Sherwood eyes Saturday's Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Warwick for Deputy Dan

Trainer Oliver Sherwood is considering Deputy Dan for the £27,500 Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (3.00pm, 17 entries) over two miles and five furlongs at Warwick on Saturday, January 11.

The six-year-old won two of his three starts in bumpers last term and got off the mark at the third time of asking over hurdles with an impressive 19-length success on heavy ground at Chepstow on December 28.

He had shaped encouragingly in his first two outings over hurdles, finding only Champagne West, who won by 10 lengths at Wincanton next time, a length too strong in a course and distance event on December 8 and losing out to Oscar Fortune by a similar margin at Carlisle on November 3.

Sherwood reported: "I haven't looked at the entries for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle yet and need to discuss it with the owner, so I will assess it and make a decision on Wednesday or Thursday. He is in there with the idea to run, but I just want to see how he progresses during the week.

"He has come out of Chepstow in brilliant form and I am very much aware of capitalising when the ground is like this. He obviously loves it and other horses don't.

"I think he should be up to this sort of level. They put him 10 pounds for winning at Chepstow and he is now rated 132, so he is entitled to have a go at this instead of going for an ordinary novice race."

A high-class entry also features Creepy (Martin Keighley) and Killala Quay (Charlie Longsdon), winners of Neptune Investment Management-sponsored Grade Two contests at Cheltenham and Sandown respectively, decisive Ascot scorer Royal Boy (Nicky Henderson)and the unbeaten Red Sherlock (David Pipe).

Other notables include highly-regarded Wetherby victor Diamond King (Donald McCain) and dual hurdle winners Vice Et Vertu (Henry Daly) and Spirit Of Shankly (Charlie Longsdon), while Irish interest comes in the shape of the Willie Mullins-trained Rathvinden, who has won two bumpers and a maiden hurdle on his three starts to date.

About the series

The Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle series consists of eight races throughout the Jump season, culminating with the Grade One Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

It has proved not only an outstanding showcase for young hurdling talent but also a stepping stone to those that go on to shine at the highest level in open company, whether over hurdles or fences.

The Cheltenham Festival winners under Neptune Investment Management's sponsorship are The New One (2013), Simonsig (2012), First Lieutenant (2011) and Peddlers Cross (2010), while winners of the series races include last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth.

Now one of the leading corporate sponsors of British racing, Neptune has increased its sponsorship portfolio to include four races on the Flat in the summer, including two of the most prestigious trials for the Ladbrokes St Leger, the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood and the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

2013/14 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle Series

Friday, October 18, 2013 - Cheltenham - Won by Saint Roque, owned by Chris Giles & Ian Fogg, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Daryl Jacob.

Saturday, November 16, 2013 - Cheltenham - Won by Creepy, owned by Mark Boothright, T Hanlon and S Harman, trained by Martin Keighley and ridden by Ian Popham.

Friday, December 6, 2013 - Sandown - Won by Killala Quay, owned by Richard & Susan Perkins, trained by Charlie Longsdon & ridden by Richard Johnson.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 - Cheltenham - Won by Aubusson, owned by Jane Williams, trained by Nick Williams and ridden by Lizzie Kelly.

Saturday, January 11, 2014 - Warwick

Saturday, January 25, 2014 - Cheltenham

Saturday, February 15, 2014 - Ascot

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - Cheltenham Festival

Marnane Lays Plans for "Best Bunch of Horses" After Weather Delays Dubai Travel

Irish Trainer Saddles Three at First Meeting of 2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival

David Marnane believes the group of horses he has brought to this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival from his native Ireland represents his strongest chances in the international race season to date.

He also suspects the inclement weather that prevented his four charges, Elleval, He’s No Saint, Jamesie and Red Dubawi from making their planned January 28 departure from the Irish winter may actually play to his advantage come raceday.

“We couldn’t get the horses out of Ireland because we’ve had some bad weather and the ferries weren’t sailing,” said the trainer who will race three out of his four charges at the opening Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting on Thursday.

“It may have been a blessing in disguise,” said Marnane, whose horses instead touched down in Dubai on Sunday. “The horses have been trained for these races but we just adjusted the timescale so that the last piece of work took place in familiar surroundings at home instead of in Dubai.

“Now we will just give them some light canters and essentially race them off the plane. Dandy Boy won like that for us in 2011 so it wasn’t the end of the world.”

Thursday will see Elleval, winner of the 2013 Meydan Classic Trial and runner-up in the Dubai World Cup-day UAE Derby start his campaign in the Listed $150,000 Singspiel Stakes over 1800m of Meydan’s turf while Jamesie will race in a 1400m all-weather handicap and Red Dubawi has a spot in the 1000m turf sprint.

“We were lucky to get the horses out when we did because the weather was bad the day preceding and the day after and we could have missed out on raceday,” said Marnane, who like all Dubai-bound Irish trainers ships his horses across the Irish Sea to connect with flights from London’s Heathrow Airport.

And there have been other hard luck stories caused by the storms currently battering Ireland and the English coast. More ferry cancelations means that a number of other Dubai-bound trainers have had to adjust their travel plans.

But Marnane’s horses are safely ensconced in Meydan’s International Quarantine Stables and raring to go. And the Tipperary man has had something of a head start when it comes to training horses for Dubai.

He spent eight years in the emirate from 1997 with stints as assistant to two former UAE Champion Trainers, Kieran McLaughlin and Doug Watson and his Temple House yard boasts a number of horses belonging to UAE-based owners.

It was in 2011 that Marnane landed his first Meydan winner with his first Dubai runner when Dandy Boy, owned by Emirati, Malih Al Basti claimed the Dolce Vita Handicap.

“Dubai has been very good to us,” said Marnane. “This will be our fourth successive season at the Carnival and we have been lucky enough to have a winner every year and made Dubai World Cup night with two of our runners when Elleval ran second in the 2013 UAE Derby and Nocturnal Affair was sixth in the Al Quoz Sprint in 2012.”

And Marnane, who will fly in for raceday along with the Lavelles who own three of his four Dubai string, is hopeful of another successful season.

“Elleval has trained very well all year,” he said. “He ran very well in Dubai last year, ending up with a second in the UAE Derby and we think he’s a better horse this year. He’s had a little break and been brought back into training. We we will start him off on the grass in the Singspiel Stakes and then look at the Al Rashidiya for him, but there is always the option of the all-weather for him. He’s a nice progressive horse and we think there’s plenty of improvement in him.”

Jamesie was last seen following stablemate, Seanie home in a Marnane-trained 1-2 at Dundalk over 1400m and his handler is confident that he will adapt well to the rigours of Dubai.

“He’s is a Kodiak like Elleval, so we think he will handle the all-weather. He’s a tough, honest horse whose in great form. He came home really well in Dundalk so we’ll start him off at 1400m and go from there,” said Marnane. “Red Dubawi was third to Balmont Mast at the Curragh in October. We got him from France fairly late to prepare for the last Dubai World Cup Carnival where he ran well but not up to scratch.

"We are much happier with him this time and we have a plan for him. He may find the 1000m a little bit sharp, but he is progressive and we wanted to start him off there."

The three-year-old He’s No Saint is the most unexposed of Marnane’s number having had only four runs, breaking his maiden in September and having one other run since then.

"He works very well at home and shows a lot of ability," said the trainer. "He was impressive when he won his maiden and we ran him back very quickly and changed tactics with him and dropped him in and it just wasn’t his run. So we gave him a break when we knew he was coming to Dubai and we may look at the Meydan Classic Trial for him this season, the same race that Elleval won last time."

Marnane, who will be travelling back and forth to Dubai during the three-month long Dubai World Cup Carnival is looking forward to getting his winter season started.

"I think this is the best bunch of horses I’ve had in Dubai,” he said. “They are well balanced string with a horse for every occasion. The great thing is that these are not massively expensive horses, but they are the genuine progressive types who do well out there. Thursday is just a place to start for us, it’s just one place on the map for us. It’s a long Carnival."

Trainer, David Marnane stands with jockey, Fergal Lynch in the Meydan Parade Ring
Credit: Dubai Racing Club//Andrew Watkins

Elleval claims the 2013 Meydan Classic Trial under jockey, Fergal Lynch for trainer, David Marnane
Credit: Dubai Racing Club//Andrew Watkins

@Longines Kicks Off 2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival with Season’s First Card

Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Highlights International Six-Race Card

Luxury Swiss watchmaker, Longines returns to Meydan Racecourse on Thursday as Official Timekeeper for the first of the 11 race meetings of the 2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

The brand, a major supporter of the top echelons of horse sport the world over, also puts its name behind the first Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting at Meydan Racecourse, a card which carries a combined prize purse of US$915,000.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival’s first meeting boasts an important series of races, with the stage set by the renewal of the Group 1 Purebred Arabian Al Maktoum Challenge R1. The Thoroughbred equivalent, the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge is staged later the same evening. These races act as the first stop on a race series that ultimately act as a preparation campaign for the Saturday March 29, $10m Dubai World Cup.

Another highlight on the card is the newly-created Listed Singspiel Stakes, run over 1800m of the turf track, which trainers can use to prepare horses for Group 2 $200,000 Al Rashidiya over the same distance, held on Thursday January 30.

Longines will revisit Meydan Racecourse on February 15, 2014 for the eighth Racing at Meydan meeting but the brand’s biggest presence will be felt at the Dubai track for the climax of the racing season when the running of the U$5m Dubai Sheema Classic presented by Longines takes place on Dubai World Cup day.

Mr. Walter von Känel, President of Longines said: “The Dubai World Cup Carnival is an amazing competition in the field of horseracing. It really fits with the values that define the DNA of Longines, namely tradition, performance and elegance. That’s why we are proud to be the Official Timekeeper of this prestigious event.”

Malih Al Basti, Board Member, Meydan Group and Chairman of the Racing Committee, said: “Longines is an instantly recognisable brand on the global horse sport calendar and we are always delighted to welcome this famous company to Meydan Racecourse.

“As a long-time supporter of all horse sport including endurance as well as horse racing, Longines backs our domestic season and our world-renowned international season and it is this foresight that continues to pave the way for development of the sport in the UAE.”

Admission is free to the public areas of Meydan Racecourse and tickets start at Dh50, gates open at 5pm and the first race starts at 6.30pm.

For further details please contact: +971 4327 2110, ticketoffice@dubairacingclub.com or click http://www.dubairacingclub.com/buy-now/race-season-tickets for online bookings.

For behind-the-scenes news and views from Dubai Racing Club, follow us on Twitter at @DRC_Meydan or DWC_Meydan and like us on facebook by clicking on our Dubai Racing Club facebook page here: http://tinyurl.com/b8dqu5w

Failed Test at Jebel Ali Races. Trainer Banned for three months.

ERA Stewards today concluded an inquiry into a report received from the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory that the prohibited substances caffeine and theophylline were detected in the post-race urine sample taken from JOURNALISTIC (USA) after it competed and ran last in Race 1 the Commercial Bank of Dubai (1400metres) at Jebel Ali on 13 December 2013.
Evidence was taken from Mr. Mohd Ibrahim Abdelmajid trainer of JOURNALISTIC (USA), Central Veterinary Research Laboratory Chief Analyst Dr. Peter Albert and ERA Head Veterinary Officer Dr. David Sykes.
Mr. Abdelmajid admitted a breach of ERA Rule of Racing 95A 1(b) in that he caused to be administered Novococ to JOURNALISTIC (USA) prior to Race 1 at Jebel Ali on 13 December 2013 with the post-race urine sample taken from JOURNALISTIC (USA)  upon analysis, was found  to contain the prohibited substances caffeine and theophylline.
In considering penalty, ERA Stewards were cognizant of the following:
• Mr.  Abdelmajid’s guilty plea.
• The seriousness of this matter
• The circumstances of this case
• Mr.  Abdelmajid’s  Disciplinary Record which shows that he had a previous charge in 2011 relating to prohibited substances
Mr. Abdelmajid was disqualified for a period of three (3) months, effective immediately, to expire at midnight on 6 April 2014 and in addition fined the sum of AED 15,000.

Pursuant to ERA 86 (ii) JOURNALISTIC (USA) was disqualified from last place in Race 1 the Commercial Bank of Dubai (1400metres) at Jebel Ali on 13 December 2013.

Oertel @RacingUAE Claims Second Consecutive Arabian Triple Crown Race

Champion Trainer Landed Same Contest Last Season

Sunday’s Abu Dhabi meeting was highlighted by the Listed Arabian Triple Crown R1 and the Ernst Oertel-trained Nymphea Du Paon was the brave winner under James Doyle, providing the Champion Trainer with consecutive victories in the Listed contest.

The pair made virtually all with Doyle always looking happy out in front. “She is a really straightforward filly with a great attitude,” said the jockey. “She is very talented and she has shown here just how brave she is as she had to fight hard in the final 200m.

“The runner-up is a very good horse so that was a particularly pleasing effort on what was a nice spare ride for me.”

Oertel won the same race last year with Shayel Aldhabi.

Harry Bentley combined with trainer, Majed Al Jahouri to land the 1400m handicap in style with Duzar. Not the quickest away, the pair made smooth progress at halfway to stalk the leaders into the straight before Bentley went for home 400m out.

They hit the front at the 200m pole and ran on strongly to win well.

Bentley explained: “This horse has plenty of ability but is a bit of a character and not always the easiest to coax into a race. He has done everything right this evening and won well in a good race.”

The jockey went on to complete a double when steering Safir Bainuna to a reasonably comfortable success in a 1600m conditions race for trainer Ahmed Al Mehairbi who also owns his winner.

Bentley won a similar race on the horse three weeks ago and said: “We were very hopeful of a big run because he did it well the last time and the horse we beat has won since.

“He is a decent enough performer in his grade and it is always nice to ride winners for the smaller yards as well as the major ones.”

The only Thoroughbred race, a 2400m handicap, provided the Satish Seemar-trained Inthar the perfect opportunity to double his local tally and he has now won both his starts for his new trainer having left Godolphin.

A 2200m handicap winner a fortnight ago, he hit the front here about 200m out under Richard Mullen and the pair won easily.
Mullen said: “He is a nice new horse in the yard and relishes these conditions. He was good two weeks ago but that was a better performance.”

The 2200m handicap produced a thrilling finish with at least half a dozen of the 14 runners holding every chance with less than 100m to run. It was left to Manan to snatch a dramatic late victory.

Carlos Sandoval produced his mount to lead close home for trainer Eric Lemartinel who also saddled the runner-up, Theoretically.

The meeting opened with a 1600m maiden which proved the ideal opportunity for the Jameel Salman-trained Live Rich to open his account at the 11th attempt. Never far off the pace under Xavier Ziani, he was sent to the front 400m out and always looked likely to hold on, despite the late challenge of Dere’A Al Jazeera who was finishing fast under Pat Dobbs.

Ziani said: “He really deserved that as he has been second twice and third in his three previous starts this season.”

@bonhams1793 @CheltenhamRaces Bonhams renews sponsorship of point-to-point series culminating in final at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Racecourse is delighted to announce that Bonhams has renewed its sponsorship of the Men's Open Point-to-Point Series, which culminates at Cheltenham's Hunter Chase Evening on April 30, 2014.

Bonhams, a privately-owned British auction house which is one of the oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques, first backed the series in 2013.

In a change to last year, the list of qualifying races has been increased to 20 (from 15), beginning at Silverton's fixture at Black Forest Lodge in Devon on January 12.

The final is run over an extended three and a quarter miles with a total prize fund of £7,500 for five-year-olds and upwards which, during the current season and prior to April 24, 2014, have won a Men's Open Point-to-Point, or have been placed first, second or third in a Bonhams-sponsored Men's Open Point-to-Point Qualifier.

Last year's race was won by the prolific point-to-point winner Doctor Kingsley, trained at Chipping Warden in Northamptonshire by Pauline Harkin and ridden by Pete Mann.

David Johnson, Bonhams Head of Marketing in Europe, said: "We are delighted to renew our sponsorship of the nationwide Men's Open Point-to-Point Series.

"The championship sits naturally alongside our thriving network of offices across the UK, which offer both world-class expertise on your doorstep and direct access to the international fine art market.

"The past 12 months was Bonhams best ever year, and we anticipate some equally thrilling results in the qualifiers and the series final at Cheltenham!"

Lucy Tucker, Executive of the Point-to-Point Authority, added: "We are absolutely delighted to be working hand-in-hand with Bonhams once again this season.

"Pointing is a popular sport and it is made even more so when associated with prestigious names such as Bonhams. We have Aga sponsoring the Women's series and with Bonhams backing the Men's series it means we have two wonderful sponsors. We are truly tickled pink.

"Bonhams have been brilliant to work with and Cheltenham provides the perfect venue for the culmination of the series on April 30."

SCHEDULE OF BONHAMS GENTLEMEN'S OPEN POINT-TO-POINT SERIES RACES 2013-14

Races will take place as follows:

Area	Meeting	Course	2013/ 2014
D&C	Silverton	Black Forest Lodge	12 January 2014
N	Jedforest	Friars Haugh	26 January 2014
W	South Dorset	Milborne St Andrew	02 February 2014
WM	Albrighton	Chaddesley Corbett	09 February 2014
N	Dumfriesshire & Stewartry	Overton	09 February 2014
W	Countryside Alliance Club (Wessex)	Badbury Rings	23 February 2014
SM	Kingston Blount Racing Club	Kingston Blount	08 March 2014
EA	Suffolk	Ampton	09 March 2014
SWM	Curre & Llangibby	Howick	16 March 2014
Y	Holderness	Dalton Park	16 March 2014
WBC	South Herefordshire	Garnons	16 March 2014
N	Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire and Eglinton	Overton	22 March 2014
SAND	Hampshire	Hackwood Park	23 March 2014
N	Berwickshire	Friars Haugh	29 March 2014
SE	Southdown & Eridge	Godstone	30 March 2014
NW	Cheshire Forest	Tabley	06 April 2014
WBC	Ludlow	Bitterley	12 April 2014
NW	North Staffordshire	Sandon	19 April 2014
SM	Kimblewick	Kimble	19 April 2014
D&C	Four Burrow	Trebudannon	21 April 2014
	Cheltenham Final		30 April 2014

@AWCHAMPS Castilo Del Diablo aimed at Good Friday Final after yesterday's victory

2.35pm £45,000 coral.co.uk Handicap 1m 4f, Polytrack

The two market leaders, 9/2 second favourite Castilo Del Diablo and 4/1 favourite Modernstone, fought out the finish of the 14-runner feature race of Lingfield's All-Weather card yesterday, with the former getting the better of the latter by neck in the £45,000 coral.co.uk Handicap.

Jamie Spencer brought the David Simcock-trained Castilo Del Diablo with a good run on the inside in the straight and went to front inside the final furlong before holding off the late challenge on the outside of Modernstone, trained by William Knight and ridden by Andrea Atzeni who put up 2lb overweight, in a fast time of 2m 28.33s for the 12 furlongs on Polytrack.

Five-year-old Castilo Del Diablo wore cheek pieces rather than blinkers yesterday, with Swing Alone a length back in third and Grendasar a neck further in arrears in fourth. The stewards banned Grendasar's jockey Paolo Sirigu for 10 days after finding the rider guilty of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing.

Simcock, who enjoyed a 114.5/1 double at Lingfield Park after success for 20/1 chance Fractal in the 32Red Maiden (Div II) earlier in the day, is now aiming Castilo Del Diablo at the £200,000 Coral-sponsored All-Weather Championships Middle Distance Final over 10 furlongs on Good Friday, April 18 back at Lingfield Park.

The Newmarket-based trainer commented: "He will be rated nearly 100 after this win and we will aim him at the Final on Good Friday. The plan will be to drop back to in trip to 10 furlongs and go for the Winter Derby trial (the £37,000 Listed Coral App Download From The App Store Winter Derby at Lingfield Park on February 22).

"I am very happy after today's wins - the horses are in good order and 2014 has started well.

"I am looking forward to the year and we will be busy with runners in Dubai and on the All-Weather before the turf season starts."

Simcock, who enjoyed his best ever year in 2013 with 84 British successes, added: "I'm pleased Lingfield Park put on such good prize money today and were rewarded with a competitive race.

"Castilo Del Diablo has been called a few names but I think he's an honest horse. He's had a wind operation and problems with his legs but is running well now.

"He's better on the All-Weather than turf. I'm very pleased for him and the owners."

Horses qualify for the six championship contests on £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day (Good Friday, April 18, 2014) 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 or else by succeeding in one of the 16 Fast Track Qualifiers.