@CheltenhamRaces In-form Longsdon targets The Open

Trainer Charlie Longsdon is preparing an exciting team of young horses for The Open next week at Cheltenham, which takes place from Friday to Sunday, November 15-17.

The most high-profile contender is the JP McManus-owned Pendra, out  of top-class chaser Mariah Rollins, who jumped impeccably when making a winning chase debut over two miles at Carlisle on October 24.

There are a couple of options for the Old Vic five-year-old at The Open, including the £32,000 Grade Two Racing Post Arkle Trial Novices' Chase over two miles on the Sunday.

Longsdon reported: "I was very happy with Pendra at Carlisle and he could run at The Open.

"He will certainly be entered for a couple of races there, but it is still early days with him and we will have a better idea later in the week.

"We will be looking to step him up in trip at some point, but I need to discuss things with the J P (McManus) team. He is only 50/50 at this stage as there will also be other options for him."

Killala Quay is unbeaten over hurdles since joining the Chipping Norton handler. The six-year-old captured a two and a half mile Aintree novices' hurdle by 10 lengths in July and stayed on strongly to land a similar contest by six lengths at Chepstow on October 12.

Longsdon said: "Killala Quay will go to Cheltenham for either the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (November 16) or the David Johnson Memorial Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (November 15).

"He goes nicely at home and has done nothing wrong in two starts, so we will step him up and see how he gets on.

"He has got an interesting pedigree as he is out of a five-furlong sprinter and apparently he was mistake. He was a good mistake though and seems to stay well.

"Although he has been winning on good ground, he wants soft ground. He wouldn't want it too slow, but definitely on the softer side."

Longsdon is eyeing the £20,000 Listed Cheltenham Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (November 17) for Wadswick Court, who mowed down Weatherbys Champion Bumper fifth Purple Bay in a competitive contest at Huntingdon on October 15. Also under consideration for the same race is Our Kaempfer, an effortless winner on his sole start under Rules in a Worcester bumper on October 10.

The trainer declared: "The two that could go for the bumper are Wadswick Court and Our Kaempfer.

"Wadswick Court has won at Hereford and Huntingdon and you don't get many chances to run in such a valuable race at this stage, so he might well go there.

"Our Kaempfer won very nicely at Worcester and I think he has bright future, but I won't be rushing him."

Longsdon has started the 2013/14 Jump season in brilliant style, with 42 winners so far at a strike rate of 27 per cent.

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 

Great Hall ready for Floodlit test at Kempton

  

The All-Weather Championships continue with an exciting twilight fixture at Kempton Park on Wednesday, November 6, which is headlined by the £37,000 Listed Winners Are Welcome At Betdaq Floodlit Stakes (7.00pm).

A field of seven is set to go to post for the mile and a half contest, including the Brian Meehan-trained Great Hall, who will wear blinkers for the first time.

The three-year-old was last seen finishing a creditable ninth in the Group One Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on September 15, having previously annexed a valuable handicap at Haydock Park in July and a 12-furlong maiden at Newmarket in June.

Kieren Fallon rides the Halling colt again.

Meehan reported: "Great Hall is in good form and ran a nice race in the St Leger when the ground was too soft for him.

"We have put the blinkers on just to help him because Kempton will be the sharpest track he has run at.

"The surface will be fine for him and I wouldn't have any concerns about the drop back in trip."

Great Hall's rivals include Urban Dance, a three-year-old Street Cry half-brother to Masterstroke, who will be aiming to give Godolphin a fifth consecutive win in the Floodlit Stakes after victories for Spring Of Fame (2012), Prince Bishop (2011), Mastery (2010) and Once More Dubai (2009). Urban Dance's trainer Charlie Appleby was successful at the Breeders' Cup in America on Friday with Outstrip.

John Gosden, who went close to Breeders' Cup success with The Fugue, will be represented by 2012 Royal Ascot hero Gatewood, partnered by William Buick.

Glorious Goodwood scorer Pether's Moon also brings good form to the table for champion trainer Richard Hannon.

Smart mare Jehannedarc, Opera Box and Aussie Reigns complete the septet.

Horsted Keynes is the headline act in the following seven-furlong Class Three £11,500 Betdaq 1st UK Race Commission Free Handicap (7.30pm, 11 runners) as he goes in search of a four-timer. The Roger Varian-trained three-year-old landed a similar contest at Lingfield last Thursday, October 31, and will shoulder a six pound penalty.

Carnegie reflects on weekend of outstanding British success

Carter Carnegie, International Executive of Great British Racing International, was present at Santa Anita for the 30th anniversary Breeders Cup this weekend to witness four outstanding British-trained winners. Reflecting on a weekend of outstanding British success in both hemispheres, Carnegie said: "British trainers are among the best in the world and the amazing results from America and Australia over the weekend reflect the skill in the British training ranks. "To prepare a horse to run at the top of its game in a different country, with all of the challenges that travelling and unfamiliar surroundings present, is something at which British trainers excel, and we look forward to many more international successes in the coming months.” As a former Senior Vice President of Sales for Breeders’ Cup Limited, Carnegie well understands the challenge faced by European raiders at the Breeders’ Cup, as well as those runners in Australia for the feast of top racing on offer during Melbourne’s Spring Carnival. British trainers Charlie Appleby, Charlie Hills and Jo Hughes all celebrated their first Breeders’ Cup winners on Friday night. Outstrip, trained by Appleby for Godolphin, triumphed in the Grade 1 Juvenile Turf; Chriselliam, trained by Hills, took the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies Turf; and the Hughes-trained London Bridge set the ball rolling in the Grade 2 Marathon. Sir Michael Stoute, no stranger to Breeders’ Cup success over the years, added to the tally when Dank was victorious in the Grade 1 Filly & Mare Turf, a race he has won previously with Islington in 2003. In Australia, Andrew Balding and Ed Walker flew the flag for Great Britain with two great victories. Side Glance, trained by Balding for Pearl Bloodstock, triumphed in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington under Jamie Spencer. Earlier on the same card, Ruscello claimed victory by a head in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes for Ed Walker. Ruscello will now form part of a strong British contingent in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, in which more international success could well be on the cards.

@CheltenhamRaces Paddy Power Gold Cup option for Realt Dubh

Irish handler Noel Meade is considering a tilt at the £160,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup for multiple Grade One-winning chaser Realt Dubh, after the nine-year-old was not declared for tomorrow's JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

The son of Beneficial was one of the leading novice chasers during the 2010/11 season, annexing three Grade One contests in Ireland and finishing a respectable third to Captain Chris in the Racing Post Arkle Chase at The Festival.

Derek Sharkey's gelding also finished runner-up to Sizing Europe in the two-mile Champion Chase at Punchestown in April, 2012, but was not able to run at any of the spring festivals last season after picking up an injury in the Grade Two paddypower.com Chase at Naas in February.

Meade reported: "Realt Dubh is in good form and is certainly a possible runner in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but we will just see how things are looking when the weights come out.

"He had an OK campaign last season, but it was just a shame he didn't get to finish it out. He picked up a knock and I suppose it happened when he made a bad mistake at the last in Naas, but hopefully he will find his form again.

"He is in at Thurles (John Meagher Memorial Chase, November 7) next week and we will see what is going to turn up, but I would say he will probably start there.

"We are on the back foot a bit with him now. He is a bit older and is not going to be improving, so we have to lower out sights a little bit.  I think two and a half miles is his optimum trip. We have tried him over three miles once, but we found it was just a little bit too far for him."

Realt Dubh is a 14/1 chance with the sponsor to become only the second Irish-trained winner of the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup since Bright Highway triumphed for Michael O'Brien in 1980. Tranquil Sea has been the only winner trained across the Irish Sea during that period, justifying favouritism for Edward O'Grady in 2009.

Weights for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, run on Saturday, November 16, are revealed on Wednesday, November 6.

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 and through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces) and Facebook www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing

Festival City Gives Apprentice Al Mazrooei Reason To Celebrate

Racing returned to Sharjah on Saturday afternoon and the only Thoroughbred race, a 1000m handicap and the most valuable on the card, was turned into a procession by Festival City.

Local apprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei was in the saddle for Abdulla bin Huzaim in a race generously sponsored by Sharjah Electricity and Water Company.

The pair jumped out in front, quickened clear just after halfway and were never going to be caught. They set a new track record and Al Mazrooei said: “I was always travelling strongly in front and then he quickened again. It was a good performance and we were pretty hopeful as he was second in a better race here at the end of last season.”

The first race of the Sharjah season, a 1200m maiden, was won by former Champion Jockey, Wayne Smith on Najem S’Heel for trainer, Saifaldin Deeb. The pair hit the front about 200m from home, sweeping past long time leader Safina Ghantoot who plugged on for second under Richard Mullen.

The winner was losing his maiden tag at the third attempt and Smith said: “Obviously that is a great way to start the afternoon and he picked up well enough when I asked him. He clearly likes it here as he was only just beaten first time last year and he should improve.”

Smith completed a first and last race double when steering the Jaber Bittar-trained Farooq to win the concluding 1700m maiden from stable companion Mor'eb.

The following handicap over the same 1200m trip was won comfortably by the Irfan Ellahi-trained JAP Naim, repeating his course and distance maiden victory of last December.

Xavier Ziani was in the saddle and explained: “We were very confident and the plan was simple – to jump out in front and keep him going. He has plenty of early speed is hard to pass.”

The pair went on to complete a double when JAP Rashad shed his maiden tag, at the 16th time of asking. He just held on from fast-finishing Zaffaan in the 1700m handicap.

Ziani said: “It has been a good afternoon and this track really seems to suit our horses.”

Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel and Tadhg O'Shea proved a formidable partnership last season and opened their accounts for the new campaign with debutante Afaal who showed a willing attitude to land a 1000m maiden.

O’Shea, sporting the famous colours of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said: “The trainer was confident and she has battled well to win. It is a great privilege to wear these silks for such an important owner.”

Oertel, on crutches having broken his leg in a riding accident over the summer, added: “We had a great season last time and can hopefully repeat that success.”

Al Muhairi and Smith Take Jebel Ali Spoils Record-breaking Pair Claim Opening Feature

Racing returned to the UAE on Friday afternoon at Jebel Ali and, as has been the case so often in recent seasons, it was trainer, Musabah Al Muhairi and stable jockey, Wayne Smith who combined to win the feature, a 1000m handicap with Muarrab.

Carrying the famous blue and white silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who sponsored the race through Shadwell, the UK arm of his breeding empire, Muarrab was far too good for his six rivals and ran out a very easy winner. He has now won two of his three starts at Jebel Ali and clearly relishes the dirt surface and steep hill.

Smith said: “He is a young horse who has not has had that much racing and has thrived since arriving in the UAE. That was a very impressive effort against some seasoned sprinters and he would appear to be improving.

“It was only a handicap but the way he has won that you would have to think he could be a ayneJebel Ali Sprint horse which is great for the yard as we also have Russian Rock who has won that race in each of the last two seasons.”

The first race of the new UAE season was an 1800m handicap and former Champion Trainer, Ali Rashid Al Raihe was bang on the money when Street Act landed the spoils under stable jockey Royston Ffrench. It was a third win for Street Act, all in the UAE, but his first at Jebel Ali. Ffrench said: “He won twice over further at Meydan so is clearly versatile regarding conditions and that is the best possible way to start the new season.

“I was pretty happy throughout and when he picked up as I hoped he would I knew the race was in the bag.”

Trainer and jockey were to complete a double with Latkhaf but she had to work much harder to land the 1200m handicap and deny the late challenge of Journalistic.

“She is a tough little filly, said Ffrench. She showed last season that she likes it here at Jebel Ali and I was happy to go for home quite early as we know she stays further."

Trainer, Satish Seemar introduced an interesting newcomer in the shape of Frobisher who made an impressive start to his career in the 1000m maiden under stable jockey, Richard Mullen.

“It is nice when we get a young horse early in their career,” said Seemar. “We then get to educate them and bring them along as we want. We like this horse and we will look for a handicap with him, probably back here at Jebel Ali.”

Racing concluded with a 1400m handicap and promising apprentice, Thomas Brown made virtually all on Momaris, sporting Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's colours and trained by Dhruba Selvaratnam.

It was a fifth UAE ride for the young jockey, making his local debut on the day.

Doug Watson was another former Champion Trainer to open his account for the season with apprentice Marc Monaghan steering Maqaarat to win the 1600m handicap, initiating a double for owner Sheikh Hamdan.

@lovethe_races SIX INTERNATIONAL VICTORIES IN ONE WEEKEND FOR BRITISH TRAINERS

The Breeders’ Cup may be known as the World Championship but it was Britain that has dominated at this year’s two-day meeting at Santa Anita, with four outstanding winners and a close second place from the seven races in which it fielded runners. British trainers also made their mark on the other side of the globe in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday, winning two showpiece races on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington. On Friday British trainers Charlie Hills, Charlie Appleby and Jo Hughes all enjoyed a first taste of Breeders’ Cup success, the Grade 1 victories of Chriselliam and Outstrip and the Grade 2 triumph of London Bridge shining the spotlight once again on the outstanding training talent in Britain. The other British handler to taste Breeders’ Cup success was a much more experienced campaigner, Sir Michael Stoute, who on Saturday saddled his sixth winner at the annual jamboree in the shape of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine, Dank. Down Under in Australia, Andrew Balding’s Side Glance landed a brilliant victory in the Group 1 Longines Mackinnon Stakes while Ruscello gave trainer Ed Walker a fairytale success in the Lexus Stakes. Coming less than three years after he first took out a trainer’s licence, this Group 3 win was Walker’s first ever Pattern triumph and means that Ruscello is guaranteed a start in Tuesday’s £2.4 million-to-the-winner Emirates Melbourne Cup. Carter Carnegie, International Executive of Great British Racing International, commented: "The Breeders’ Cup World Championship is the perfect opportunity for highlighting the enormous talent of British trainers and showcasing the best of Britain on the international stage. I am delighted to see Charlie Appleby, Charlie Hills and Jo Hughes enjoy their first winners at the Breeders’ Cup meeting, and we look forward to even more British success stories.” Trained by Charlie Hills, the hugely impressive Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Chriselliam had already struck at the highest level in Britain when landing the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in September. The daughter of Iffraaj, owned by a partnership of the former champion jockey and television presenter Willie Carson, music mogul Chris Wright and Emily Asprey, demonstrates the outstanding bloodstock sold in Britain, having been purchased for just 40,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2. Chriselliam’s stakes-placed half-sister Janicellaine will be offered as lot 1851 during the Tattersalls December Mare Sale by Three Chimneys Sales. Charlie Appleby enjoyed the greatest moment of his training career to date when Outstrip starred in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. In his first season as a trainer for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, Outstrip was Appleby’s first Group/Grade 1 winner. Having already won the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September, Outstrip is another great example of a British-bred and trained horse progressing to top-level success on the world stage. The Friday hat-trick of British-trained winners began with London Bridge in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Marathon. Trained by Jo Hughes in Lambourn, the son of Arch has been skillfully handled to progress through the handicap ranks in Britain this season before conquering the world on his first run on American dirt.