The voice of racing men since 1998

Thursday, 4 October 2018

2018 Flat Issue 22 - Big weekend in France coming up

Headlines

Gardens in Full Bloom at Newmarket
May is Golden at Nottigham
Ptarmigan Ridge wins at Chester

Report


We start at Newmarket on Friday where in the 1m 4f fillies and mares group 3, High Garden ( Martin) took her chance, held up in touch, ridden over 3 out, headway to press leaders and edged right 2 out, driven and every chance 1 out, stayed on well to lead last strides, winning by a head. She gets 51 points.
At Chester on Saturday in the 7f handicap Ptarmigan Ridge ( Peej), went to post, prominent, headway into 2nd going well 2 out, led over 1 out, eased clear inside final furlong, winning easily by ¾ l. He gets 42.6 points.
At Nottingham yesterday in the 5f handicap Maygold ( Peej), went to post, Mid-division, headway over 2f out, kept on to lead towards finish, winning by ¾ l. She gets 39.8 points.


The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy
                        September  Oct        Total
Cliff                 28.5                         1005.4
Neil                 218.7                       944.3
Steve                112.2                     706
Tony                105.1                      683.9
Peej                123.4       39.8         416.9
Martin           80.5                           407
Bob                 28.5                         366.8
Cod                121                            246.2
Congratulations to Neil who is trainer of the month

News
Connections of Roaring Lion would relish a "potentially explosive" clash with stablemate Cracksman in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot. Cracksman looks likely to either take on another John Gosden-trained superstar in this weekend's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, or meet Roaring Lion on Qipco British Champions Day on October 20.David Redvers, racing manager for Roaring Lion's owners Qatar Racing, said: "Roaring Lion has the most remarkable constitution. He was charging around the place and wanting more a few days after his win at Leopardstown, which is quite something when you think of the amount of racing he's had - and that he had a pretty tough race."On the prospect of meeting Cracksman, he added: "He's last year's champion - and while it's not been plain sailing for him this year, it's coming to his time of the year."To see those two square up would be fascinating, potentially explosive. It's what British Champions Day is all about, and what it is there for."
Ghaiyyath is to spend the winter in Dubai after connections decided not to run the one-time Classic hope again this season.


Another old favourite and star of these columns has passed away, Edredon Bleu, winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase and King George VI Chase, has died at the age of 26.

Trained by Henrietta Knight and owned by Jim Lewis, the French-bred gelding came out on top in an unforgettable renewal of the two-mile championship at Cheltenham in 2000, when he defeated Direct Route by a short head. Edredon Bleu showed his versatility - as well as his undoubted ability - when lifting Kempton's Boxing Day showpiece over three miles in 2003. He was retired in 2005 after a 10-year career and spent his leisurely days with former jockey Graham Thorner at Letcombe Regis, near Wantage.

"I'm sad in a way, but delighted in another that he had such a great life," Lewis, whose triple Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate was racing at the same time, told Press Association Sport."He was well looked after with loving care by Graham Thorner and his entire family and he had a wonderful retirement."Without question he was the most spectacular jumper you'd ever see at Cheltenham. He holds the record for the fastest two-mile chase there and he goes to his maker with glory."He gave us a lot of thrills and some wonderful times."Edredon Bleu won 25 races, including the 2003 Clonmel Oil Chase, successive Haldon Gold Cups in 2002 and 2003 and the Peterborough Chase four years in a row from 1998-2001, amassing a total of £731,000 in prize money.

No comments:

Post a Comment