Al Muhairi and Smith Hold Strong Hand At First Meeting of the Season Jebel Ali Racecourse Gets UAE 2013/14 Season Underway

Emirati trainer, Musabah al Muhairi and stable jockey, Wayne Smith, dominated proceedings at Jebel Ali last season and look set to kick off the new term at the track in the same vein tomorrow (Friday) with leading chances in four of the six races on the card.

Jebel Ali’s opening meeting is the first of 57 held at five racecourses across the UAE for the 2013/14 race season, with racing also scheduled at Sharjah, Meydan, Abu Dhabi and, for the first time, Al Ain.

Tomorrow’s featured 1000m handicap, sponsored by Shadwell, the UK arm of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s breeding operation, has attracted eight declarations and Smith rides Muarrab for the sponsor.

Smith said: “We had a great time at Jebel Ali last season and most of our horses just seem to love both the surface and the hill. Muarrab fits into that category and should run well.

“We also have Kanaf in the race, he too likes the track and both are going well at home. Our third runner, Firestreak, acts on the track and should also run a good race.”

Kanaf will be ridden by Dane O’Neill, riding for his main employer, Sheikh Hamdan.

It looks a competitive race. The 2011 Jebel Ali Sprint winner, Spin Cycle is set to represent trainer Satish Seemar with stable jockey Richard Mullen in the saddle. The horse has not won since that Listed success, over the same 1000m course and distance, but Mullen sounds hopeful of a big run. “He has been working very well and we are pleased with him at home,” said Mullen. “We took him to Jebel Ali the other day and he seems in great form. He has come down the weights a bit now and hopefully can bounce back to something like his best.”

Another coming down the weights is Dohasa, the mount of UAE Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea who said: “He acts on the track which is obviously a plus and if able to recapture his old sparkle he would have a decent chance in a competitive race.”

The weights are headed by Roicead, trained on the track by Dhruba Selvaratnam and to be ridden by promising British apprentice Thomas Brown with Oasis Dancer representing the always-respected Doug Watson and Pat Dobbs combination.

The next most valuable race on the card is the second, a 1600m handicap and again Al Muhairi and Smith appear to hold leading claims, this time with Interpret, a course and distance winner who will be having only his sixth career start.

“He is only five and is hopefully still improving with racing and experience,” said Smith. “It is a tough little race so it should give us some indication as to whether he is on the upgrade. His work has been good and we expect him to go close.”

Smith was also quite bullish about his chances in the 1000m maiden in which he rides the Al Muhairi-trained Daar Rashid. He said: “He showed plenty of speed last season and we know he handles the track. The trip should be ideal for his first run back but there are some interesting newcomers in the race who could be anything.”

Those making their debut include the Watson-trained duo of Vermeer and Diwaan, with Dobbs choosing to ride the former, suggesting he is the stable’s main hope.

Frobisher, for Seemar and Mullen is another making a belated first trip to the racecourse, as is Trippetrappe, a rare Thoroughbed runner for Majed Al Jahouri.

@CheltenhamRaces Nicky Henderson outlines hopes for StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle

Entries for the £100,000 StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle, run over an extended two miles on the third and final day of The Open, Sunday, November 17, are revealed today.

 

Champion trainer Nicky Henderson has seven possible representatives among the 45 entered in the Grade Three handicap hurdle at Cheltenham - the most of any trainer - headed by last year's runner-up Cash And Go, and the highly-regarded Michael Buckley-owned pair of Rolling Star and River Maigue. The Lambourn handler also has French import Blue Fashion, who was fourth in a Grade One contest at Auteuil in June, Gibb River, progressive course winner First In The Queue and Makari.

Henderson reported: "The horse I am most looking forward to in the Greatwood is Cash And Go. He is in good form and ran a great race to finish second last year. Things didn't go right for him after that, but I am going to start again with him this season and see how we go.

"I would also be interested in Rolling Star and River Maigue because the Greatwood, like the Paddy Power Gold Cup, tends to suit those second-season horses. The fact they are unexposed just gives them half a chance against the older horses.

"Rolling Star was very impressive first time out last season and went into the Triumph Hurdle as favourite, but disappointed us. He just petered out at the end of last season for one reason or another, but is a lovely horse."

Flaxen Flare is one of 10 entries trained in Ireland and Gordon Elliott's charge could bid to become the first Irish-trained winner since Sizing Europe in 2007. He enjoyed an impressive success in the Grade Three Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at The Festival in March and was a fine second in the Galway Hurdle in August.

The four-year-old came home a respectable seventh in a Flat handicap at Leopardstown on September 7.

Elliott revealed: "The StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle is a valuable pot and we will definitely have a look at it with Flaxen Flare.

"He runs this weekend in the Grade Two at Down Royal. Obviously, Jezki is running there too so it will be a tough ask, but it is good prize money and we would be delighted if he could finish second or third.

"He ran a very good race to finish second in the Galway Hurdle and we have freshened him up since his last run at Leopardstown. He might not be as fit as we would like him to be, but he should run a good race."

Ireland's champion jump trainer Willie Mullins has four possible starters in the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle, including progressive Galway scorer Call Me Bubbles and talented six-year-old Midnight Game, while Sabrina Harty has entered Kalann, who was last seen over hurdles when 10th in the 2012 Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Festival.

Get Me Out Of Here, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, is the potential top-weight and has run well at Cheltenham without winning.

The nine-year-old captured the 2010 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and went on to finish second in that season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at The Festival at Cheltenham. He has also finished runner-up in two other races at The Festival - the 2011 Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle and 2012 Coral Cup.

O'Neill said: "The StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle is an option for Get Me Out Of Here providing the ground is not too soft.

"He is a great old horse, but is getting a bit long in the tooth now. We have thought about going chasing with him in the past, but he doesn't like jumping fences.

"He has been a super horse, but he has reached his level now and you have to treat him a bit like some of those old sprinters - you take your chance and hopefully one day it comes off."

Paul Nicholls landed the prestigious handicap hurdle with Brampour (2011) and Rigmarole (2003) and has five entries this year, led by Far West and Sametegal, who were second and third to Our Conor in the JCB Triumph Hurdle in March. The quintet is completed by Caid Du Berlais, Mr Mole and Grade One runner-up Ptit Zig.

Alan King has entered Grade One scorers L'Unique and Grumeti, who finished fourth behind the Evan Williams-trained Court Minstrel in the Scottish Champion Hurdle on his only appearance last season.

Olofi, trained by Tom George in Gloucestershire, could bid to become the first dual winner having won the contest last year, while Harry Fry has entered Karinga Dancer, who completed a four-timer in facile fashion at Aintree on October 26.

David Pipe's four possible runners include Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle fifth Tanerko Emery and Betfair Hurdle third Swing Bowler, while Cotton Mill headlines a quartet trained by John Ferguson.

Other notable contenders include the John Quinn-trained pair of Calculated Risk and Kashmir Peak, a Grade Two winner at Doncaster last term.

Weights for the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle will be revealed on Wednesday, November 6 and the maximum field size is 24.

The StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle

Class 1, Grade 3, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.15pm, Cheltenham, Sunday, November 17, 2013. For 4yo+, two miles about half a furlong. Entries closed, October 29, entries revealed October 31 (45 entries), weights revealed November 6. Penalties: after November 3, a winner of a hurdle race 5lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb). Six-day confirmation stage November 11, final 48-hour declaration stage 10.00am, November 15. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, October 28.

Form  Horse    Age Owner   Trainer

3121-41 AHYAKNOWYERSELF (IRE) 7 G Carstairs & R Marker Dr Richard Newland

5141-4 BLUE FASHION (IRE) 4 John & Barbara Cotton Nicky Henderson

122202- CAID DU BERLAIS (FR) 4 Donlon, Doyle, MacDonald & C Barber Paul Nicholls

153116- CALCULATED RISK  4 Terry Warner   John Quinn

015-112 CALL ME BUBBLES (FR) 4 Susannah Ricci  Willie Mullins IRE

15/2U00- CASH AND GO (IRE) 6 Robin Geffen   Nicky Henderson

1U3/2F0- COTTON MILL  6 Bloomfields   John Ferguson

4/13411- COURT MINSTREL (IRE) 6 Janet Davies   Evan Williams

212  DELL' ARCA (IRE)  4 Prof Caroline Tisdall  David Pipe

022642 ENCHANTED FOREST (IRE) 5 Francis Campbell  Michael Hourigan IRE

3/11112- FAR WEST (FR)  4 Axom XXXIX   Paul Nicholls

123311 FIRST IN THE QUEUE (IRE) 6 Liam Breslin   Nicky Henderson

2514-21 FLAXEN FLARE (IRE) 4 Mrs Pat Sloan   Gordon Elliott IRE

2P2-34 GASSIN GOLF  4 Will Roseff   Richard Lee

1/14PP0- GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) 9 J P McManus   Jonjo O'Neill

0/30231/- GIBB RIVER (IRE)  7 Corbett Stud   Nicky Henderson

F1131/4- GRUMETI   5 McNeill Family   Alan King

1010F-3 IFANDBUTWHYNOT (IRE) 7 Claire Hollowood & Henry Dean David O'Meara

312520/- KALANN (IRE)  6 K McConnell   Sabrina Harty IRE

2/0(1)11-1 KARINGA DANCER  7 H B Geddes   Harry Fry

11U0-  KASHMIR PEAK (IRE) 4 Win Only SP Only Partnership John Quinn

140/003- KAZLIAN (FR)  5 Twelve Pipers Piping  Johnny Farrelly

41131- L'UNIQUE (FR)  4 Denis Barry   Alan King

32111/B- LEXI'S BOY (IRE)  5 Tim Leslie   Donald McCain

112132 LIFE AND SOUL (IRE) 6 Matthew Taylor  Donald McCain

6/126-11 MAKARI   6 Matt & Lauren Morgan Nicky Henderson

2P6-402 MIDNIGHT GAME  6 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE

121P3-2 MR MOLE (IRE)  5 J P McManus   Paul Nicholls

50/100-U OLOFI (FR)   7 McNeill Family   Tom George

0/3052/-U ORZARE (IRE)  7 Bryan Fry   Philip Hide

3115-  PINE CREEK   5 Bloomfields   John Ferguson

24131-2 PTIT ZIG (FR)  4 Barry Fulton, Chris Giles & Richard Webb Paul Nicholls

U02-P31 RATTAN (USA)  8 J A Coleman   Willie Mullins IRE

20-2110 RAWNAQ (IRE)  6 Kevin John Smith  Matthew Smith IRE

300/3-30 REDERA (IRE)  7 Peter William Partnership Tony Martin IRE

31/2120- RIVER MAIGUE (IRE) 6 Michael Buckley  Nicky Henderson

1165-  ROLLING STAR (FR) 4 Michael Buckley & The Vestey Family Nicky Henderson

11306-0 RUACANA   4 Bloomfields   John Ferguson

21332-1 SAMETEGAL (FR)  4 John & Barbara Cotton Paul Nicholls

2/01110- SHOTAVODKA (IRE) 7 Jane Gerard-Pearse  David Pipe

111/130- SWING BOWLER  6 Exors of the late David Johnson David Pipe

211325- TANERKO EMERY (FR) 7 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Egan Waste Ltd David Pipe

P020U-0 THOMAS EDISON (IRE) 6 J P McManus   Tony Martin IRE

61-1262 UN BEAU ROMAN (FR) 5 Aiden Devaney  Willie Mullins IRE

213-  ZUIDER ZEE (GER)  6 Bloomfields   John Ferguson

45 entries

10 Irish-trained

About The Open

The Open is a prestigious and historic three-day meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse, which signals that the new Jump season is in full swing. There is record prize money of £743,000 in 2013, with the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup worth £160,000.

Staged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 15, 16 & 17. The Open is the second highest-profile meeting at the home of Jump racing, following The Festival in March and a huge event in its own right.

The Open provides thrilling competition between many of the best Jump horses in Europe, with crowds of around 70,000 over the three days.

It is regarded by many as the biggest and most important meeting of the first half of the Jump season - a weekend of entertainment, sport and fun not to be missed, including many trade stands in The Open shopping village.

Please find more details at www.cheltenham.co.uk 

@WetherbyRaces Cockney Sparrow confirmed for Wetherby

Cockney Sparrow is set  for an intriguing rematch with the Alan King-trained L'Unique in the £22,500 Listed OLBG Mares' Hurdle (1.50pm, 10 entries) over an extended two miles at Wetherby on Saturday, November 2, day two of the bet365 Charlie Hall meeting.

John Quinn's four-year-old finished 12 lengths behind L'Unique in a Listed juvenile hurdle at Aintree in December, 2012. L'Unique went on to capture a Grade One contest at Aintree's Grand National festival in April, while Cockney Sparrow won three of her next four starts, culminating with an impressive six-length success in a hotly-contested handicap hurdle at the same meeting.

The daughter of Cockney Rebel has also had three starts on the Flat, annexing a class three handicap at Ayr on her most recent start on September 21.

Quinn reported: "Cockney Sparrow is in good form and will run at Wetherby on Saturday.

"I thought it was a good, gritty performance at Ayr last time and we were very happy with her.

"I'm expecting a good run from her on Saturday. It is going to be fascinating race with Alan King's filly in there, but we are fit from the Flat and have a pull in the weights, so we are looking forward to it.

"She is fairly versatile regarding ground, but doesn't want extremes. She doesn't want it firm or heavy, but is very adaptable otherwise."

Also among the entries is the Donald McCain-trained Doyly Carte, who won a Listed contest at Cheltenham in April, last year's Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle scorer Une Artiste from the stable of champion trainer Nicky Henderson, and Oliver Sherwood's Mischievous Milly, who is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles.

Saturday's terrific card is headlined by the £100,000 Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (3.35pm) over three miles and a furlong. The 11 entries include 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run, 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup fifth Cape Tribulation, and exciting second-season chasers Unioniste and Harry Topper.

The latest betting from bet365 is: 11/10 Long Run, 10/3 Unioniste, 7/1 Cape Tribulation, 8/1 Harry Topper,  10/1 Benefficient, 20/1 Master of The Hall, 25/1 Big Fella Thanks,  Wayward Prince, 40/1 Billie Magern

At Fishers Cross, from the stable of Rebecca Curtis, and last year's winner Tidal Bay, trained by Paul Nicholls, are among nine possible starters for the £36,500 Grade Two bet365 Hurdle over three miles and a furlong. Other notable entries include the Tim Easterby-trained Trustan Times and Coral Cup hero Medinas.

The latest betting frombet365is: 10/11 At Fishers Cross, 3/1 Tidal Bay, 6/1 Trustan Times, 7/1 Medinas, 12/1 Master Of The Sea, 14/1 Across The Bay, 20/1 Captain Sunshine, 33/1 The Knoxs

Going

The going at Wetherby remains: Good to Soft (Ch - 6.3: Hu - 6.2)

Wetherby's Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, Jonjo Sanderson, reported: "We have had no rain whatsoever since Monday morning and both Tuesday and today (Wednesday) have been dry and sunny. Although the ground has dried marginally, the going remains Good to Soft, with an average GoingStick reading of 6.3.

"There are some weather forecasts suggesting that cloud will build overnight and there is a chance of a light rain shower into Thursday morning.

"Tomorrow is expected to be similar to today, with a dry day and the chance of a further light rain shower overnight into Friday."

For more information, please go to www.wetherbyracing.co.uk

@CheltenhamRaces Nicky Henderson & Jonjo O'Neill talk about their Paddy Power Gold Cup hopes

49 entries revealed for The Open highlight

A total of 49 entries (up from 44 in 2012) are revealed today for the Paddy Power Gold Cup - the feature race of The Open which kick starts the 2013/2014 Jump season on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 15, 16 & 17.

 

The Grade Three handicap chase boasts prize money of £160,000 and takes place on the second day of The Open at Cheltenham, Saturday, November 16.

Reigning champion trainer Nicky Henderson has one Paddy Power Gold Cup victory to his name, with Fondmort taking the honours a decade ago.

 

He is responsible for seven entries this year, the most of any trainer, which are headed by 2012 Queen Mother Champion Chase victor Finian's Rainbow (14/1 with Paddy Power), Captain Conan (10/1), a triple Grade One winner in novice company last season, Rajdhani Express (10/1), successful in the Listed Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase at The Festival in 2013, and the mare Nadiya De La Vega (16/1), who was third last year. His three other entries are Kid Cassidy (16/1), Triolo d'Alene (14/1) and Ma Filleule (16/1).

Henderson said: "This weekend, we will find out where we are with the horses because the first of what I would call the main bunch will be running. I have no doubt that some of them will get tired, but there is still a bit of time between now and The Open.

"We have got seven in the Paddy Power and all of them are very possible runners at this stage, but it is just a case of assessing things nearer the time.

"Captain Conan could go, as could Nadiya De La Vega - she ran a very good race last year. Rajdhani Express is the horse we have always been pointing in that direction. He has done well over the summer and obviously there is no problem with jockey arrangements there because Sam (Waley-Cohen) will ride him.

"Finian's Rainbow would be the very interesting one because he has had a wind operation and I am very hopeful that he will come back to himself. He ran very well at Sandown on his final start last season and look what the winner (Sire De Grugy) did on Saturday - they are calling him the young pretender to Sprinter Sacre now. Finian's showed there that he is on his way back, but he does need good ground to be seen at his best."

Jonjo O'Neill has also won the Paddy Power Gold Cup once as a trainer, courtesy of Exotic Dancer in 2006. His entry this year is Johns Spirit (10/1), who warmed up perfectly for the Paddy Power Gold Cup with victory at Cheltenham in the two and a half-mile Equus-Fine Dining at The Festival Handicap Chase at The Showcase on October 19.

O'Neill reported: "Johns Spirit is in good form and the Paddy Power Gold Cup will hopefully be the next stop for him.

"You would have to be happy with his performance at Cheltenham last time. I don't know how strong the race was, but he travelled and jumped well and won nicely.

"It will probably be a bigger field in the Paddy Power and I don't know if that will suit him, but Richie McLernon gets a good tune out of him and rides him well.

"We will go there hopeful, but that's as confident as you could be because it is always a very hot race and you have got to have a lot of luck in running."

David Pipe sent out Great Endeavour to win the 2011 Paddy Power Gold Cup, while his father Martin trained a record eight winners of the race. There are four entries from Pond House this year, headed by Dynaste who is the 5/1 favourite with Paddy Power. The seven-year-old demonstrated high-class form in novice company last season, winning four of his five starts including the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton Park. He was also successful in Grade Two events at Newbury and Aintree, while he opened his chasing account with a victory at Cheltenham. His only reversal came at The Festival, when he was runner-up to Benefficient (12/1) in the Grade Two Jewson Novices' Chase.

Pipe is also responsible for the 8/1 second favourite Ballynagour, plus Grands Crus (16/1) and Salut Flo (12/1).

Benefficient is one of 11 Irish-trained entries, with other leading contenders from the Emerald Isle including Marito (14/1), one of four entries for Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins, and Realt Dubh (14/1), one of Noel Meade's two entries.

Paul Nicholls enjoyed his first Paddy Power Gold Cup victory in 2012 with Al Ferof and has six entries to choose from this year headed by Unioniste (14/1), successful in last season's December Gold Cup at Cheltenham, and Rolling Aces (12/1), who was a progressive novice last season.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is the most successful current trainer in the Paddy Power Gold Cup with three victories and he has made two entries - Astracad (20/1), who was runner-up to Conquisto (14/1) in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree on October 26 and the useful novice Double Ross (20/1).

Another local trainer is Martin Keighley and he is likely to bid for the biggest success of his career so far with Champion Court (12/1), who has scored twice in Grade Two company at Cheltenham.

Weights for the Paddy Power Gold Cup will be revealed on Wednesday, November 6. The maximum field size is 20.

Paddy Power Gold Cup - Paddy Power Bet:

5/1 Dynaste; 8/1 Ballynagour; 10/1 Rajdhani Express, Captain Conan; Johns Spirit 12/1 Benefficient, Champion Court, Salut Flo, Rolling Aces; 14/1 Unioniste, Katenko, Colour Squadron, Marito, Finians Rainbow, Realt Dubh, Conquisto, Triolo DAlene; 16/1 Grands Crus, Hidden Cyclone, Third Intention, Walkon, Fago, Kid Cassidy, Ulck Du Lin, Nadiya de La Vega, Ma Filleule, Rupert Lamb; 20/1 Tap Night, Gift Of Dgab, Wishfull Thinking, Battle Group, Terminal, Texas Jack, Astracad, Easter Meteor, Bury Parade, Double Ross; 25/1 Vino Griego, Carrickboy, Woolcombe Folly, Colbert Station, Bless The Wings, Sweet My Lord; 33/1 Attaglance, Kumbeshwar, Hectors Choice, Duke of Lucca; 40/1 Tatenen; 50/1 Sean Airgead

The Open sees bookmaker Paddy Power renew its long association with the Home of Jump Racing which started in 2003.

In a three-year deal announced on October 1, the Irish bookmaker is the title sponsor of the second day, The Paddy Power Open Saturday. Paddy Power will continue to sponsor a race on the Friday, the paddypower.com Handicap Chase, and as well as the feature race on the Saturday, the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup

Class 1, Grade 3, £160,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.30pm, Cheltenham, Saturday, November 16, 2013. For 4yo+, two miles about four and a half furlongs. Entries closed, October 29, entries revealed October 30 (49 entries), weights revealed November 6. Penalties: after November 3, a winner of a chase 5lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb). Five-day confirmation stage November 11, final 48-hour declaration stage 10.00am, November 14. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, October 28.

Form  Horse    Age Owner    Trainer

40F-452 ASTRACAD (FR)  7 Raymond Mould   Nigel Twiston-Davies

3330-P2 ATTAGLANCE  7 H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder  Malcolm Jefferson

61/0P10- BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 7 Allan Stennett    David Pipe

F0311-1 BATTLE GROUP  8 Jolly Boys Outing   Johnny Farrelly

12411P- BENEFFICIENT (IRE) 7 A Shiels/Niall Reilly   Tony Martin IRE

0/5110P- BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 8 Lesley Field    Alan King

3/41523- BURY PARADE (IRE) 7 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Bury Parade Paul Nicholls

2/11151- CAPTAIN CONAN (FR) 6 Triermore Stud   Nicky Henderson

61P16-0 CARRICKBOY (IRE) 9 Trevor Hemmings   Venetia Williams

2/24251- CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8 Mark Boothright   Martin Keighley

5211U-0 COLBERT STATION (IRE) 9 J P McManus    Ted Walsh IRE

F2/2425- COLOUR SQUADRON (IRE) 7 J P McManus    Philip Hobbs

2131-21 CONQUISTO   8 P J Martin    Steve Gollings

53P-613 DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 7 Options O Syndicate   Nigel Twiston-Davies

20360-6 DUKE OF LUCCA (IRE) 8 Lesley Field    Philip Hobbs

0/11121- DYNASTE (FR)  7 John White    David Pipe

31/214-P EASTER METEOR  7 Mr & Mrs S C Willes   Emma Lavelle

521F25- FAGO (FR)   5 Andrea & Graham Wylie  Paul Nicholls

11/4642- FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 10 Michael Buckley   Nicky Henderson

2U2F/-60 GIFT OF DGAB (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud  Tony Martin IRE

14/P3P0- GRANDS CRUS (FR) 8 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds III David Pipe

P40060- HECTOR'S CHOICE (FR) 9 James and Jean Potter  Richard Lee

106F-21 HIDDEN CYCLONE (IRE) 8 Mrs A F Mee & David Mee  John Hanlon IRE

26033-1 JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) 6 Christopher W T Johnston  Jonjo O'Neill

4/F0211- KATENKO (FR)  7 A Brooks    Venetia Williams

05/4520- KID CASSIDY (IRE) 7 J P McManus    Nicky Henderson

1225F-0 KUMBESHWAR  6 McNeill Family & Nigel Bunter Alan King

122102- MA FILLEULE (FR)  5 Simon Munir    Nicky Henderson

2/113F2- MARITO (GER)  7 Susannah Ricci   Willie Mullins IRE

3U3P15- NADIYA DE LA VEGA (FR) 7 J P McManus    Nicky Henderson

2F1011- RAJDHANI EXPRESS 6 Robert Waley-Cohen   Nicky Henderson

2/04422- REALT DUBH (IRE)  9 Des Sharkey    Noel Meade IRE

0/43112- ROLLING ACES (IRE) 7 Paul Barber, Ian Fogg & David Martin Paul Nicholls

2//421F1- RUPERT LAMB  7 Andrea & Graham Wylie  Willie Mullins IRE

0112//01/- SALUT FLO (FR)  8 Allan Stennett    David Pipe

4-P3120 SEAN AIRGEAD (IRE) 8 Brendan Flynn   Mark McNiff IRE

B0S303 SWEET MY LORD (FR) 7 Aiden Devaney   Willie Mullins IRE

141522- TAP NIGHT (USA)  6 J P McManus    Lucinda Russell

U/606F0- TATENEN (FR)  9 The Stewart Family   Richard Rowe

115U-0P TERMINAL (FR)  6 Favourites Racing   Willie Mullins IRE

133120- TEXAS JACK (IRE)  7 Robert Watson   Noel Meade IRE

33262-1 THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 6 Robert and Sarah Tizzard  Colin Tizzard

2P301-1 TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR) 6 Mr & Mrs Sandy Orr   Nicky Henderson

3/311PU- ULCK DU LIN (FR)  5 Mrs Johnny de la Hey   Paul Nicholls

113114- UNIONISTE (FR)  5 John Hales    Paul Nicholls

21125-U VINO GRIEGO (FR)  8 C E Stedman    Gary Moore

22P52-U WALKON (FR)  8 McNeill Family    Alan King

14133-6 WISHFULL THINKING 10 Diana Whateley   Philip Hobbs

3-22236 WOOLCOMBE FOLLY (IRE) 10 The Hon Mrs Townshend  Paul Nicholls

49 entries

11 Irish-trained

About The Open

The Open is a prestigious and historic three-day meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse, which signals that the new Jump season is in full swing. There is record prize money of £743,000 in 2013, with the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup worth £160,000.

Staged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 15, 16 & 17. The Open is the second highest-profile meeting at the home of Jump racing, following The Festival in March and a huge event in its own right.

The Open provides thrilling competition between many of the best Jump horses in Europe, with crowds of around 70,000 over the three days.

It is regarded by many as the biggest and most important meeting of the first half of the Jump season - a weekend of entertainment, sport and fun not to be missed, including many trade stands in The Open shopping village.

Please find more details at www.cheltenham.co.uk 

Two Listed races at Lingfield Park @LingfieldPark on Thursday have maximum fields as All-Weather Championships continue

Two £40,000 Listed contests on Polytrack at Lingfield Park on Thursday (October 31), which like every All-Weather race up to April 12 form part of the new All-Weather Championships, have been over-subscribed. The Listed 32Red / EBFstallions.com Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes (2.50pm), the first of 16 Win & You're In races for the £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day on Good Friday (April 18) next year, has a maximum field of 12 after four other fillies failed to make the grade in the £40,000 event over a mile. The £40,000 32Red.com / Choose EBF Nominated River Eden Fillies' Stakes (3.20pm), run over a mile and five furlongs, has attracted a full field of 14, with four more fillies unable to take part because their ratings are lower than those in the line-up.    Arena Racing Company's £2-million plus injection of prize money and creation of the £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day on Good Friday has transformed All-Weather Racing at the four British tracks that stage it. Horses qualify for the six championship races on All-Weather Championships Finals Day by running in a minimum of three races at Britain's All-Weather tracks - three owned by ARC, Lingfield Park, Southwell and Wolverhampton, and The Jockey Club's Kempton Park - between October 26 and April 12. The other route is to win one of the 16 Win & You're In races which give guaranteed free entry into a specific race on Finals Day. Thursday's winner of the 32Red / EBFstallions.com Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes qualifies for the £150,000 32Red Fillies & Mares Stakes over seven furlongs on Good Friday. There are two overseas challengers, Moi Lolita (Andreas Helfenbein), trained by Markus Klug in Germany, and the Collusiva (Martin Harley) from Italian trainer Giuseppe Botti's Chantilly, France, base for 32Red / EBFstallions.com Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes. Markus Klug commented today: "We are bringing Moi Lolita over to Lingfield because she doesn't like soft ground and the owner is keen to have a runner in England. "She looks well at the moment and we wanted to try her on an all-weather surface as it is preferable to racing on turf at this time of year. "She has black type in Germany already, having finished second at Bad Doberan in August, and I hope that she can run well again." Four-year-old Lawman filly Moi Lolita finished fourth last time out in a nine-furlong Baden-Baden Listed race on September 1, while Collusiva, a three-year Shamardal filly, has reached the frame on all three of her starts on All-Weather surfaces in France. Champion British trainer Richard Hannon has two runners - Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Forgive, who disappointed in the Cambridgeshire last time out but won a Newmarket mile handicap in August, and Indignant, who was successful in a Newmarket seven-furlong handicap in July. Alex Smith of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing commented: "Forgive was not suited by the hustle and bustle of the Cambridgeshire, but has been very consistent this year apart from that. "She ran in this race last year when not beaten that far (just over three lengths back in eighth) and we would love to get some black type for her. She has won at Kempton Park on the Polytrack so the surface is not a worry. "She has a good draw (1), Silvestre de Sousa, who partners her, is in good form, and she will be ridden positively." Jim Allen, ARC's Racing Director, commented: "It is great the two valuable Listed races at Lingfield on Thursday have been so popular which shows the strong demand for All-Weather Racing. "The Win & You're In concept is an exciting one for the All-Weather Championships, giving a guaranteed place with no entry fees in the specified race on Finals Day. "This is the only one for the £150,000 32Red Fillies & Mares Stakes over seven furlongs on Good Friday and has succeeded in attracting an over-subscribed field."

@WetherbyRaces Nine entries for Saturday's bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby

Saturday's Grade Two £36,500 bet365 Hurdle looks set to be a cracking contest with nine high-class entries received today, three of which are Grade One winners.

Trainer Paul Nicholls is set to be represented by triple Grade One scorer Tidal Bay. The 12-year-old was as good as ever last season, winning the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby before going on to finish third under top-weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and land the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, Ireland. He is 4/1 with bet365 to record a repeat success at Wetherby on Saturday.

 

 

Heading the market at 7/4 with bet365 is At Fishers Cross, trained in Wales by Rebecca Curtis for leading owner J P McManus. The six-year-old was one of the top novices' of last season, racking up Grade One wins at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals over three miles.

The David Pipe-trained Dynaste is also a Grade One winner, having taken the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton Park last season.

Donald McCain is set to saddle Across The Bay, who was last seen out when finishing 14th in the Grand National at Aintree in April. The nine-year-old is a smart performer over both hurdles and fences, having enjoyed his biggest success over smaller obstacles in the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle over three miles at Haydock Park in February.

McCain said today: "Across The Bay needs to work later this week, but the bet365 Hurdle looks the obvious place to start him this season.

"It looks like it is going to be a hot race, but his first big target is the Becher Chase in December and I want to get a run into him before then. We will also be looking at the Grand National again."

Other leading contenders include Trustan Times (Tim Easterby), who was third behind Across The Bay at Haydock Park last season and Medinas (Alan King), who was triumphant in the Coral Cup at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.

Completing the entries are Master Of The Sea (Nigel Twiston-Davies), Captain Sunshine (Emma Lavelle) and The Knoxs (Sue Smith).

Pat Cooney of bet365 said: "The betting public have really latched on to At Fishers Cross. He was our worst result at the last Cheltenham Festival, and we expect him to be a well backed favourite again on Saturday.

"He faces a talent-packed field though and the likes of Dynaste and Tidal Bay in particular will provide a stern test for him, and if At Fishers Cross does win, I'd expect him to overtake Big Buck's as the World Hurdle at Cheltenham market leader."

bet365 prices:  7/4 At Fishers Cross, 9/4 Dynaste, 4/1 Tidal Bay, 8/1 Trustan Times, 10/1 Medinas, 16/1 Across The Bay, 16/1 Master Of The Sea, 20/1 Captain Sunshine, 50/1 The Knoxs

each way 1/5 odds, 1-2-3

Going

The going at Wetherby has been changed on Tuesday morning to: Good to Soft (Ch - 6.1: Hu - 6.2).

Wetherby's Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, Jonjo Sanderson, reported today: "Following the storms that the country experienced over Sunday evening and Monday morning, during which we received 14mm of rain, we have eased the ground to Good to Soft, with an average GoingStick reading of 6.1.

"Tuesday has been a dry and sunny day, albeit much cooler, and the forecast for appears to be reasonably settled for the rest of the week, with the exception of Wednesday night, and possibly Thursday night, when there are some rain showers forecast."

The feature at Wetherby on Saturday is the £100,000 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase and the sponsor's latest odds are: 11/10 Long Run, 7/2 Unioniste, 4/1 First Lieutenant, 7/1 Cape Tribulation, 10/1 Benefficient, Harry Topper, 25/1 Big Fella Thanks, Wayward Prince, 33/1 Billie Magern, Master of The Hall

each way 1/5 odds, 1-2-3

For more information, please go to www.wetherbyracing.co.uk