@AWChamps Best Ivory

Dean Ivory has enjoyed his best year as a trainer in 2013, with 39 winners as of December 17.

The 51-year-old took over the licence from his father Ken in 2002 and has a lot to look forward to next year, starting with All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, April 18, 2014,

Ivory, based just to the north of London in Radlett, Hertfordshire, has made a positive start to the championships, sending out five winners and saddling Sirius Prospect to victory in the Listed Winners Are Welcome At Betdaq EBF Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park on November 20.

 

"I think the All-Weather Championships is a very good idea," said Ivory. "It will hopefully keep some good horses in this country rather than them going abroad and it is something you can target your better horses at.

"It is still a new concept to everybody, but I think it's very good for racing. More prize money is always good and it brings a bit of life back to the racing on the All-Weather."

Sirius Prospect has been a grand servant to Ivory, winning on nine of his 34 starts, and victory at Kempton Park has guaranteed him a berth in the £150,000 Ladbrokes Mile on All-Weather Championships Finals Day.

"Sirius Prospect is on his break now and won't run him before the Ladbrokes Mile," reported Ivory. "He hung on really well at Kempton and proved he got the mile well.

"He is very competitive and found more when the other horse eyeballed him. He is a stronger and better horse this year and I think there was more left in the tank."

All-Weather Championships Finals Day is also the target for rapidly improving sprinter Lancelot Du Lac, who finished third behind Valbchek in the Listed Best Odds At bookmakers.co.uk Golden Rose Stakes on November 16 before a decisive success in a six-furlong handicap at Kempton Park on November 27.

The three-year-old is set to contest the rearranged £45,000 Compare Bookmakers at bookmakers.co.uk Handicap at Lingfield Park tomorrow, December 18. The six-furlong contest was originally scheduled to take place on December 11, but the fixture was abandoned due to fog.

"In some ways the extra week between this race and his last will help, but it also means his winter break will be a week shorter," said Ivory. "I would have knocked him off by now, but we want to get a third run into him so he will be eligible for the sprint on Good Friday.

"After his run on Wednesday, he will have a break and come straight back for Good Friday. I know he´s pretty strong already but he´s only three and has got some developing still to do, so the break will do him good."

Ivory is debating whether or not to target his stable star Tropics at the £150,000 Bookmakers.co.uk Sprint on All-Weather Championships Finals Day. The progressive five-year-old gave the yard a first Group success when a hugely impressive three and a half length winner of the Group Three John Guest Bengough Stakes at Ascot on October 5.

"If I bought Tropics back, I would have to target him at one Fast Track Qualifier and win it. The only race there is for him is a six-furlong Listed race (Compare Bookmakers at bookmakers.co.uk Cleeves Stakes) at Lingfield on February 22.

"The only problem is that if he wins that, I would have to sit tight for two months because there are no other races between then and the final due to his handicap mark."

Exciting two-year-old Golden Amber, purchased out of Willie McCreery's yard following an eye-catching success at Naas on October 23, and impressive Redcar winner Duchess Of Gazeley are also possible contenders for All-Weather Championships Finals Day.

"I have got some other horses, who I would like to target at the other races on All-Weather Championships Finals Day," revealed Ivory. "I have a staying filly called Duchess Of Gazeley, who ran really well when she was beaten by Tweed at Newmarket, and I am very keen to get her qualified.

"Tweed was beaten at Wolverhampton next time out but that wouldn't have suited her and, for what it's worth, I think she is a good horse.

"If I run Duchess Of Gazeley once, hopefully she will run well and go up in the ratings because then she will be able to get into one of the Fast Track Qualifiers.

"I bought another filly, Golden Amber, from Ireland and she is a nice horse for six or seven furlongs. She is only rated 81 and, although it's a longshot, it will be interesting to see how I get on with her."

Ivory has enjoyed a fantastic year, accruing over £360,000 in prize money, and is excited by his string of horses for next year.

"I am really looking forward to next year because I have got some nice horses that I am carrying over from this year and I've got some nice horses to add to what we already have."

@AWChamps Forest Edge seeking fourth straight victory in £45,000 Compare Bookmakers At bookmakers.co.uk Handicap at Lingfield Park on Wednesday

Forest Edge seeking fourth straight victory in £45,000 Compare Bookmakers At bookmakers.co.uk Handicap at Lingfield Park on Wednesday

The All-Weather Championships continue at Lingfield Park and Kempton Park this Wednesday, December 18, and include two valuable contests which have been re-scheduled from December 11 when they were lost due to fog.

 

Forest Edge is chasing a four-timer in the rearranged £45,000 Compare Bookmakers At bookmakers.co.uk Handicap (2.00pm, 12 runners) at Lingfield Park over six furlongs which has attracted a maximum field of 12.

The David Evans-trained four-year-old landed six-furlong handicaps at Wolverhampton and Kempton Park before a decisive length success in a five-furlong handicap at Lingfield Park on December 4, all under Adam Kirby.

Evans reported today: AThe extra week has probably done Forest Edge a favour. He is very well and also has a better draw (five) than he would have done last week.

AI thought it was a brilliant performance last time and he has progressed all year. It was probably his best effort considering how he quickened up in the final furlong.

AHe used to always run better from the front, but he can sometimes miss the break and has just come good all of a sudden. I think Adam Kirby gets on very well with him.

AIt=s a top-class race tomorrow, but we know he goes around Lingfield and, given the form he is in at the moment, we have to be hopeful.@

Forest Edge's 11 rivals are headed by high-class turf performers Hoof It (Mick Easterby)and Hawkeyethenoo (Jim Goldie), and improving three-year-old Lancelot Du Lac (Dean Ivory).

Other notables include Stewards= Cup runner-up Ajjaadd (Ted Powell), Wolverhampton scorer Equitania (Alan Bailey) and course winner Addictive Dream (David Nicholls).

The eight-race card at Lingfield Park runs from noon through to 3.40pm.

A maximum field (14) is also set to go to post for the £60,000 Betdaq - The Sports Betting Exchange Handicap (6.20pm) over 11 furlongs at Kempton Park, which is the final of the London Middle Distance Series.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who last night won the BBC Sports Personality Diamond Award, will be hoping for more success with the George Baker-trained I'm Fraam Govan, who was last seen out when scoring a comfortable course and distance victory on October 9.

Also set to line up are Troopingthecolour (Steve Gollings), Halfsin (Marco Botti), Shavansky (Rod Millman), Jazz Master (Luca Cumani) and Zamoyski (Steve Gollings) who all won qualifiers for the London Middle Distance Series over the same course and distance on their most recent all-weather appearances.

The eight-race card at Kempton Park runs from 3.50pm through to 7.20pm.

Lingfield Park also hosts a valuable programme on Saturday, December 21, when the highlights are the £37,000 Listed Coral App Download From The App Store Quebec Stakes (2.35pm, 15 entries) over 10 furlongs and the £19,000 Coral Mobile "Just Three Clicks To Bet" Handicap (3.10pm, 12 entries) over a mile and a half.

Horses qualify for the six championship contests on the new £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day (Good Friday) by winning a specified "Fast Track Qualifier" or 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.

Watson Triple Handed in Abu Dhabi Feature

In Form Trainer Looks to Follow Up on Jebel Ali Double

Abu Dhabi’s Sunday meeting is highlighted by the only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 2400m handicap and trainer Doug Watson, fresh from a Jebel Ali double on Friday, looks to hold a strong hand with three runners.

Pat Dobbs, who rode both the trainer’s winners on Friday, partners Mantoba, a course winner over 2200m in January. He was fourth on his seasonal reappearance, also over 2200m at Abu Dhabi, behind stable companion Udabaa who is again in opposition. One of four in the eight strong field owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he is the choice of the owner’s retained jockey Paul Hanagan. Dr Faustus, second in this race last year and the mount of Sam Hitchcott, completes the trainer’s trio.

“All my three must have a chance,” said Watson. “Dr Faustus has not had a run this year which would be a concern but he is as fit as we can get him without a run. He has been going well at home but does tend to need his first start back.

“Udabaa won nicely last time and remains in good form and we have always liked Mantoba; when things go his way his a very useful horse and these conditions really suit him.

“I expect all three to run big races and it is hard to split them.”

Of the other three Sheikh Hamdan-owned runners, his second jockey, Dane O’Neill, elects to ride Tanfeeth, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi, as is the same owner’s Rasmy. He was due to be ridden by stable jockey, Wayne Smith, but sadly Smith broke his collarbone at Jebel Ali on Friday.

The owner’s fourth runner, Amaan, is trained by Erwan Charpy and will be ridden by apprentice Noel Garbutt who rode his first UAE winner on Friday.

Achill Bay, a course and distance winner in November 2010 and second in this race in 2011, represents the Satish Seemar/Richard Mullen combination who have been enjoying a great recent run.

Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel relies on Malekov, having his first UAE start and the mount of Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea, in what looks a fascinating contest.

The best of the Purebred Arabian action is a 1400m handicap in which Oertel is set to saddle three of the 12 runners with O’Shea choosing to partner Chick Flick, winner of her two most recent starts, both at Abu Dhabi but over 1600m.

Trainer Jaber Bittar has his string n great form and saddles two with Jesus Rosales aboard Ameer Al Reef, a course and distance winner four weeks ago for the same jockey.

Stable companion Farooq, the mount of Richard Mullen, won on his seasonal return at Sharjah and was a close third at Abu Dhabi on his most recent start.

Eric Lemartinel, who trains on the Abu Dhabi track, rarely leaves his home base empty handed and saddles both Raked, under Gerald Avranche, and Naseem Al Reef, another of Smith’s intended mounts.

Duzar, trained by Majed Al Jahouri, should go well under Harry Bentley after two promising runs this season.

Yaa Wayl Finds Winning Ways for Selvaratnam

New Recruit Claims Jebel Ali Feature

Yaa Wayl made his first start for Dhruba Selvaratnam a winning one with a comfortable victory in a 1400m handicap, the official feature at Jebel Ali on Friday afternoon.

Sporting the colours of Selvaratnam’s main patron, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he was able to concede weight to his six rivals, in doing so providing stable jockey James Doyle his first winner of the season.

Originally a smart performer in the UK for the late Michael Jarvis, for whom he won a Listed race at York, he then joined Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

He won once in England in the famous blue colours but also ran some great races in defeat, including at the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

“He is an exciting new horse for the yard,” explained Doyle. “He has had a few problems and we thought he would improve with this run under his belt so that bodes well for the future.

“Hopefully we have plenty of options for him with races at Meydan next year, maybe the Jebel Ali Mile and there is HH The President’s Cup at Abu Dhabi perhaps. At least he has proved himself here on the dirt and opened up more possibilities.”

Doyle was registering his first winner of the season, whereas apprentices Wiliam Twiston-Davies and Noel Garbutt were both able to open their UAE accounts. Twiston-Davies led the way, winning the opening 1400m handicap on Enery for trainer, Musabah Al Muhairi with whom he is based at Oasis 1 Stables.

The young jockey said: “This is a great opportunity to gain some valuable experience and it is brilliant to get a winner at only the second attempt and on my first Thoroughbred ride locally.

“Hopefully more will follow.”

Garbutt is based with Erwan Charpy and opened the French trainer’s seasonal tally with the easy victory of Crackdown in a 1600m handicap. A delighted trainer said: “This horse was as fit as we could have him for his first start of the season and has threatened to win like that on a couple of occasions in the past.

“The jockey is a good prospect - he rides very well, listens and is keen to learn so I am pleased for him as well as the whole team.”

American trainer, Doug Watson and stable jockey, Pat Dobbs, combined to win the last two races with Storm Belt impressing in an 1800m handicap before stable companion, Henry Clay made all in the concluding 1950m handicap.

“We knew they both had big chances and Pat has ridden them both perfectly,” explained Watson. “Storm Belt is a lovely horse who thrives on dirt. We may have to consider the Jebel Ali Stakes for him.

“Henry Clay stays well so the plan was always to be positive with him. It has been the perfect end to the meeting.”

The 1200m sprint handicap went the way of course specialist Latkhaf, ridden by Royston Ffrench for his main employer, Ali Rashid Al Raihe. Ffrench has now won on the horse four times at Jebel Ali – all the horse’s career wins.

@CheltenhamRaces Theatre Guide heads to Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow

14 declared for Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup

12th December 2013 - This year's Hennessy Gold Cup form will be under scrutiny when Theatre Guide lines up in the £45,000 Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase (2.10pm, 10 runners) over three miles, one and a half furlongs at Cheltenham tomorrow, Friday, December 13, the first day of The International.

The six-year-old went into the Newbury showpiece, run over an extended three and a quarter miles on November 30, with question marks over his stamina, but ran a fine race to finish third behind comfortable winner Triolo D'Alene and Rocky Creek.

Colin Tizzard's charge had previously finished third on his seasonal reappearance in an extended two and a half mile graduation chase at Kempton Park on November 4.

Tizzard reported: "Theatre Guide has come out of his Hennessy run very well. He ran a fantastic race that day and I think he is in the form of his life, so that's why we are running him again.

"The trip was always going to be an issue in the Hennessy and we didn't know he would stay as well as he did. He jumped off last, ran through horses and stayed on very well. It just confirmed that he is a good horse.

"This race will suit him fine and it will give him some more experience of Cheltenham. He has suddenly matured and I think the track will be fine for him."

Theatre Guide faces nine rivals, including Murphy Group Handicap Chase runner-upKnockara Beau, Welsh Grand National hero Monbeg Dude and bet365 Gold Cup victor Quentin Collonges.

The £35,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Handicap Chase (2.40pm) over three miles and seven furlongs has attracted 13 declarations and is the final leg of the Crystal Cup, which brings together a total of 10 races across Europe staged in France, Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, Ireland and Great Britain, with combined prize money of almost €700,000. 

Devon handler Nick Williams won the Top Trainer for the Crystal Cup in 2012 and is so far ahead in the standings this year that he will bag the prize once again, while his wife Jane is set to be crowned leading owner. The duo are represented tomorrow byShalimar Fromentro, who was last seen out when falling in the penultimate leg of the Crystal Cup, the Grand Steeple Chase Cross-Country de Compiegne in France on November 9, which was won by his stable companion Maljimar.

Three horses have made the trip over from France for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase. Patrice Quinton, who currently lies second in the trainer standings for the Crystal Cup, runs Shalimar Fromentro and Taiga Des Chambres, while Jean Paul Gasnier is represented by Quercy Du Manoir.

Action gets underway tomorrow at 12.30pm with the £20,000 Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Novices' Chase over two miles and five furlongs in which the Paul Nicholls-trained Wonderful Charm, who is unbeaten in three starts over fences including two Grade Two contests, is set to take on former top-class hurdlerOscar Whisky, who finished runner-up on his chasing debut at The Open on November 15.

A maximum field of 17 goes to post in the £12,000 Caspian Caviar Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase (1.05pm), while 11 line up in the C F Roberts Electrical & Mechanical Services Handicap Hurdle (1.40pm).

Thomas Crapper, trained by Robin Dickin, attempts a Cheltenham treble in the £22,000 Citipost Handicap Hurdle (3.15pm, 11 declarations), having scored at both The Showcase and The Open already this season.

Friday's action concludes with the £12,000 British Stallion Studs EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle (3.45pm, nine declarations).

Going News

The going remains Good on the Chase and Hurdle courses after a watering programme was completed.

A lack of rain at Cheltenham Racecourse has meant some watering was necessary to maintain good going on the Chase and Hurdle courses.

The Cross Country course is Good, Good to Firm in places after a separate watering initiative.

Simon Claisse, Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham Racecourse, commented: "We are committed to maintaining good going on the Chase and Hurdle courses and, without much rain, have watered twice and selectively over the last few weeks to achieve that.

"There is rain forecast tomorrow (Friday) and we are expecting between three and five millimetres."

The International is truly international

Over the last year, the team at Cheltenham Racecourse have been proactively working with French trainers and owners to encourage them to run their horses at the Home of Jump Racing. The team went to France, meeting lots of trainers and jockeys from different training establishments, including visiting Maisons-Laffitte and Sennones-Pouance. They were also at Craon to see Balthazar King win the Grand Cross Country De Craon for the Philip Hobbs yard.

Simon Claisse, Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham, commented: "I am really thrilled to see that there have been six horses entered to race at Cheltenham this weekend. Encouraging French owners and trainers to bring their horses over to race at Cheltenham is something that we have been working on for a while so it is great to see the hard work pay off. This year's International is truly international!"

14 declared for Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup

Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Johns Spirit heads a field of 14 for the £100,000 Grade Three Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup, run over two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham on Saturday, December 14.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained six-year-old will be bidding to become the fourth horse to complete the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup double in the same season, following Exotic Dancer (2006), Senor El Betrutti (1997) and Pegwell Bay (1988).

His rivals include Colour Squadron and Attaglance, who finished second and fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, unexposed second-season chaser Grandioso and Salut Flo, who has not been seen since landing the Byrne Group Plate by six lengths at The Festival in 2012.

Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup

Class 1, Grade 3, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.25pm, Cheltenham, Saturday, December 14, 2013. For 4yo+, 2m 5f. Penalties: after December 1, a winner of a chase 5lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb). Entries closed November 26, entries revealed November 27 (35 entries), weights revealed December 4. Five-day confirmation stage December 9 (18 confirmations), final 48-hour declaration stage 10am, December 12 ( 14 declarations). Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing on Wednesday, December 11.

Form  Horse    Age/Wgt Owner  Trainer/Jockey

24251-0 CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8-12-04 Mark Boothright Martin Keighley/Ian Popham

6/U-0426 GAUVAIN (GER) 11-11-12 The Spoofers   Philip Hobbs/Richard Johnson

2110-01 CANTLOW (IRE)  8-11-09 J P McManus   Paul Webber/Robert Thornton

14-P0F2 EASTER METEOR  7-11-09 Mr & Mrs S C Willes  Emma Lavelle/Aidan Coleman

6033-11 JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) 6-11-09 Christopher Johnston  Jonjo O'Neill/Richie McLernon

51211-3 GRANDIOSO (IRE)  6-11-08 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls/Daryl Jacob

2/2425-2 COLOUR SQUADRON (IRE) 7-11-07 J P McManus   Philip Hobbs/A P McCoy

1522-20 TAP NIGHT (USA)  6-11-06 J P McManus   Lucinda Russell/Peter Buchanan

0112//01/ SALUT FLO (FR)  8-11-05 Allan Stennett   David Pipe/Tom Scudamore

23100-1 SILVER ROQUE (FR) 7-11-04 Lord Vestey   Fergal O'Brien/Paddy Brennan

22102-3 MA FILLEULE (FR)  5-11-03 Simon Munir   Nicky Henderson/Barry Geraghty

330-P24 ATTAGLANCE  7-10-12 H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder Malcolm Jefferson/Brian Hughes

3P-6132 DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 7-10-08 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies

614-232 SEW ON TARGET (IRE) 8-10-05 A Selway   Colin Tizzard/Brendan Powell

14 declarations

About The International

The International takes place at Cheltenham on Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14, offering more than £520,000 in prize money over the two days.

        

Key races include the £130,000 Grade Two StanJames.com International, a leading trial for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Festival, the £100,000 Grade Three Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup, the £45,000 Grade Three Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase and the £40,000 Grade Two Osborne House Relkeel Hurdle.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase also takes place over Cheltenham's unique Cross Country Course and completes Europe's Crystal Cup Challenge.

About Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the outskirts of the historic spa town of Cheltenham. The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for the world's pre-eminent Jump Racing meeting, The Festival, which takes place in March every year. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural amphitheatre and offers the highest-quality action throughout the Jump season.

Please find more details at www.cheltenham.co.uk and through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces) and Facebook  www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing

@Awchamps Dance And Dance primed for Coral Mobile Handicap at Wolverhampton on Saturday

Trainer Ed Vaughan is hoping that Dance And Dance can gain a belated first victory of 2013 in the extended nine-furlong £45,000 Coral Mobile Handicap (6.50pm), highlight of a seven-race card at Wolverhampton on Saturday, December 14.

The seven-year-old, fifth in the Grade One Woodbine Mile in 2012, has produced a string of excellent efforts in defeat this year, including sixth in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in October and a never-nearer fourth in the Bunbury Cup on Newmarket's July Course earlier in the season.

On his latest start at Newmarket on November 2, Dance And Dance was hampered leaving the stalls before coming home down the field in a mile handicap. Andrea Atzeni partners the son of Royal Applause for the first time.

Vaughan commented: "Dance And Dance had a little freshen-up after he ran at Newmarket and we wanted to keep him going over the winter because of the improved prize money on the All-Weather.

"He has broken slowly in the past but the application of a hood in the stalls has helped him break a bit quicker. We tried him in blinkers but they made no difference to him. Ideally, I would like him to break nicely and get a box seat at a course like Wolverhampton. 

"He was slowly into stride and hampered at Newmarket last time but his run in the Cambridgeshire was very good. Seek Again, who was fifth, has gone on to win a Grade One in America.

"Dance And Dance is as good as ever - he had a little blow-out this morning and I couldn't be happier with him. He is a different horse compared to his All-Weather form earlier in his career and you would like to think he can run well off his mark of 92.

"We will be looking at keeping running him over the coming months. There are some good conditions races over the winter and then Finals Day, so we will keep bashing away."

An excellent field of 13 for the Coral Mobile Handicap also includes the 2011 Lincoln winner Sweet Lightning, who is set to make his first start for David O'Meara.

Modernism (David Simcock) and Epic Battle (William Haggas) are bidding for hat-tricks on the All-Weather, while Irish raider Star Links (Shane Donohoe) andSolar Deity (Marco Botti) both scored decisively at Wolverhampton recently.  

Marshgate Lane (Mark Johnston) and Spirit Of The Law (Richard Fahey) also head to Wolverhampton on the back of All-Weather wins at Lingfield Park.

Horses qualify for the six championship contests on the £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day (Good Friday) by winning a specified "Fast Track Qualifier" or 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.

£45,000 Race Not Lost

Following the abandonment of racing at Lingfield Park yesterday (Wednesday, December 11) because of fog, the feature race on the card, the £45,000 Compare Bookmakers At bookmakers.co.uk Handicap (Class 2), will be run at 2.00pm during Lingfield Park's fixture on Wednesday, December 18.

The original entries will NOT stand and horses have to be entered by noon tomorrow (Friday, December 13). Declarations to run must be made by 10am on Monday, December 16.

Racing starts at noon and concludes at 3.40pm on December 18.

@WetherbyRaces Auroras Encore set to reappear at Wetherby's William Hill Yorkshire Festival on Boxing Day

  

The 2013 Grand National hero Auroras Encore is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the £40,000 William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong, the highlight of Wetherby's two-day William Hill Yorkshire Winter Festival on Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26.

 

Trained not far from Wetherby at Bingley by Sue Smith, the 11-year-old has not been seen out since pulling up in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 20, just 14 days after his thrilling nine-length success at Aintree where he was the shock 66/1 scorer.

 

Smith reported: "All being well, Auroras Encore will start off in the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

"We had hoped to have him out earlier, but the ground went against us so we just left him be.

"He is in very good form at the moment though, but it will be his first run of the season and it's difficult to know what to expect."

The William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase boasts a tremendous roll of honour, featuring the subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Forgive 'N Forget (1984) and The Thinker (1986). The last two renewals have gone to horses from the yard of Malton handler Malcolm Jefferson, with According To Pete winning in 2011 and Cape Tribulation triumphant 12 months ago.

A six-race programme at Wetherby on Boxing Day gets underway at 12.45pm and runs through to 3.25pm, with all races sponsored for the first time by William Hill.

The same sponsor also backs all six races on Friday, December 27 when the highlight is the £20,000 William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase over two miles.

Jennie Prest, William Hill Racing Sponsorship Manager, said: "We are delighted to be working with Wetherby racecourse for the first time and our sponsorship of the William Hill Yorkshire Winter Festival complements our sponsorship at Kempton over the same two days, giving us terrific presence in both the north and south of the country.

"The meeting is an immensely popular fixture in the calendar and always draws an enthusiastic racing crowd, so we are very much looking forward to both days."

Gates open at 10.00am on both days of the William Hill Yorkshire Winter Festival, with complimentary mince pies and mulled wine on offer for the early arrivals. Tickets can be purchased online at www.wetherbyracing.co.uk. There is free entry for accompanied children aged 17 and under.

Eight-time course winner and local favourite Mister McGoldrick will be in attendance on Boxing Day as part of a display from New Beginnings, the Yorkshire-based enterprise that provides a safe, secure and supportive environment for retired racehorses.

The William Hill Yorkshire Winter Festival at Wetherby forms part of the wider Go Racing In Yorkshire Winter Festival, which continues at Catterick on Saturday, December 28 and Doncaster on Sunday, December 29. This four-day jumping extravaganza takes place for the first time in 2013 and follows on from the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival which has been held very successfully for the past six years.

A racecard competition with the prize of a two-night stay in the Crown Hotel at Bawtry will run over the course of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Winter Festival, while the most successful trainer and jockey over the four days will each win an overnight stay at the Raithwaite Estate, the luxury country retreat situated close to Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast.