this season for the owner and all the connections.
“We’ll see how we get on with him, but I think the Old Roan Chase is a good starting point.”
Datsalrightgino signed off last season with a spirited win in the Grade Two Future Champion Novices’ Chase at Ayr and is reported in fine spirits by Jamie Snowden.
The trainer said: “He was very progressive last season as a novice and finished up almost 20lb higher than he started.
“He definitely improved for stepping up to two and a half miles and we think he’s improved again ahead of this season, although he’ll need to, as this is a tough race.
“His only real blip last term was at the Cheltenham Festival, but that was on testing ground and he bounced back with a very good win at Ayr on a nice surface.
“We’ve sidestepped a couple of possible engagements this year at Chepstow and Market Rasen because of the ground, but hopefully it should be nice, fresh ground up at Aintree.”
Dan Skelton’s My Drogo looked a horse with huge potential when scoring in the Grade One Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at this venue in April 2021, with the reopposing Minella Drama nine and a half lengths back in second.
He was last seen landing a novice chase at Cheltenham 687 days ago but has been the subject of encouraging comments by connections.
Courtland enjoyed four wins from five outings during a successful summer spell for Peter Bowen, while Emma Lavelle’s Hang In there is chasing a hat-trick after victories at Stratford and Worcester.
Jetoile ended last term with a Chepstow double, while Erne River has always been held in high regard by Nick Kent and completes a quality field.
Doncaster’s Kameko Futurity Trophy meeting will go ahead as planned this afternoon.
While day one of the weekend fixture on Friday fell foul of waterlogging in places, hopes were reasonably high the card featuring the final Group One of the domestic season would survive after the movement of rails to avoid troublesome areas.
A precautionary inspection confirmed that view after a dry but misty night, meaning an intriguing main event will see a highly-anticipated clash between Charlie Appleby’s Arabian Crown and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Diego Velazquez.
No problems are reported over jumps at Cheltenham and Kelso, where Grand National winner Corach Rambler returns to action in the Edinburgh Gin Chase. At Cheltenham, the star attraction could be Flooring Porter, as the dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero goes over fences for the first time in the William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Novices’ Chase.
The beleaguered Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is claiming that it has now paid in full balances due to the Women's World Cup team.
In a statement Friday, the JFF that has been involved in yet another dispute with the senior women’s team, also said they will also start processing payments to all players who played in the qualifying rounds but were not in the final World Cup squad.
“We are always grateful for the contribution made by all our players and are happy that we have been able to settle these outstanding amounts,” the JFF said.
This development seemingly brings about an end at least one of several concerns expressed by the players, who recently declined invitations to represent the country in the ongoing qualification match for the Gold Cup. As a result, a brand new squad was selected and is being coached by interim head coach Xavier Gilbert.
That team lost 2-1 to Panama on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, the JFF released a statement seeking to clarify several issues regarding this latest dispute wherein the players declined to accept invitations for the Gold Cup qualifiers citing the unpaid monies and the uncertainty surrounding the coaching situation after the JFF decided not to renew the contract of Lorne Donaldson, who had led the team to a historic round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup earlier this year.
In that statement the JFF said the only money that was owed to the Reggae Girls was the 20 per cent of the JFF prize money from the 2023 Women's World Cup.
“The reason for this amount being outstanding, is that although the contract stated that an amount of 20 per cent is to be paid to the players (including those playing in the qualification matches), it did not specify how the amount is to be distributed amongst the players,” the federation said.
“JFF reached out to the players to ask them how the 20 per cent should be divided between them, and just last week we suggested a formula, in order to expedite the process. We did not receive a response and so advised that we would start processing along the lines of the formula we had put forward. This was done.”
Since then, Jamaica’s sports minister Olivia Grange, said she was seeking to have the matter settled between the two parties. It is unclear what impact her intervention had on the development announced on Friday.
Meantime, the JFF said it is now shifting its focus to the remaining qualifier between Jamaica and Guatemala on Sunday.
The Jamaica Scorpions horrible run of form in the 2023 CG United Insurance Super50 Competition was further extended on Friday after they were crushed by 121 runs (D/L) by the Combined Campuses and Colleges at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St Augustine, Trinidad.
Demario Richards, Johann Jeremiah and Kedeem Alleyne each score a half century as the CCC racked up 320-7 from their 50 overs. Needing 321 for victory, the Scorpions were bundled out for 198 in just 32.4 overs.
Once again it was the spinners that proved to be the bane of the Scorpions, sharing eight wickets between them as the Scorpions plunged to their fourth consecutive defeat.
Romario Greaves led the CCC bowling with 4-51 while Akshaya Persaud (2-25) and Abhijai Mansingh (2-55) aided in the destruction of the Scorpions batting line up.
Chadwick Walton fought bravely for his 50 from 35 balls with Odean Smith, who scored 35 and Brad Barnes 31 ensured that the defeat was not much worse. Jamaica’s big three of Rovman Powell, Jermaine Blackwood and Nkrumah Bonner, all failed to deliver, producing scores of two, 22 and nought, respectively.
Batting first, Richards top-scored with 71 against the toothless Jamaican attack that saw opener Jeremiah scoring 56 and Alleyne 51 to lay the foundation for their match-winning total. The CCC also got useful contributions from Jordan Johnson, who contributed 41 and Shane Dowrich, who scored 32.
Bowling for the Scorpions, Odean Smith took 3-28 and was the only bowler who bowled with any venom.
Law firm Archer Cummings & Co. has described the current Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) board as “unconstitutional.”
The letter, released by the firm on Wednesday, October 24, highlighted the fact that, based on the JFF’s adoption of a new constitution at it’s congress in December 2022, the current board’s term, which began on September 15, 2019, should have ended on September 14 this year.
“As you know, Article 37.6 of the constitution states that the mandate of the President, Vice Presidents, and members of the board of directors shall be four years. As such, it would seem imperative that we now turn our collective attention to calling the needed election. Your mandate and the mandate of the current board and Vice Presidents commenced on the 15th day of September 2019. Naturally, by a simple calculation your four-year term of office constitutionally expired on the 14th day of September 2023. Meaning, the continuation of this administration is now operating ultra vires of your newly minted constitution. The nature of the standing order and said provisions is not discretionary, but indeed mandatory.”
“The requirement for the holding of a congress requires sixty days' notice to its members. The previous congress has already set the place for this congress and all that is remaining is for a date and time to be set. Although article 37.6 states that terms expire at the congress where a successor is elected, the fact that the current administration has gone beyond the mandated four years is disconcerting and warrants explanation.”
“There have been repeated public declarations defining yourself as the most successful president of the JFF and whilst statistics support the ideation of team growth under your administration, we are not convinced that any of your administration's successes warrant a breach of the federation's guiding principles.”
“Therefore, as we are all committed to the integrity and success of the JFF, we urge you and the current board to set the date for the required election, immediately. Any further delay compromises the electoral process by reducing its transparency, democratic protocols and equity for all stakeholders.”
Trainer Neil King was thrilled to see his stable star Lookaway continue his resurgence with an all-the-way victory in the Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.
The six-year-old was an expensive purchase at £170,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point, but looked a smart recruit in winning a Huntingdon bumper and a Grade Two at Aintree last year.
It was therefore disappointing he failed to make a major impact on his first three starts of hurdles last season – but having got the show back on the road with a couple of spring wins at Uttoxeter, he was given another opportunity at Grade Two level on his return from a summer break.
Ridden by Jack Quinlan, partnering his first Cheltenham winner, Lookaway was sent straight to the lead from flag-fall and after being challenged from the home turn, he found more in the straight to prevail by two and three-quarter lengths from Kamsinas.
King said: “We were under a severe cloud last season when he wasn’t winning his races.
“He was a very well-handicapped horse coming into this race and it was a tough decision whether to go into a handicap or stay the novice route, but I just felt against we should for time being stay against novices.
“I think he can get up to Grade One level. I’m absolutely over the moon as he has got the most wonderful owner attached to him.”
Idalko Bihoue provided his connections with some compensation following the recent loss of stable star I Like To Move It with a dominant win in the 2023 Thoroughbred Census Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
High-class hurdler I Like To Move It, who like Idalko Bihoue carried the colours of Anne-Marie and Jamie Shepperd, was fatally injured on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter three weeks ago, with trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies describing it as “the worse racing day of my life”.
Idalko Bihoue (5-1) fell on his chasing bow at Warwick, but got his act together with a seven-length success at Prestbury Park under the trainer’s son, Sam.
“That was absolutely lovely. We thought he would do that the first time at Warwick, but he was too keen. He was very sensible around here and he is a really nice horse,” said Twiston-Davies.
“He is very exciting. We can’t go in a big handicap yet as he needs another run. There are very few ordinary novice chase races now so he will probably have to have another novice handicap run then we would have a think.
“This is lovely. I think that was the worst racing day of my life (losing I Like To Move It) and this all helps put it back together again.
“The owners have been very good supporters and they sponsor the yard. It very much makes this victory important.”
Our Champ provided jockey Freddie Gordon with the perfect 18th birthday present in the opening Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
Gordon, riding for his father, Chris, had not previously ridden a winner at Cheltenham and could hardly have broken his duck in more impressive fashion.
Having made a successful debut for the yard at Plumpton last month, the five-year-old was a well-backed 9-2 joint-favourite to follow up and streaked clear up the hill to score by seven and a half lengths.
Gordon said: “This is what dreams are made of coming here on my 18th birthday. My dad has let me have a spin, more for a day out, and then he has gone and done that which is amazing.”
The triumphant trainer hinted the Grade Two Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton in February, which he has previously landed with Highway One O Two in 2020 and Aucunrisque in 2022, could be a target for his latest runaway winner.
He added: “It’s the boy’s 18th today so I got it right for once – that is his 18th birthday present.
“The horse came to us and went to Plumpton and won nicely there and I thought before the handicapper gets hold of him, let’s come here for the owners and he has done it really well.
“He is only a five-year-old and he is still a novice, so I might look at some of those novice graded races as the season goes on – we might have a look at the Dovecote at Kempton.
“I came here pretty confident for me as I’m always pessimistic. I rode him myself the other day in a bit of work against a very good horse in Aucunrisque and they worked extremely well.”
Saturday’s Kameko Futurity Trophy will evoke memories of yesteryear with Godolphin and Coolmore going head-to-head in the final Group One of the season, through Ancient Wisdom and Diego Velazquez.
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw endless clashes between the two superpowers, which arguably peaked in the summer of 2001 when Galileo and Fantastic Light served up two treats in the King George and Irish Champion Stakes, winning one each.
Godolphin paid €2,000,000 for Dubawi colt Ancient Wisdom, while Coolmore went to 2,400,000 guineas for Diego Velazquez
It cost connections £17,500 to supplement Autumn Stakes hero Ancient Wisdom into the contest earlier in the week, and Charlie Appleby is confident his youngster can take another step forward from that impressive Newmarket success.
He said: “He won the Emirates Autumn Stakes in good style. He appreciated the ground and step up in trip. He has come out of the race very well and had an easy bit of work at Newmarket on Saturday where he showed his wellness.
“He has obviously done well for the break he had after Ascot, physically he has done very well from then until now.”
He added on the Godolphin website: “He showed at Newmarket that a mile on testing conditions suited him, so he ticks a few boxes in a race where stamina is going to play a part. It’s a competitive field and we are looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”
With Ryan Moore suspended Aidan O’Brien quickly snapped up the services of James Doyle, who has ridden two Group One winners for the stable this year through Warm Heart.
Speaking on news of his booking for Diego Velazquez, who is a son of Frankel, Doyle told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s very exciting and I’m looking forward to it.
“We haven’t seen much of him, but the two starts we have done he looks very progressive and warms to the task.
“I don’t think he’s encountered ground like we’ll have so we’ll just have to see.”
Roger Teal saddled Dancing Magic to finish fourth in this race 12 months ago and connections are represented by Dancing Gemini this time around, who takes the step up to Group One company following a taking success at the track in the Flying Scotsman Stakes.
That four-and-a-quarter-length triumph came on soft ground and although not enamoured by the thought of heavy ground for his talented colt, Teal is hoping his agile nature will help him deal with the testing conditions.
“We are very happy with him, he came out of the Flying Scotsman Stakes very well,” said Teal.
“He beat what was in front of him that day and he beat them in style, it was faster than the Group Two the next day. It was a good performance, he did it very convincingly.
“It was pretty soft the day he won at Doncaster. It is not ideal for any horse, I don’t think any trainer would choose the conditions if they could. The way he travels, he is quite light on his feet so hopefully he doesn’t get bogged down too much.”
David Menuisier added a third Group One to his CV when Sunway claimed the Criterium International last weekend and bids to quickly add to his tally with Devil’s Point, who was third in the Solario Stakes at Sandown before racing at Saint-Cloud most recently.
He was not disgraced when an honourable fourth behind Criterium International runner-up Alcantor on that occasion and is one in the line-up set to relish the deep ground.
“He came out of the race at Saint-Cloud really well, the form of the race was franked in Group One Criterium International,” said Menuisier.
“The ground was potentially not quite soft enough for us last time, so I would expect him to improve a few lengths on what he did in the Prix Thomas Bryon and he was an unlucky loser in the Solario Stakes at Sandown before that.
“The horse is top notch and with the softer ground this weekend hopefully he can run a really good race.”
John and Thady Gosden will rely on God’s Window who was likeable winner of a soft-ground maiden during the St Leger Festival and is now upped to the highest level for just his second start.
He will be ridden by Kieran Shoemark, who said: “He won his maiden nicely there on pretty soft ground on Leger day so the ground is not a concern.
“He definitely appreciates a cut in the ground but heavy ground is different altogether.
“He gave me a good feel on his debut, I felt when I crossed the line he was only just getting going and he ran all the way to the bottom of the hill.
“Diego Velazquez was impressive last time, Ancient Wisdom was impressive in the Autumn Stakes so it’s a good race, as it should be.”
Less than a length back in second in that contest was Redhot Whisper with his trainer Ben Brookhouse planning this outing ever since finishing third at Leicester on debut.
He said: “He came out of the race at Doncaster in good order, he seems to take to his racing really well.
“We aimed him at this race after running very well in his maiden, which was a very expensive maiden and he was beaten by a very smart horse. He was finishing off nicely that day and was giving away three pounds to the eventual winner.
“His preparation has gone very pleasingly, very straightforward to this point. We think he will see out the trip and will love the ground. We think he is still progressing.”
Deira Mile completes the field on his first start for Owen Burrows.
Officials at Doncaster are hopeful Saturday’s high-profile card will go ahead despite calling a second precautionary inspection for 7.30am.
With the ground already heavy, further overnight rain on Thursday evening left some areas of the track saturated and forced the abandonment of racing on Town Moor on Friday.
An initial 3.30pm precautionary check was announced to assess the prospects for Saturday’s card, due to feature the Kameko Futurity Trophy – the final Group One of the British season.
With his team having spent much of Friday moving rails to avoid the worst of the ground, clerk of the course Paul Barker is hopeful that he will be able to give racing the go-ahead on Saturday morning.
He said: “The picture is a lot more positive than this morning. We have had 1.4mm of rain today, but it’s been a brighter afternoon and we have a little bit of breeze as well.
“The precautionary inspection is there really because the forecasters haven’t been great to us in the last three or four days and we just want to make sure everyone is happy in the morning.
“We’ve moved a mile of rail on the home straight to avoid the area that was a challenge this morning. It’s been a great effort by the ground staff to take out that problem and the rest of the ground, at the moment, is OK.
“Fingers crossed we get here in the morning, the rain gauge is empty and we’re good to go.”
Saturday’s meeting at Newbury has already been called off due to a waterlogged track.
With Friday’s fixture cancelled on Thursday, an inspection was called for 2pm on Friday ahead of Saturday’s meeting but clerk of the course George Hill was able to make an early call after a further four millimetres of rain.
“The weather at this time of year means it’s either overcast or even if the sun comes out for a bit, like yesterday, it’s only up for about five hours,” said Hill.
“Our back straight remained in the shade so it’s very difficult. All the racecourses are suffering.
“We walked it this morning and it had improved a little but not enough and then we got another 4mm on top, so unfortunately it was an easy decision to bring the inspection forward.”
Newbury’s Saturday card was set to feature two Group Threes, the BetVictor Horris Hill Stakes and the BetVictor St Simon Stakes, as well as the Listed Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Stakes.
The British Horseracing Authority has announced both the Horris Hill and the St Simon Stakes will be rescheduled to Newmarket’s two-day meeting next week, with original entries for both races cancelled and entries for the replacement racing closing at noon on Tuesday, October 31.
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