A week on from Big Evs conquering America, Mick Appleby is still coming to terms with the Breeders’ Cup achievement of his speedster.
The son of Blue Point was already inked in the history books at the trainer’s Rutland base having provided Appleby with a first Royal Ascot winner in the summer, but he went one step further in Santa Anita, blitzing America’s best with a devastating display to give the handler a maiden success at the highest level.
The jetlag may now be subsiding, but the memories and magnitude of what his stable star accomplished are still hitting home for the Barnsley-born trainer, who has worked his way up from humble beginnings.
“It was absolutely amazing, I still don’t think it has sunk in yet,” said Appleby.
“All trainers would like Grade or Group One winners and going out to the Breeders’ Cup and getting our first one was something amazing, it was really special.
“I have to pinch myself and its hard to believe it has happened. It’s just been amazing and I’m still on cloud nine – it’s been like a dream.”
There were of course victories in California for the powerhouse operations of Godolphin, Juddmonte and Coolmore.
However, this was also the Breeders’ Cup where the lesser lights got their moment and the victory of Big Evs is testament to the hard work and ambition of a trainer who has served his time as all-weather champion and is eager to showcase his talent on the big stage.
His commitment to the cause has seen him treading a familiar beat around the all-weather circuit since returning from US, but he is proud to disprove the theory he is a one-trick trainer.
Appleby said: “We’ve always been pigeonholed as an all-weather trainer, but hopefully that disappears now and the world realises we are as good on grass, especially with two-year-olds, as we’ve never been renowned for having juveniles. But if you don’t have the ammunition, you can’t win with them.
“It’s hard work, it’s really hard work just keeping the horses sound, fit and injury free.
“I think its a great achievement and we’ve got a great team here – without the team it wouldn’t be possible. It’s great for everyone concerned. It means a lot to the whole yard.”
That hard work has seen the likes of Danzeno, Caspian Prince and Raasel pass through Appleby’s hands at his Langham training base, but he is in little doubt that his Breeders’ Cup champion is top of the class.
“He’s very quick and you have to very fast to go with him. He’s just speed,” said the Yorkshireman.
“He reminds me a lot of a horse we had called Caspian Prince, he would be the quickest horse I’ve ever had and won the Dash (at Epsom) a few times. He was lightning quick. I think Big Evs would definitely be up there with him.
“He was our first Group One winner so I would say he is (the best we have had). I’ve never seen a horse as quick as him, he’s absolute lightning.
“When we first started working Big Evs with the likes of Raasel and Annaf, we knew he was something special and really quick because none of the other two-year-olds could get anywhere near him.”
Like all underdog tales, this was a story that started with disappointment and in Big Evs’ case, defeat at Redcar on debut.
“We were gobsmacked he got beat, but it was the draw that beat him at Redcar and if you were on the stands side you had no chance whatsoever,” explained Appleby.
“He had to go right the way across the track to get to the leaders and if he had a better draw he would have won. We weren’t disappointed and he showed enough to convince us he was decent.”
He would go on to prove Appleby’s assessment of “decent” to be a slight underestimation when winning the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot on his second start, with a battling victory in the Goodwood mud soon to follow.
A chastising defeat when supplemented for the Nunthorpe is the sole blot on the Big Evs’ copybook, but he was soon back on form when demolishing the Flying Childers field at Doncaster.
“Obviously we had the blip in the Nunthorpe and we just had to put a line through that and then he bounced back so impressively at Doncaster,” continued Appleby.
“To be fair, I was umming and ahhing whether we should have gone to York, but the owner was very keen and it was his home track and a race he has always wanted to win.
“It was worth going for it and I think, in hindsight, Goodwood took a lot out of him on the heavy ground and was the contributing factor to him running poorly there. If he had another two weeks after Goodwood before the Nunthorpe, I think it might have been a different story all together.
“It was a relief he went to Doncaster and bounced back and I think that was his most impressive win. The time he did was staggering and after that we were definitely going to the Breeders’ Cup.”
There was little doubt in the Big Evs camp that their speedball would rise to the occasion, and when the bell rang and gates opened on the opening night of Breeders’ Cup action, he showed all of his champion qualities to cruise to victory in the hands of Tom Marquand.
Appleby said: “The good thing with him, he has good gate speed. He’s lighting out and straight into stride and gone.
“He was very good and especially first time around a bend. That was always going to be our concern whether he would be able to cope with a bend going as quick as he does.
“Tom gave him a brilliant ride and let him just find his feet round the bend and find the right leg. Once he got into the straight, he quickened away again. Tom said as soon as that one was closing on him, he had lots in the tank and went again. It was a great ride.”
Although there was Santa Anita glory for Appleby, there was disappointment for fellow Brit Adam West and both Big Evs and the Epsom handler’s Live In The Dream will return in 2024 attempting to lay claim to the title of the world’s fastest racehorse.
“There probably is someone faster somewhere and obviously some of the American horses are very quick, but I don’t know if there is any faster in this country,” continued the Langham handler.
“Live In The Dream is probably one that is quick. I would imagine we will be clashing at some point and that will be interesting.”
Next season will be top-level action all the way for Big Evs as Appleby searches for more famous victories on the big stage with his horse of a lifetime.
He added: “The good thing is Paul (Teasdale, owner) is not going to sell him. You get a lot of owners who when the offers come in would be snapping it up, but Paul has no intention of selling which is good for us.
“He’s already won his Group One and hopefully we will be aiming at all the Group races over five furlongs next year.
“We’ve just got to stay up there with him. We’re going to look forward to him next year, but obviously it will be a bit nervy as well about if he will train on, because you do always have that nagging thought in your mind. But I see no reason why he wouldn’t.”
Stay Away Fay made a winning debut over fences when taking the Betway ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase at Exeter.
The Paul Nicholls-trained bay won the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle last season, after which an eventual switch to chasing was immediately mentioned.
Exeter was his first outing over the larger obstacles and he started as the 5-6 favourite under Harry Cobden, with the race only attracting five runners and Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning seeming to be his main rival.
There were no concerns over the market leader’s jumping as he looked totally at ease over each of his fences, leading for much of the way before looking to falter slightly on the turn for home.
When passed by other horses he quickly rallied, however, and was able to reel in those before him when easing up to a length-and-three-quarter success.
Nicholls said: “He stays, he jumps and he gallops. He is classy and that is what you want. I’m thrilled with that.
“I was a bit worried all week as I thought he looked big and round and that he would improve for a run. You almost expect too much from these horses and you have got to have them ready to do that, but also have them ready to improve. There is lots to come from him.
“He absolutely winged the last and I thought from there he would stay on strong. Harry said he could have done with them coming to him a bit earlier as he was idling a little bit in front. It is a great start to the season for him and he is a really classy horse.
“I was fairly confident he would gallop all the way to the line. I just thought he might need the run, and he might still have done.”
Sandown’s Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase on December 8 is the next port of call on his way to the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Christmas
Nicholls said: “There is a new novice chase at the Tingle Creek meeting at Sandown over three miles worth sixty odd thousand pounds, so he will go there then to Kempton Park and then we will give him a break. That is a good route here, Sandown then Kempton.”
As a result of the victory, Coral made the gelding a 10-1 chance from 12-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and 10-1 from 14-1 for the National Hunt Chase, but the trainer only has the first-named contest in mind.
He added: “He will run in the three-miler at the Cheltenham Festival as he is too classy for the National Hunt Chase. He will run in that and you would like to think he will ultimately end up being a Cheltenham Gold Cup horse. That is what the owners dream of.
“It is a long way up that ladder put he has put his foot on the first step. I think there is a lot to come from him.”
Nicholls and Cobden enjoyed another promising triumph on the card as Insurrection made light work of the Betway Novices’ Hurdle at 11-4.
The six-year-old was a point-to-point winner who had just one bumper outing before a wind operation in readiness for his debut run over hurdles.
The market was focused on Joe Tizzard’s Diamond Ri, the evens favourite, but it was Insurrection who made all of the running and swept to an easy eight-and-a-half-length win.
Nicholls said: “We have won this race with some good horses and that was really good. We always thought a lot of him last season, but he was disappointing at Ffos Las (beaten bumper run), but that was because he was choking so we put that right and you wanted to see him do that well today.
“He has won a point-to-point over three miles, he obviously stays and he was fit, so the thing to do was bowl along in front. What I liked more than anything was that he sprinted from the back of the last.
“He has (taken me by surprise) a bit, but that is what novice hurdles are about as you get some that are disappointing and some that go well.
“He might be the sort of horse to go down the route Tahmuras did last season, by finding another race like this then go for what was the Tolworth Hurdle.”
Though his return to Trinidad and Tobago’s squad will be for a tough Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals encounter against United States, Malcolm Shaw is undaunted by the assignment.
In fact, the Canada-based striker says he is ready to put his best foot forward to ensure the Soca Warriors are competitive in the two-leg tie scheduled for November 16 in Austin, Texas, and November 20 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Shaw, 28, who made his debut for the twin island republic at the Concacaf Gold Cup, returns to competitive after missing the last two League A group games against Guatemala and Curacao due to an injury.
“It was unfortunate for me to miss out in the last two matches due to injury. I feel good, I'm glad to be back with the team to help contribute and fight in these two massive games against a big team,” Shaw told Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) media.
“This is going to be a massive challenge. The US are decorated with players who are in top leagues overseas. But football is won on the day, and we're going to come and fight,” he added.
Shaw, who featured in the Soca Warriors humiliating 0-6 loss to the United States, which knocked them out of the group stage at the Gold Cup, says the Warriors are up to the task ahead, especially with a spot in next year's Copa America tournament on the line.
He pointed out that the team's self-introspection is well underway, as he reflected on how the team bounced back from the Gold Cup disappointment.
They firs secured wins over Curacao and El Salvador in their opening Nations League A group matches. Shaw accounted for his first international goal for Trinidad and Tobago away to El Salvador with a well-taken penalty.
Despite the fact that Shaw missed the next two matches, the Angus Eve-coached Soca Warriors secured a spot in the Nations League A quarterfinals after a gritty come-from-behind 3-2 win over Guatemala, followed by a surprise 5-3 loss away to Curacao.
The Atletico Ottawa player is now back in the mix and will be aiming to prove his fitness to make Eve’s final squad which is expected to be announced on Sunday.
"We have to do a lot of film study to evaluate where we went wrong (in the Gold Cup game versus the US). Obviously, we don't want those breakdowns happening in the next two games. Again, I think that's what we will be doing for the next week or so with preparations,” Shaw noted.
Bryony Frost is eager to savour every moment as she reunites with Frodon in search of another famous victory in Wincanton’s Badger Beer Handicap Chase.
Paul Nicholls’ popular 11-year-old carried top-weight to victory in conjunction with his ever-loyal pilot 12 months ago and the duo will be looking to repeat the dose on Saturday afternoon when Frodon steps out for the first time in what will be his final season in training.
Frost envisages plenty of Frodon supporters making the trip to Wincanton as she dreams of another heroic afternoon aboard the horse that has hallmarked her riding career.
“At the end of the day he doesn’t owe anyone anything and you know for a fact going out there, he is going to give 110 per cent out on track,” said Frost.
“I can’t wait to experience the crowd, and last year was the same. We had people coming down from Newcastle and places like that just to come and see him and he had a lot of support.
“With this being his swansong year, I feel that people are going to come out to see Frodon regardless of what happens out on track and for me that is very special to be a part of, I’m very lucky.
“I remember the first time my name went alongside him, how excited and nervous I was all at the same time to get to ride Frodon, it was like ‘wow’. It’s the same feeling now and I don’t know how many times we have partnered each other (28), but we’ve been around the block with each other and it’s awesome.”
She went on: “The (2019) Ryanair was incredible but I could argue that the Champion Chase in Ireland (at Down Royal in 2021) really meant a lot.
“He turned the tables that day (on Minella Indo) and was as brave as I had ever had him and the way he defended the front for me. I get goosebumps talking about it as you rarely meet a character as brave as that – horse, human, whatever you like – in any walk of life.
“We’ve done it for so many years now and the partnership in itself is very special. His owner Mr Vogt is a great chap to ride for and he is pretty much symbolic now in the yard at Ditcheat. He is one of a kind and very special to a lot of people.”
The ground at Wincanton was described as good to firm when Frodon got on the scoresheet in 2022, but conditions are likely to be on the softer side this time around, with Frost keen to see as little rain as possible before the big race to boost her mount’s chances.
“He’s never liked it too testing,” continued Frost. “His main thing he likes to do is jump and when it gets heavy and testing and tacky, he doesn’t tend to jump out of it.
“He’s best on that good ground where he can really operate over his fences, that’s where he gets his biggest kicks from.”
She went on: “We’ve got a lot of weight on soft ground, which in tight handicaps is always something that will take its toll, but he doesn’t know his age at home and he’s in fantastic form.
“He’s in great shape and I schooled him in the middle of the week. He was his usual boisterous, enthusiastic self in the school and I just can’t wait to go out there and gallop and jump fences with him.”
The locally-based Nicholls has won four of the last six Badger Beer Chases and will also saddle Frodon’s stablemate Threeunderthrufive in search of his 12th victory in the race.
“He was frustrating last season but to be fair he struggled with his breathing in his races, so he had a wind op in the summer and seems in very good shape ahead of his return to action,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“Crucially he has won all five of his starts on right-handed tracks and he stays very well. The Badger Beer Chase looks a perfect stepping stone for him ahead of the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and he might well be the one to beat at Wincanton.”
Joe Tizzard is another nearby handler aiming for success in the track’s feature event, where The Big Breakaway attempts to leave some disappointing outings in the spring in the past and return to the form that saw him finish second in the Welsh National last Christmas.
He said: “His first couple of runs at Haydock and in the Coral Welsh National were cracking runs, but he didn’t run great at Cheltenham and then he was unlucky at Aintree, he just got knocked over at the second through no fault of his own.
“We think it is a nice place to start at Wincanton and he will have his ground and we think it is a nice place to start before we head to the Becher Chase.”
Gesskille will bid to go one better than last year when he lines up in the BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree on Saturday.
There were areas of water on the Grand National track, but the team in Liverpool worked hard to make the course raceable and the race survived a Friday morning inspection.
Gesskille, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, was second by just a nose last season and has run twice more around the Grand National fences since – including when second in the Becher next time out.
He is therefore fairly well established around the track and is also proven in the testing conditions likely at Aintree, with his seasonal debut taking place on similar ground when he won a Listed race at Auteuil in September.
“He’s in flying form, he looks fantastic,” said Greenall.
“We’ve kept him fresh since Auteuil, he’s probably never had such testing ground but hopefully he’ll cope with it.
“I wouldn’t say he’d particularly want or need ground this heavy, but he should be able to get through it all right.”
Stuart Coltherd’s Cooper’s Cross took a good handicap prize last season when landing the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster and was then an unfortunate faller when making his debut over the fences in the Topham in April.
He bounced back to finish second behind Kitty’s Light in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in April, proving his stamina over four miles in a fine performance.
The Grand National is the ultimate aim for the term and although the Sefton is a stepping stone en-route, it is also a target in itself for co-owner Jimmy Fyffe – who won the race with Endless Power in 2008.
“Cooper’s Cross will be aimed at the Grand National if we can get him up to a rating to get into the race, but the Grand Sefton has been his early-season target from day one. I think he has got a great chance at the weekend,” he said.
“I like the Grand Sefton and I won it in 2008 with Endless Power. I try to aim horses at the race every year.
“He was going great in the Topham. Ryan (Mania), who was riding him, said he basically got brought down. He felt like he had loads of horse underneath him and we were gutted with that.
“We went for the Scottish National over four miles after the Topham and he ran a great race in that up at Ayr. We actually thought he was going to win it jumping the second last coming on the wide outside.
“He is a good jumper, and we know he gets those long distances, so he is an ideal horse to go for the Grand National. If we get him up to the ideal rating, then he will definitely go there.
“He has been schooling well and he will like the ground at Aintree, so we are quite hopeful for this weekend. He is a nice horse and we are quite excited about him this season.”
Brighterdaysahead enhanced her already tall reputation as she maintained her unbeaten record by winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle at Down Royal on a day dominated by Gordon Elliott.
Stepped into Grade Three company after winning easily at Thurles on her debut, she was taking on much more experienced rivals.
Jack Kennedy was keen to give his mount room at her hurdles after she had shown a tendency to jump right at Thurles but bar a couple of minor mistakes, she was much better on this occasion.
She loomed up alongside Banntown Girl at the second last and while she needed to be driven out to win by four and three-quarter lengths, the 2-1 favourite will have learned plenty.
Elliott said: “It happened that quick for the first mile that she didn’t know what she was doing as they were going that fast but, once she got into her rhythm, he (Kennedy) said he was very happy with her.
“She has no experience, but she has a fair engine. She’s a proper mare and she still has a lot to learn, she is still very green. The rest of the field has two or three runs over hurdles, so I thought it was a good performance.
“No (need to go beyond two miles), but I’d say she will be better when she goes (further). I’d say she is a mare that could definitely step up in trip. She hasn’t put a foot wrong so far, so she is exciting.
“She is in the Royal Bond and obviously I will talk to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud) and see. She has got the pace for two miles.
“I think we will keep her in her own category (mares) at the moment.”
Irish Point (5-6 favourite) won the other feature race on the card for Elliott and Kennedy, the Bottlegreen Hurdle.
A Grade One winner at Aintree, he was giving lumps of weight to a smart mare in Magical Zoe but try as she might, she could not get by and went down by a length and three-quarters.
“We know he wants further, but he picked up and galloped. We are very happy with him,” said Elliott.
“He (Kennedy) was in the right spot and he kicked at the right time and made plenty of use of him.
“We didn’t want to make it, but we had to because there was nothing else to make it. I’d say we will definitely step him up in trip. He really stays.
“We will keep all options open, but it wouldn’t shock me if you saw him going three miles at some stage.”
The pair were also on the mark earlier on the card with Hunting Brook (5-4 favourite) in the Lough Construction Ltd. Handicap Hurdle, while Jordan Gainford took advantage of Kennedy’s fall in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle to win on stablemate Zefiro Dodville (12-1).
Found A Fifty made it five on the day for Elliott and four for Kennedy in the Eventco Marquees Ltd. Beginners Chase.
It is a definite case of quality over quantity for the rearranged Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Gordon Elliott has not shied away from running two of his stable stars, with Gerri Colombe and Conflated both part of the line up.
Gerri Colombe has been defeated only once in his career, suffering a narrow loss to The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham in March but he has passed every other test – including a seven-and-a-half-length success in the Mildmay at Aintree.
He makes his return for the campaign at Down Royal and Elliott is happy with how he has fared since he was last seen.
“It’s his first run of the season. He didn’t do much wrong last year, he went from strength to strength,” the trainer said.
“He looks strong, he’s in good form, he’s not a good work horse and doesn’t do anything very flash but he’s a typical big, staying chaser. He’s in good form and we’re happy with him.”
Conflated, a nine-year-old gelding owned by Gigginstown House Stud, also enjoyed Grade One success last term when taking the Savills Chase at Leopardstown before finishing third behind Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
His first effort this season was a beaten run at Punchestown in October but Elliott expects him to come on for that experience.
“Conflated was a Grade One winner last year. He’ll have come on from Punchestown and we’re really looking forward to running him,” Elliott told Down Royal.
“He needed it badly. He’d been a little bit delayed after a setback and we said we’d give him a run to get him fit and you’ll see an awful lot of improvement in him.”
Henry de Bromhead will field the other two runners in Envoi Allen and Minella Indo, the latter of whom has already hit the ground running when winning the Punchestown race in which Conflated was last of five.
Last year’s winner Envoi Allen has also had a start this term, but his was not a winning one as he finished third in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park in late September.
Richard Thompson of owners Cheveley Park Stud said: “He was a bit disappointing last time out, a bit rusty.
“He has those days, but I’m told he’s in great form and he obviously won this race last year.
“He’s won eight Grade Ones now, he’s a three-time Cheltenham winner and has been fantastic for us.”
De Bromhead added: “Envoi Allen is in great form so we’re hoping for a good run. We were disappointed obviously not to win at Gowran but the form has been franked (with runner-up Gentlemansgame winning the Charlie Hall Chase).
“With hindsight it was a good run and he will definitely improve fitness-wise.”
Minella Indo’s Punchestown victory was just his second since winning the 2021 Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
“Minella Indo was brilliant the last day and will also hopefully improve from his recent run. He was pretty good in Punchestown, we’re happy and hopefully he will also give a good account of himself,” said his trainer.
“He only had a couple of runs last season and the Gold Cup was obviously disappointing, but the day at Tramore was incredible.”
Charlie Appleby’s Local Dynasty heads the market on his all-weather debut in the relocated Virgin Bet November Handicap.
The contest usually brings the curtain down on the turf Flat season at Doncaster, but persistent rain has left Town Moor saturated with areas of pooled water forcing a switch.
Newcastle have therefore stepped in to host the event on their all-weather track, changing the complexion of the race somewhat as entrants were likely expecting soft ground when they factored this contest into their plans.
Godolphin’s Local Dynasty heads the betting, a son of Dubawi trained by Appleby who was a Listed winner last season but is without a win this campaign, though he has been running in hot company.
The three-year-old has since been gelded and makes his first start after the procedure, with the run also his first away from the turf in his seven outings to date.
Appleby said: “Local Dynasty is a solid horse and we feel that conditions at Newcastle are there to suit.
“He ran well in two big handicaps at Royal Ascot and Newmarket earlier in the season and should be a player over this trip.”
Julie Camacho’s Beraz is also unfamiliar with the Tapeta but has figured well for his stable in four starts since leaving behind a brief hurdles career with Dan Skelton.
The winner of two Flat handicaps and second in another, Beraz seems to be on the up and the switch to Newcastle has permitted his participation as he would not have been a runner at Doncaster.
Camacho’s husband and assistant Steve Brown said: “We would not have run Beraz on heavy ground but, once the race was switched to the all-weather, we were keen to have a go.
“We are happy with where he is at the moment. He has improved all year and shown himself to be a horse with a fair level of ability.
“We have been trying to progress quietly with him and Saturday will be a bigger test. It looks a very competitive race, as you would expect, but I think we are on for a big run.”
Also running is Edward Bethell’s Chillingham, a four-year-old last seen finishing fourth in the Silver Bell at Hamilton and the runner up in the Ripon Bell-Ringer before that.
Andrew Balding has a contender in the top-weight Teumessias Fox, King Power Racing’s Lope De Vega four-year-old who has collected prize money at Group level and was most recently seen partaking in the Racing League.
George Boughey and Amo Racing are represented by Mr Alan, fifth in the turf running of this race last year and competitive in autumn handicaps this year.
William Haggas runs Laafi, Harry Eustace has entered Mustazeed and Richard Fahey will saddle Furzig, with Jim Goldie’s popular veteran Euchen Glen also running.
Connections are keen to take advantage of a chance change of plan with Hansard, who will bid for JenningsBet Elite Hurdle glory at Wincanton on Saturday.
The able five-year-old has won two of his four starts for Gary Moore and bounced back from a disappointing outing when sent off favourite for the Dovecote at Kempton with a creditable fourth in the Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in the spring.
Owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates, he was being aimed at Cheltenham’s Greatwood Hurdle later this month, but having seen his intended prep race on the Flat at Nottingham washed out, there has been a change of heart and Hansard will now head to Wincanton for his seasonal return.
Fehily said: “We were gearing up to run him on the Flat with the plan of going for the Greatwood, but then we didn’t get the chance to run him on the Flat and this race presented itself, so we thought this may be a better starting point. We’re rolling the dice here and we’ll see how we get on.
“He’s a horse we like and he’s only had four runs over hurdles. He’s won two and was obviously fourth in the Grade One at Liverpool. He’s a nice horse and hopefully he can progress a little bit this season and we can have some fun with him.”
There is a maximum field of five for a race won last year by Paul Nicholls’ Knappers Hill and the champion trainer is set to be well represented once again by Rubaud.
The mount of Harry Cobden arrives having won his last three starts and impressed at Kempton on reappearance, with his handler hoping to tee up a shot at Constitution Hill at the Sunbury track on Boxing Day.
“An improving young horse with a bright future, he has plenty in his favour after a classy success at Kempton on his seasonal debut in a Listed event last month when he gave weight to all his rivals,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“He continues to work stylishly at home and is at his best going right-handed on a flat track like Wincanton. I’ve left off the hood he has worn on his last three starts because he doesn’t need it any more.
“The ground should be fine for Rubaud who has a first-rate chance and could well be taking on Constitution Hill at Kempton over Christmas.”
Knappers Hill himself has a fine chance of scoring at the meeting for the second year running when he lines up in the Boodles “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase.
Although only second on his chasing bow at Chepstow, he is by far the classiest operator in the field for the Grade Two event and is fancied better than his initial outing over the larger obstacles.
Nicholls continued: “He’s a classy horse, has won 10 of his 17 starts, and jumped nicely when second on his chasing debut at Chepstow.
“That was a pleasing start, he has come on bundles since then and has strong claims in this.
“I remember Silviniaco Conti getting beaten in the same Chepstow race before winning the Rising Stars at Wincanton.”
The unbeaten Doyen Star and highly-regarded Givega will make their fencing bows in opposition, while Irish raider Captain Conby impressed at Killarney in the summer before bumping into Willie Mullins’ Sharjah in a Grade Three at Tipperary.
It will be trainer Eamon ‘Dusty’ Sheehy’s first runner at Wincanton and he said: “It’s probably a stronger race than I thought it might have turned out to be, but I’m looking forward to running him and we will see where he fits in the pecking order.
“He jumps his fences good and I do believe he has improved a little bit from his Tipperary run. We’re hoping for the best.”
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been rewarded for her superb recent form by being crowned the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for October 2023.
Matthews held off determined challenges from Bangladesh spinner Nahida Akter and New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr to claim the award, after a dominant period of play against Australia during the month.
The 25-year-old smashed scores of 99*, 132 and 79 in a Player of the Series performance during the T20I component of the West Indies' tour of Australia
Matthews also chipped in with an excellent spell of 3-36 during the second match of that three-game series to help the Caribbean side to a memorable victory.
The all-rounder then backed up those efforts with strong contributions during the ODI leg of the Australia tour, with scores of 20 and 23 during the two completed 50-over contests to cap off a huge month for the West Indies star.
Matthews remained Down Under following the series to compete in the domestic WBBL competition and was thrilled to accept her award from Australia.
“I’m very grateful to have received the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for October," Matthews said.
"I love pulling on the West Indies jersey. Every time I do wear that maroon and gold, it definitely adds an extra layer where you can go out there and perform well, not only for yourself and for the team, but in knowing how much cricket means to the people of the Caribbean and how much it can bring people together.
“It was pretty special going out there in Australia and being able to perform the way that I did, but knowing how many people’s faces I was able to put a smile on back home in the Caribbean, that’s what means the most to me.”
Sense Of Duty will return to the scene of her finest hour as she bids to end the year on a high in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Wentworth Stakes at Newcastle.
The six-furlong Listed event has been switched from its original home of Doncaster to Gosforth Park and could prove a fitting place for William Haggas’ speedster to return to winning ways having brought up a four-timer over course and distance in the Chipchase Stakes in the summer of 2022.
Injury has curtailed her progress since then, but she has graced the track twice this autumn and now drops in class having last been seen on British Champions Day in Group One sprinting action.
“She had a long break and ran well at Newbury on reappearance over an inadequate trip, but to be honest was probably a little bit disappointing at Ascot,” said Richard Brown, racing manager for owners St Albans Bloodstock.
“She was very impressive when she won the Chipchase at Newcastle so going back up there to the same course and distance, we will see if history could repeat itself.
“William’s horses are in great form and it would be great to put her away with a win under her belt.”
Nick Bradley’s syndicates have a trio of fillies entered for the race, headed by the Grant Tuer-trained Sophia’s Starlight.
The three-year-old has won four times this year and went close last time out when second in the Listed Boadicea Stakes at Newmarket in mid-October.
“Sophia’s Starlight is probably first string, we think she’s a very good filly and she’ll win a Group race, she’s one we’re excited about going forward,” said Bradley.
“At Newmarket she ran very well, she was just a bit unlucky. Had this race been on turf in heavy ground I’d have been quite bullish, obviously it’s switched but in our mind she’s still our first string.”
The Karl Burke-trained Secret Angel runs for the same ownership group, another three-year-old who finished 10th in the same race as Sophia’s Starlight last time out but has some taking form at stakes level on her CV otherwise.
“Cliff (Lee) takes the ride, she needs to put her last run behind her,” Bradley said.
“I was keen to run here as it’s her last opportunity to try to win a stakes race in the UK, I think on her best form she’d be there or thereabouts.”
Glorious Angel makes up the Bradley runners, another filly trained by Tuer and one who has been the runner up on her last three outings.
“Glorious Angel has been running really well on the heavy ground as of late, she’s a game, game filly and she tries her heart out,” the syndicate manager said.
“She’s been a bit unlucky, she’s been second three times but she’s made 30 grand in prize money so the owners aren’t complaining.
“Again, if it was on heavy ground I’d fancy her chances, she’s proven on the all-weather but I think to a slightly lower level than her heavy ground form.
“She tries her heart out and if she finishes in the first three, I’ll be buzzing.”
David O’Meara’s Aberama Gold and Hugo Palmer’s Brad The Brief are others with leading claims.
Connections are hopeful Stage Star will give his legion of owners plenty to shout about when the Cheltenham Festival hero returns in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday week.
Trained by Paul Nicholls, the seven-year-old is 5-1 favourite with the sponsors ahead of his return in the prestigious handicap that is the feature of Cheltenham’s three-day November meeting.
It is at Prestbury Park where Stage Star enjoyed some of his finest moments over fences last term and having carried a huge weight to victory on Festival Trials Day, returned in March to claim the Grade One Turners Novices’ Chase with a fine front-running display.
His course form gives his ownership team plenty of hope ahead of his seasonal reappearance and although disappointing when a heavy favourite on his final start of the 2022-23 campaign at Aintree, he is yet to finish outside of the first two when running between October and December.
“He’s in good form and obviously likes the track,” said Dan Downie of Owners Group, owners of Stage Star.
“He’s ready to go and this has been the target for a while. It’s going to be tough and he’ll be carrying a lot of weight, but Paul is happy with him and we’re looking forward to running him.
“We looked at a few options, but he does need to go left-handed, so we were a bit short on where we could go, But we know he loves the track so we thought this would be a reasonable starting point for him.”
The Leeward Islands Hurricanes and the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force will contest the final of the 2023 CG United Super50 Cup after the Hurricanes booked their spot with a dominant 155-run win over the Barbados Pride at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Thursday.
The Hurricanes won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a formidable 290 all out off 49.4 overs thanks to half centuries from Jahmar Hamilton, Justin Greaves and Hayden Walsh Jr.
Hamilton top scored with a 61-ball 76, his third fifty of the competition, including six fours and four sixes while Greaves, the leading run-scorer in the tournament, got his fourth consecutive 50-plus score with 63 off 76 balls including five fours.
Walsh Jr, batting at number eight, got his second fifty of the tournament with a rapid 45-ball 57 including one four and five sixes to propel the Hurricanes to their massive total.
Off-spinner Kemar Smith, brother of former West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith, got his maiden five-wicket haul for the Pride with 5-43 off his 10 overs. Dominic Drakes and Raymon Reifer provided good support with two wickets, each.
The Pride reply got off to the worst possible start when Hurricanes skipper Alzarri Joseph bowled destructive opener Kyle Mayers off the second ball of the innings for four.
Barbados then quickly lost the wickets of Zachary McCaskie (6), Shai Hope (19), Shamarh Brooks (13) and Kraigg Brathwaite (11) to find themselves reeling at 61-5 in the 13th over.
Roston Chase tried his best to restore some order to the innings with a fighting 36-ball 35 but it wasn’t enough as the Pride were eventually bowled out for 135 in just 30.2 overs.
Joseph was brilliant up from with the new ball for the Hurricanes with 3-30 from his five overs while left-arm spinner Daniel Doram continued his own good form with 3-33 from his 10 overs. Kofi James (2-36 from seven) and Hayden Walsh Jr (2-13 from 3.2) also bowled well to seal the win.
This is the Leeward Islands Hurricanes’ first trip to the final of the Super50 Cup since 2019 where they lost to the West Indies Emerging Players while this is the Red Force’s third straight trip to the final.
They won the title in 2021 against the Guyana Harpy Eagles before losing the final to the Jamaica Scorpions last year.
The final will take place at the same venue on Saturday.
The Hurricanes and the Red Force previously met in the fourth round of this year's tournament with the Red Force winning that game by three wickets.
With the high of last year’s Fast5 Netball Series debut still fresh in her mind, Amanda Pinkney is cautiously optimistic about the prospects of not only improving her performances, but also the possibility of Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls challenging for a medal on this occasion.
Though the Sunshine Girls lost all five games played and ended at the foot of the six-team ladder without a point last year, Pinkney celebrated the minor victory of being named Player of the Game in the Jamaicans narrow 27-28 loss to South Africa.
Pinkney, who play both goal-shoot and goal-attack positions, also had the distinction of ending that tournament as the player to score the most three-point goals, a feat which she knows she is very much capable of repeating.
“Last year was really good year for me, it was my first time participating in the Fast5 competition and it was a really good eye-opening experience in terms of the level of competition and the pace of the tournament. Some high for me was the connection that the players had and also when I received the Player of the Game award, that really showed me that I am very much capable of doing great things if I remain focused,” Pinkney told SportsMax.TV from the team’s base in Christchurch, New Zealand.
“At that same tournament, there were some concerns about the team’s readiness, but we weathered the storm and gradually improved each game, and we gave it our best. So, it is just about focusing on our responsibilities, both individually and collectively as a team and once we do that, I know we will be much more competitive this year,” she added.
The Sunshine Girls will indeed require some degree of consistency to complement their speed and agility, as they are expected to again face some stern tests against Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Malawi and England in the fast-paced six-team tournament scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
With Jhaniele Fowler being absent, New South Wales Swifts star Romelda Aiken-George will lead from the front, with Gezelle Allison, Pinkney, and former England Under-21 Rhea Dixon, who recently became eligible to represent Jamaica, expected to complement her shooting prowess.
Adean Thomas, Theresa Beckford, Kimone Shaw, Crystal Plummer, Abigale Sutherland and Abbeygail Linton, complete the team coached by former captain Nicole Aiken-Pinnock and Shawn Murdock.
For Pinkney, 24, copping an historic gold at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in El Salvador earlier this year, provided the necessary impetus to fuel her ambitions for this tournament and beyond.
Simply put, Pinkney has a desire to become a staple in the Sunshine Girls team going forward and to do so, she is well aware that she will have to work diligently to improve her craft.
“My goal is to perform better than I did both at last year’s Fast5 and also at the CAC Games. I want to showcase strong teamwork, to improve my individual skills. So even after this tournament, I intend to take the lessons and experiences back to Jamaica and continue putting in the work because I am hoping that I can get a contract in one of the international netball leagues,” she shared.
But, for now, the immediate focus of the soft-spoken player is to exude the necessary confidence and willpower to assist the Sunshine Girls medal ambitions in Christchurch, as she knows that maintaining the enthusiasm is essential to trigger further development to bring about the much-needed excitement and fulfillment she desires.
“Things are going good so far, I honestly can’t complain, I think I’m more ready for Fast5 this season than before because I have so much confidence in myself and my teammates and I know that we will do much better than the last season,” Pinkney declared.
“I know the teams won’t come easy, but we definitely won’t back down. Like I said, I think this year I got more practice for the competition and not only that, but the combination that we practiced I think that will make the difference from last season. So, it might seem far-fetched but I’m also hopefully that we will win the tournament,” she ended.
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