As we look forward to another weekend’s action on the track, we pay tribute to three-time Grand National winning owner, Trevor Hemmings, who sadly passed away earlier this week.
Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds provided him with Grand National success, and he will be remembered fondly as the owner of some fantastic equine athletes.
Stay tuned for a more detailed tribute in which we reminisce about his Aintree heroes’ exploits.
We also pay tribute to the gorgeous grey Fujaira Prince, as the Roger Varian trained seven-year-old devastatingly suffered a fatal injury during exercise on Wednesday morning.
The 2020 Ebor champion, known as ‘George’ at his stables, will be greatly missed.
In other news, champion jockey Colin Keane set a new record for winners in a season in Ireland, winning with Power Under Me at the Curragh on Sunday to celebrate his 127th victory.
In Britain, it’s getting exciting in the Jockey Championship between reigning champion Oisin Murphy and William Buick.
The race for the title could go down to the wire, and could be settled on Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday.
Murphy currently has 151 winners, whilst Buick is two behind with 149.
But before we all turn our attention to the finale of the British Flat racing season, we take a look at Friday’s race cards across Britain and Ireland.
Jockeys Murphy and Buick both head to Haydock on Friday, and that is where we begin our preview.
(All prices featured are correct at time of writing)
The going is currently soft at Haydock, and in the 2:20 Class 3 Handicap over 6f, Dubawi colt Thaler leads the betting for Sir Michael Stoute.
The three-year-old will carry 9st 4lbs and will be ridden by Ryan Moore.
He has enjoyed one win and three second-placed finishes since making his debut in March, and he returns to 6f, the distance at which he recorded his only win to date.
Most recently he finished a close second behind Diocles Of Rome in a Class 3 Handicap at Kempton, and is expected to go close once again.
Top-weight of the race, Air Raid, ran well in third at a big price in the Sprint Trophy Handicap at York last week, and won this race last year.
Cold Stare has been in good form on his last three outings and is proven on soft ground.
Buick rides Chairmanoftheboard, who has been running fairly well this season without being able to get his nose in front.
He has been running in Class 2 company, as well as in Class 3 races, and if he’ll enjoy conditions, he should be there or thereabouts.
Russco has to be respected, as he steps up in class once again.
Ella McCain claims 5lbs aboard the progressive three-year-old, who is looking for his sixth consecutive win.
Raatea finished ahead of Chairmanoftheboard on his last outing, and may be finally finding his form this season.
Bergerac had been performing well for Kevin Ryan before finishing well behind in the Silver Cup at Ayr, whilst Call Me Ginger is capable on his day but would likely prefer better ground.
Paws For Thought, Be Proud and Lincoln Park are all worth mentioning at bigger prices.
Our selection: 4. Chairmanoftheboard 15/2 – we expect Buick to add to his tally of winners at Haydock, and this gelding surely has to be first past the post sooner rather than later. Russco is certainly one to keep an eye on, however.
Another Class 3 Handicap comes at 4:05, and favourite Bake is attempting a hat-trick bid to keep his unbeaten run going this season.
He is two from two so far, and is lightly raced in comparison with many of his rivals.
Ffion has finished second on four occasions since winning on her first two outings, and will be looking for her first win this year.
Buick takes the ride aboard course and distance winner Poet’s Lady, who won last time out at Beverley.
Murphy rides Twisted Reality, who hasn’t quite fired since her debut at Nottingham last year.
She drops back in trip from 1m 4f.
Alexander James finished fifth of twenty at York last week, at a huge price of 80/1, and could have each-way claims here.
Outsider of the field Uzincso has been disappointing on his last two runs up in trip, but drops back to a mile, a distance at which he has enjoyed much success on the all-weather.
Our selection: 12. Poet’s Lady 11/2 – another Buick fancy at Haydock, this filly has decent form in behind some impressive fillies in the form of recent Sun Chariot Stakes third, Dreamloper, and Lights On.
Absolute Dream (nap – 9/2) caught our eye on the card at Redcar, and he heads the market for the 3:50 Class 6 Handicap over 7f.
He is a winner at the course over 6f this season, and beat Stallone, whom he opposes again here, last time out at Hamilton.
The step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem, as this gelding has run over further and come close, but hasn’t managed to get his head in front at a distance further than 6f.
Stallone and Ginato are sure to contest, but they are both 6f regulars as well.
Bronze River is inconsistent, but finished a close second at Newcastle last week and shouldn’t be discounted here.
As we move away from the afternoon’s flat meetings, we turn our attention to the jumping at Uttoxeter, and in the 1:55 Class 4 Novices Hurdle, we see a few make their hurdling debuts.
Rock Legend shares favouritism at the head of the market, having featured twice in bumper races last season.
His debut was disappointing, having gone off as 11/10 favourite for the Owners Group 073 and Dan Skelton, but he did show signs of improvement on reappearance at Taunton.
Harry Skelton takes the ride here.
Anyharminasking for Jonjo O’Neill won his debut in an Irish Point-To-Point at Tipperary back in April, and could be an interesting prospect.
Geromino is a more experienced hurdler, and certainly capable if returning to form, but will give weight to his rivals today.
Midnight Centurion finished second in both bumper runs last season, whilst Heritier makes his British debut after joining Oliver Greenall’s stables.
This will be an intriguing race to watch.
Four runners come into the 2:30 Class 3 Handicap on the back of wins.
Favourite Dog Of War, for the Skeltons, has won three times from four runs over fences, and will be tough to beat.
Lord Accord makes his chase debut, having had some success over hurdles, and Aquila Sky likewise.
Fergal O’Brien runs Ask A Honey Bee who is another making his chase debut, and is a course and distance winner.
Outsider Supremely Lucky hasn’t lived up to his name over fences, failing to win in his chase appearances, but has done well over hurdles.
Our selection: 2. Ask A Honey Bee 5/1
Jarveys Plate is another fanciable Fergal O’Brien runner, and he heads the market in the 3:05 Class 2 Handicap.
Winning well recently at Worcester, he comes into this race 2lbs higher, whilst jockey Liam Harrison claims 3lbs aboard the top-weight.
Bannixtown Glory won her chase debut last time out, beating two rivals, and Litterale Ci has previously won over fences, but did not run well on last two chase outings.
Thunderstruck was beaten by a small margin on first run after wind surgery on last outing, and will carry 10st 9lbs here.
Trincomalee and Ofalltheginjoints complete the pack in what appears to be a competitive and open race.
No No Maestro is yet another Fergal O’Brien horse with a good chance of success, running in the 3:40 Class 4 Handicap Chase.
Given the trainer’s credible chances in the two previously previewed races, a quick treble for the yard wouldn’t be too much of a surprise at 65/1.
The six-year-old gelding is bidding for a hat-trick of wins, and is proven over the distance at this course.
He looks the one to beat here, among a field of horses with much to prove.
The action continues into the evening, at Newcastle in Britain and over at Dundalk in Ireland, both on the all-weather.
At Newcastle, the opening race (5:00) sees a Class 4 Handicap, and the market is headed by Innse Gall for Iain Jardine.
He was a beaten favourite last time out, in a Class 5 race at Ayr, but has been consistent since June, finishing in the top four on each of his runs and winning once.
Top-weight Tilsitt is a course and distance winner, and should go well.
Starfighter is an interesting runner having disappointed last time out, but could be in contention if able to bounce back to early season form.
Noble Crusade finished second most recently, having run poorly on previous two outings.
Prince Ali managed to hold on to win a Class 6 handicap here last month, and his best form has come on the all-weather.
Outsider Italian Breeze is currently a 20/1 shot on his all-weather debut.
Andrew Breslin takes off 5lbs.
Our selection: 2. Starfighter 5/1
In the Class 5 Handicap at 8:00, top-weight Bringitonboris is an interesting contender.
Previously selected by The Conditional when running here last time out, the four-year-old could only manage second.
He is likely to be there or thereabouts once again, and it would be no surprise to see him first past the post.
However, Makeen heads the market after having two good runs here, finishing just behind Bringitonboris last month, before finishing second in a Class 4 race last week.
Claimer Harry Russell takes off 3lbs.
Musahaba, successful at the course over 7f, runs for David O’Meara, whilst Richard Fahey’s Pacino won over course and distance recently in a Class 6 handicap.
Broctune Red is one worth watching, having finished just over a length behind Musahaba last month, he won well over a mile at Beverley recently and could challenge here.
Moonbootz and Twisted Dreams both run for owners Titanium Racing Club,
Our selection: 1. Bringitonboris 5/1
At Dundalk, the card opens at 4:45 with an Apprentice Claiming Race sponsored by irishinjuredjockeys.com.
Joseph O’Brien’s Bright Idea is favourite with bookmakers, ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle.
He was a beaten favourite last time out here, but is the class of the race and the one to beat.
Choice Of Mine hasn’t been in form since early 2020, and would need to rediscover his earlier career form to feature.
Oh Purple Reign could have each-way claims if able to stay the trip, likewise third reserve Sideshow Bob.
Vermilion Cliffs is a course and distance winner, but didn’t fire on last flat outing here and has been running over hurdles since.
Our selection: 1. Bright Idea 11/8 – we expect this gelding to show his class here.
In the 5:15 Handicap, course and distance winner Cursory Exam heads the market on the back of his win here last week.
Ten Ten Twenty is Colin Keane’s mount, and is currently second favourite at 5/1.
The three-year-old colt has enjoyed a fine season, finishing second twice this summer before winning twice over different distances before finishing fourth as favourite last time out.
He is back up in trip here and should go well.
New Moon Rising is another for the O’Brien/McMonagle pairing on the card, and will likely need to improve to find her first win.
Helen De Pourtales won twice here last Autumn, but many of the others have much to prove and are difficult to fancy.
Our selection: 11. Ten Ten Twenty 5/1
Our final preview comes in the penultimate race at Dundalk (7:45), a Fillies Handicap.
Ger Lyons and Colin Keane head the market with four-year-old filly Marbling, whilst Music To My Ears, Sister Lola and Red Heel are all vying for favouritism in a wide open race.
Marbling was a beaten favourite last time out here, finishing behind Sister Lola and Music To My Ears finished closely behind Red Heel at Gowran Park in July.
Sister Lola won twice here over 7f last month, and should go well again in the hands of Shane Foley, but it’s worth mentioning that Red Heel carried 1lb more than her on their last meeting, losing marginally, but carries 6lbs less on this occasion.
Hodd’s Girl steps up in trip having run well on her last two outings here.
Pretty Smart is always one to consider, and Robert Whearty takes 7lbs off the five-year-old mare here.
She is a course winner, and will step up to 7f for only the second time, having finished last of the pack on her only previous attempt at the distance back in 2019.
Our selection: 7. Red Heel 9/2 – she may just have the edge in the weights in this competitive handicap.
KM
THE CONDITIONAL 