Early news on Open Sunday

TODAY'S GOING

The going on the third and final day of The Open 2013, Open Sunday, is:                           

Good, Good to Soft in places

Simon Claisse, head of racing and clerk of the course at Cheltenham, said:

"The going on the third day of The Open Meeting, Open Sunday, remains Good, Good to Soft in places.

"There was some drizzle overnight but nothing significant and it hasn't affected conditions ahead of this afternoon's racing."

1.00pm Mallard Pawnbrokers And Family Jewellers Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle      

3 SEEBRIGHT (Self Certificate, Cast in Box)

9 ANGLES HILL (IRE) (Self Certificate, Not Eaten Up)

11 TIJORI (IRE) (Vet's Certificate, Knocked Joint)

16 JOJABEAN (IRE) (Self Certificate, Not Eaten Up)

19 DARK ENERGY (Vet's Certificate, Rash)

3.50pm Fairlawne - Festival Jockey Club Fine Dining Bumper

1 ARTHUR MC BRIDE (IRE) (Self Certificate, Rash)

7 GUNNER FIFTEEN (IRE) (Self Certificate, Not Eaten Up)

15 UPSANDDOWNS (IRE) (Other)

O'NEILL KEEN TO PLAY DOWN TITLE TALK

The victory of Johns Spirit in yesterday's £160,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham brought up trainer Jonjo O'Neill's 91^st winner of the season and, more importantly, took him past last season's tally with more than half the season left to go.

Last year's total was his worst for 12 years but there is every reason for thinking that this year's will be his best, both numerically and in terms of prize money.

The master of Jackdaws Castle has amassed a total of £714,178 in prize money so far this season and is currently £330,967 ahead of Paul Nicholls in the trainers' championship.

Unsurprisingly, his fine start has led to talk of the trainers' championship but O'Neill was keen to talk down any mention of titles shortly after the feature race yesterday.

"We've had a great start to the season but I don't want to start counting my chickens," said O'Neill. "It's nice when they're running like this though and I hope it continues."

Ladbrokes are currently betting on the championship and make O'Neill a 16/1 chance to end the season at the top of the pile. Current champion Jump trainer Nicky Henderson is the red-hot 1/8 favourite to retain his title with former winner Nicholls the 5/1 second-favourite with the Magic Sign.

O'Neill may not have as many obvious big-race bullets to fire as his main rivals but it would be folly to underestimate him in these particular contests, as Henderson found out on Friday when Taquin De Seuil took the scalp of Oscar Whisky in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase.

With the trainers' championship decided on prize money rather than number of victories, O'Neill will have to get his fair share of big race wins in order to have a shout and hence will have to rely on the up and coming stars in his yard (for instance, useful dual purpose performers Tominator and Well Sharp) to fly the flag this season rather than old favourites such as dual Ryanair Chase winner Albertas Run, who was retired after pulling up at The Festival back in March. The Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding won the race in 2010 and 2011, as well as finishing second in 2012, and was a real favourite in the yard.

O'Neill could go further clear in the title race this afternoon if top-weight Get Me Out Of Here manages to land the £100,000 StanJames.com Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (3.15pm) but the sponsors think that could be a tall order, as the nine-year-old is currently priced at 40/1 to pass the post in front.

It will be a tough task to eclipse both Henderson and Nicholls, who between them have had the trainers' title sewn up for the last eight campaigns, but O'Neill does have the backing of multi-millionaire J P McManus and his patron would love nothing more than to see his old friend lift the trophy at the end of the season.

BETTING NEWS

The feature race on the third and final day of The Open meeting, Open Sunday, is the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle (3.15pm) and the sponsors have put up Flaxen Flare as the worst loser in their book after they saw cash flood in for last season's Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle winner this morning.

The four-year-old is now 8/1 (from 12/1) with StanJames.com and Sky Bet have also been forced to take evasive action, cutting the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding to 8/1 (from 10/1).

A small but select field go to post for the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle (1.35pm) and the sponsors will refund all losers as free bets if the favourite obliges. Their current market leader is Sea Lord (6/5) but this could all change come post time as the David Pipe-trained The Liquidator is just behind him in the betting at 11/8.

Sky Bet have also seen sustained support for Ted Veale in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial Novices' Chase (2.10pm) and last year's Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle winner has been cut to 11/4 (from 3/1) by the Leeds-based firm.

Sire De Grugy is the red-hot 5/6 favourite for the Shloer Chase (2.40pm) but punters have been looking elsewhere for a bit of value in that particular race and Sky Bet's PR spokesman, Michael Shinners, reports plenty of money for the Nicky Henderson-trained Kid Cassidy who is now 9/2 (from 5/1).

"Kid Cassidy has a quirky way of going about things but his talent is obvious and it's interesting to see the Henderson camp aim for this Listed prize rather than continue down the handicap route," said Shinners.

"He's clearly expected to go well on his seasonal reappearance given the money there has been for him this morning."

PRESS SALUTE UNDERSTUDY

Every jockey hopes to make Sunday newspaper headlines - Richie McLernon has done so in style today.

McLernon's Paddy Power Gold Cup victory - the biggest of his career - on Johns Spirit for trainer Jonjo O'Neill, was a case of stepping out of the shadow of greatness, which is an angle loved by journalists and editors. They cannot get enough of A P McCoy at the moment, but yesterday's win for one of the champion jockey's understudies at O'Neill's Jackdaws Castle stables in Gloucestershire gave them something fresh on which to focus.

'That's the Spirit!' is the Racing Post'sfront-page headline which sits alongside a shot of Johns Spirit jumping the last ahead of a posse of chasing rivals. Inside, Lewis Porteous quotes O'Neill as saying: "You've just to got put him [John's Spirit] to sleep," which could alarm many horse lovers unfamiliar with racing parlance, although the trainer's following metaphor should appeal to contortionists. "He was idling all the way to the line and we were nipping our backsides a bit, praying for it to come."

Many writers refer to the fact that McLernon's spotlight moment might have happened in April last year, when he and the O'Neill-trained Sunnyhillboy were nutted on the line by Neptune Collonges in the John Smith's Grand National. That really would have put the Irishman's name in the public domain.

The Sunday Telegraph's Marcus Armytage refers to that near miss and reminds readers that jump jockeys regard injuries as nuisances, not an excuse to take time off work. The jockey was, says Armytage, 'sporting stitches in his chin, which he picked up when butted by a horse at Market Rasen last week'.

The Daily Star Sunday'sJason Heavy says: 'Nearly man Richie McLernon finally got his day in the sun," while The Sunday Times'sAndrew Longmore makes the pertinent point that, 'There must be tougher jobs in sport than being an understudy to A P McCoy'.

That is true, although the Sunday Express's Chris Goulding gives an insight to the gulf between top-table jockeys and the many lower-tier operators when quoting McLernon as saying: "I've only had one ride today and that says it all about how hard it is to get rides."

His employer knows how difficult it is to dine at the same heights as Messrs Henderson and Nicholls, despite a string of big winners over the years, but after Johns Spirit's win carried him further clear in the trainers' title race, the Sunday Mirror'sBill Knight asks: 'Can he mount a serious challenge to title holder Nicky Henderson?'

The Independent On Sunday'sSue Montgomery says the Paddy Power Gold Cup triumph was O'Neill's ninety-first of the season, taking him past the total he gained all last season.

And so to today, and another Cheltenham card that offers every possibility of a major win for a rider of McLernon's standing. Kashmir Peak is strongly fancied to take the £100,000 Greatwood Hurdle under Dougie Costello, whose draining work load and hours are charted by Jonathan Powell in The Mail On Sunday. 'I don't mind the early starts and would go anywhere for a winner,' Costello tells Powell.

The victory of Johns Spirit and McLernon will have given dozens of jockeys hope that they too can create newspaper headlines.

JOCKEYS IN THE MONEY WITH JETS

Two jump jockeys who have made a mark in new careers were rewarded with trophies and cheques at Cheltenham today.

Former jockey Ollie McPhail, who is now a Racing Education Officer, and Tom Siddall, who is combining race riding with equine dentistry, both received recognition under the Griffins-sponsored Richard Davis Awards 2013.

The pair have been helped along the way by the Jockeys Employment & Training Scheme, which helps riders tool up for a life outside of the weighing room.

Siddall received a cheque for £2,000 from Lady Oaksey for becoming the Injured Jockeys' Fund's Progress Award winner, while McPhail, the Achievement Award winner, was handed £3,000 by Bob Fidler representing Griffins.

McPhail, who rode just over 130 winners as a jump jockey, said: "It's a privilege to win this award and an honour to do so in Richard Davis's name.

"There comes a point in every jockey's career when you have to look ahead, do the maths, and accept that you cannot keep going forever.

"I'm now the lead education officer for 'Racing to Schools', which is an education programme that introduces some 10,000 young people a year to horse racing.

"Jets helped me in two ways. Firstly they put me in touch with the British Horseracing Education And Standards Trust, and they also helped me with a number of courses while I was still riding. You have to develop new skills and Jets was there to help.

"The money will come in very handy for a rainy day, but some of my office equipment is becoming a little dated so I will be investing part of the money there. It's fantastic to have."

THE OPEN 2013 - WINNERS

Countryside Day, November 15, 2013

1.05pm Opus Energy Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase

HANDY ANDY (IRE) (Brocade Racing) Colin Tizzard t7-10-05 Mr Michael Legg (5) 15/2

1.35pm Paddy Power Handicap Chase

 

ANAY TURGE (FR) (Mrs K Wetherall) Nigel Hawke tp8-10-07 Mark Quinlan (3) 9/1

2.05pm Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase

TAQUIN DU SEUIL (FR) (Martin Broughton & Friends 1) Jonjo O'Neill 6-11-07 A P McCoy 3/1

2.40pm David Johnson Memorial Intermediate Handicap Hurdle

THOMAS CRAPPER (Apis.uk.com) Robin Dickin 6-11-03 Charlie Poste 16/1

3.15pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

BALTHAZAR KING (IRE) (The Brushmakers) Philip Hobbs 9-11-08 Richard Johnson 5/4 Fav

3.50pm Countryside Raceday Novices' Handicap Hurdle

QUICK JACK (IRE) (John Breslin) Tony Martin IRE 4-11-00 Ruby Walsh 15/8 Fav

Paddy Power Gold Cup Day, November 16, 2013

12.40pm JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Grade Two)

ROYAL IRISH HUSSAR (IRE) (Triermore Stud) Nicky Henderson 3-11-06 Barry Geraghty 10/11 Fav

1.15pm Roy Blandford 65 Years At Cheltenham Novices' Chase

LE BEC (FR) (T Syder) Emma Lavelle 5-11-04 Noel Fehily 3/1

1.50pm Murphy Group Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

ALVARADO (IRE) (William & Angela Rucker) Fergal O'Brien 8-10-00 Paul Moloney 12/1

2.30pm Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)

JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) (Christopher Johnston) Jonjo O'Neill 6-10-02 Richie McLernon 7/1

3.00pm Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

RETURN SPRING (IRE) (D Jones) Philip Hobbs 6-9-13 James Best (3) 20/1

3.35pm Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade Two)

CREEPY (IRE) (Mark Boothwright, T Hanlon, S Harman) Martin Keighley 5-11-00 Ian Popham 9/2

4.05pm Ukash Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race (Listed)

THE GOVANESS (C Brookes) Fergal O'Brien 4-11-00 Paddy Brennan 28/1

Thomas Pink Leading Jockey Award -

latest standings at the start of day three

Name    1st   2nd   3rd

Barry Geraghty   1   1   1

A P McCoy    1   1   1

Paddy Brennan   1   -   1

Noel Fehily    1   -   1

Ian Popham   1   -   1

James Best   1   -   -

Richard Johnson   1   -   -

Mr Michael Legg   1   -   -

Richie McLernon   1   -   -

Paul Moloney   1   -   -

Charlie Poste   1   -   -

Mark Quinlan   1   -   -

Ruby Walsh   1   -   -

Tom O'Brien   -   2   -

Leighton Aspell   -   1   -

Mr Harry Bannister  -   1   -

Bryan Cooper   -   1   -

Harry Derham   -   1   -

Jan Faltejsek   -   1   -

Rachel Green   -   1   -

Wayne Hutchinson  -   1   -

Mr Patrick Mullins  -   1   -

Joe Tizzard    -   1   -

Daryl Jacob   -   -   3

Tom Scudamore   -   -   2

Mr Jamie Bargary  -   -   1

Andrew McNamara  -   -   1

Denis O'Regan   -   -   1

Leading Trainer -

latest standings at the start of day three

Name    1st   2nd   3rd

Jonjo O'Neill      2      1      1

Philip Hobbs      2      1      -

Fergal O'Brien      2      -      1

Nicky Henderson     1      1      1

Emma Lavelle      1      1      -

Colin Tizzard      1      1      -

Martin Keighley     1      -      1

Robin Dickin      1      -      -

Nigel Hawke      1      -      -

Tony Martin IRE     1      -      -

Paul Nicholls      -      1      3

Kim Bailey       -      1      -

Ben Case       -      1      -

George Charlton     -      1      -

Anthony Honeyball    -      1      -

Dessie Hughes IRE    -      1      -

Willie Mullins IRE     -      1      -

Richard Woollacott    -      1      -

David Pipe       -      -      2

Rebecca Curtis      -      -      1

John Ferguson      -      -      1

John Hanlon IRE     -      -      1

Nigel Twiston-Davies    -      -      1