Trainer Michael Appleby
believes Bancnuanaheireann can bounce back to his best when he lines up
under top-weight in the £15,000 32Red Handicap (2.30pm) over nine furlongs at
Goodwood on Thursday, May 9.
The six-year-old, formerly
trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger, ran one of his best races of last season when
a neck second in a competitive mile handicap at Glorious Goodwood in July, the
Poker at Bet365 Handicap, and went on to finish fourth in the valuable Betfred
Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in September.
He has failed to reproduce
that form in two starts this season but Appleby is hoping a return to Goodwood
will see the six-year-old show some of his old sparkle.
Appleby said:
"Bancnuanaheireann is in good form. I don't think Ripon really suited him
last time but he ran really well at Goodwood last season when he just got
touched off.
"He has got a lot of
weight to carry on Thursday (10st) and that's a bit of a concern but I do think
he will run a big race. He is 16.2 hands so he will carry the weight.
"He was fourth in the
Cambridgeshire over a mile and one so the trip won't be a problem but I just
hope they don't get too much rain - that won't suit."
Bancnuanaheireann,
partnered by Tom Queally, takes on eight opponents including the Mark
Johnston-trained Enzaal, who won at Wolverhampton on April 22, and the
useful performer Lucky Henry from the stable of Clive Cox.
A seven-race card at
Goodwood on Thursday is topped and tailed by two potentially informative
maidens. Racing starts at 1.55pm with the Goodwood Business Club Maiden (10
runners) over a mile and Morpheus, a half-brother to the mighty Frankel,
will be looking to get off the mark for Sir Henry Cecil after encouraging
efforts at Nottingham and Newmarket. Frankel, winner of two successive QIPCO
Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, was rated the best horse ever last year.
Cecil also runs Squire
Osbaldeston in the concluding Three Friday Nights Maiden (5.15pm, 10
runners) over a mile and a half. The son of Mr Greeley holds an entry in the
Investec Derby and ran a promising race when fourth on his seasonal return at
Newbury on April 20. He will clash again with Shwaiman, who was one
place ahead of him at Newbury.
Hayley Turner, Britain's
top female jockey who is the Racing Ambassador of Goodwood Racecourse for 2013,
has her first rides at the beautiful Sussex course this year on Thursday.
She partners Enobled,
trained by Sir Michael Stoute, in the Goodwood Business Club Maiden and the
unbeaten James Fanshawe-trained Ribbons in the Nissan Innovation And
Excitement Fillies' Handicap (3.30pm).
Goodwood staged its first fixture
of the season on Opening Saturday, May 4, which saw an increase in attendance
over the previous year and Kieren Fallon stole the show with a treble.
One of Britain's leading
jockeys, Fallon celebrated his 100th winner at Goodwood on Opening Saturday
when successful on the Luca Cumani-trained Khione (4/1) in the Listed
12-furlong Betfred The Bonus King EBF Daisy Warwick Stakes.
Not content with just one
winner on the day, Fallon enjoyed two more successes, in the next two races,
for a 136.5/1 treble.
His other victories came
on George Guru (10/1), trained by Michael Attwater at Epsom, in the
seven-furlong Betfred Mobile Lotto Handicap and on Duke Of Firenze (6/4
favourite), trained by Sir Michael Stoute, in the five-furlong Betfred Mobile
Sports Handicap.
Fallon, 48, has been
champion jockey six times in Britain. His biggest successes at Goodwood have
come in the Sussex Stakes (Ali-Royal 1997) and the Nassau Stakes (Islington
2002, Russian Rhythm 2003 & Favourable Terms 2004).
GOING
The going at Goodwood is
currently: GOOD TO FIRM
Seamus Buckley, Clerk of
the Course at Goodwood, reported today: "It was dry overnight and we are
forecast some rain tonight and early into tomorrow. In view of the expected
rain, restricted watering is taking place.
"We will assess the
situation again tomorrow and watering will continue if the rainfall is
insufficient.
"We had a great start
to the season on Saturday, which was very satisfying. It was nice, fast Flat
racing ground without any jar which is always our aim at Goodwood.
"The course remains
in great condition ahead of racing on Thursday and the May Festival later this
month."
ALAN
ARNELL
NOVEMBER
25, 1933 - MAY 5, 2013
Goodwood is sad to report
the passing of Alan Arnell, declarations clerk at the racecourse, who died
suddenly at his home in Chichester on Sunday.
A familiar face in the
weighing room, Alan, who was 79, had attended the opening raceday of the season
on Saturday, May 4, registering the runners and riders as he had done for the
past 25 years.
A popular figure at
racecourses in the south of England where he fulfilled a similar role, Alan,
who served with the Royal Sussex Regiment, was known for his diligence and dry
sense of humour.
Less known, perhaps, was a
distinguished career as a professional footballer that took him away from his
home county of Sussex at the age of 20 when he joined Liverpool from amateur
side Worthing.
With 35 goals from 75
appearances to his credit, a number of which were for sides sent out by the
much-revered manager Bill Shankly, he is part of the history of the 18-time
Football League champions.
Seamus Buckley said:
"Alan will be deeply missed by the racing community and by me personally,
having worked alongside him at Goodwood for so many years."
Kieren Fallon added:
"Alan was one of the nicest men you could wish to meet on a
racecourse."
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