For the first time since March 2020 racecourses are able to open their turnstiles without any limit on their capacity. In the last 16 months horseracing, like many other things, has been on quite a journey. From an initial three month total lockdown, racing returned behind closed doors, was used for a handful of pilot events, and in more recent times has been operating with a reduced numbers policy.
Dubbed “Freedom Day”, the Government decided that social distancing measures could be relaxed on July 19th 2021. Given that the relaxations are in many respects an experiment, hopefully racing has another contingency plan on the backburner if things happen to go into reverse.
Wrong Lollipop Sir!
Less than 24 hours after I watched the rather affable Mark Crehan ride Just A Claim to a superb victory at Haydock Park, the poor Irishman was in a spot of bother with the Doncaster stewards and with the wider punting public at large.
Just A Claim gets the better of Emporium Flame under a great ride from Mark Crehan. His proud sister was cheering him on too. #Haydock pic.twitter.com/86FeKrXiXE
— Steve Mullington (@mulldog) July 16, 2021
28-day Suspension
Apprentice Crehan was suspended for 28 days for failing to ride out Aerion Power for first place in a Doncaster Handicap race.
The 3lb claimer mistook the half-furlong pole for the winning post when out in front and totally assured of the victory aboard the Sir Michael Stoute-trained three-year-old.
Crehan’s enforced holiday will run from July 31st to August 27th.
The stewards report read: read: “Having heard his evidence and viewed recordings of the race, they found he had mistaken the ½ furlong marker for the winning post and as such had stopped riding prematurely. Crehan was found in breach of Rule (F)37 and guilty of failing to ride out on a horse that would have finished first and was suspended for 28 days.”
Blackmore Sidelined
Grand National-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore fractured her ankle and hurt her hip in a fall at Killarney Racecourse last Friday. She was taken to Tralee Hospital where she underwent surgery.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board senior medical officer Dr Jennifer Pugh said on Saturday: “She has had surgery overnight and is in good spirits”.
Just 35 minutes prior to her accident, Blackmore had won a race by a nose aboard the 8/1 shot Baltinglass Hill.
Snowing in July
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Snowfall joined an exclusive club at the weekend, becoming the 15th filly to complete the English/Irish Oaks double after scoring well at the Curragh. Sent off the 2/7 favourite, she did not disappoint.
Snowfall was cut to best odds of 5/1 with SportNation for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but before then she will head to the Knavesmire for the Yorkshire Oaks.
Seven Up
Francky Du Berlais provided trainer Peter Bowen with his seventh victory in Market Rasen’s Summer Plate with a seven-and-a-half-length romp.
The race has always been highly significant to the Bowen family. Snoopy Loopy won at Market Rasen in 2008 before famously going on to defeat Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
Earlier on the same card, the David O’Meara-trained Stonific came back from a lengthy break from hurdling to take the £35,000 Summer Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen at the bookie bashing odds of 40/1.
Super Stuff
As suggested by this column last week by my good self, the Richard Hannon-trained Gubbass kindly obliged at 4/1 in the Weatherby’s Super Sprint at Newbury.
“He’ll probably go to the Richmond at Goodwood now, I’ve put him in the Gimcrack as well “said Hannon after the half length victory.
Winner of the Super Sprint on this card 12 months ago, Happy Romance won the earlier Hackwood Stakes, also for Richard Hannon.
Coming Up…
The pressure is well and truly on after my Gubbass and Collin Morikawa double last week, however I hope I’ve found the answer to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
The betting odds may not appeal to some but I think 5/4 for Aidan O’Brien’s Love is a steal. The superstar filly can get the better of the Derby hero Adayar.
* Horse racing odds correct at the time of writing. All odds are subject to fluctuation.
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