Henry Daly happy to bypass Festival options with Blenkinsop

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Henry Daly will not send Blenkinsop to the Cheltenham Festival, even if he completes a five-timer at the track on Saturday.

The six-year-old has rattled up a sequence of four victories this season since stepping up in distance and his handicap mark has rocketed 27lb since his winning spree started at Ludlow in November.

Following his latest success at Newbury, he tackles Grade Two company for the first time in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on a bumper nine-race card.

“We keep trying to run him and they keep saying ridiculous things like ‘Ascot is off’ and things like that!” quipped the Stanton Lacy-based trainer. “It has been very frustrating.”

Now on a mark of 131, the son of Westerner will tackle Graded company for the first time.

Daly said: “We could wait and go to Ascot, where there is a handicap at their next meeting, but actually he’s fit and well and I’ve always believed if they are fit and well, it is perhaps better to run them on a racecourse than have them charging up and down my gallop. Generally, you only win a Mars Bar here.”

Plans for Blenkinsop are fluid, although a return to Prestbury Park for the March Festival have been shelved, as the handler believes there are other avenues to explore.

“We will see how we go, but I’ve not entered him at Cheltenham,” he added. “The track is not a problem. I just don’t think we need to be doing that.

“It is the Cheltenham thing, it doesn’t really grab me much. The trouble with Cheltenham, it has become less about the prize money and more about Cheltenham.

“Horses can have a very hard time there, as well.”

Lingfield cancellation leaves Bailey to puzzle out Gold run

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Kim Bailey is facing a puzzle over what to do next with Two For Gold following the abandonment of Lingfield’s Fleur De Lys Chase.

The 10-year-old was all set to defend his crown in the Winter Million weekend feature before the race was lost to the recent cold snap, but Bailey now finds himself short of options.

Two For Gold followed up last year’s victory at Lingfield by giving Fakir D’oudairies a fright when second in the Betfair Ascot Chase and that contest is in Bailey’s mind once again.

However, the Grade One event on February 18 is also the intended target of stablemate First Flow, with the Thorndale Farm handler unsure whether to let both of his star chasers take their chances.

David Bass riding Two For Gold (left) on their way to winning the Fleur De Lys Chase during day three of The Winter Million Festival at Lingfield Park last year
David Bass riding Two For Gold (left) on their way to winning the Fleur De Lys Chase during day three of The Winter Million Festival at Lingfield Park last year (Steven Paston/PA)

“Ascot is definitely in the equation, but the trouble is I have also got First Flow in the race,” said Bailey.

“In a perfect world they wouldn’t be meeting, but it’s not a perfect world unfortunately.

“This has been First Flow’s intention since the Peterborough Chase so it is a tricky one really, but we can’t do anything about it.

“It’s quite difficult because Two For Gold wants soft ground, three miles is his max and he’s quite high in the handicap. There is a handicap at Ascot the same day, but whether that is where he wants to be going, I don’t know. There are few and far between races for him.”

Bailey is also pondering his options for crack novice hurdler Chianti Classico, who has racked up three victories on the bounce since tackling obstacles this term.

He has been given an entry for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, but an appearance at Prestbury Park looks unlikely with his handler stating a preference to stick to handicaps off his current mark of 133.

“He is having a bit of a break at the moment and comes back into training this weekend.” continued Bailey.

“He has an entry at Cheltenham (Albert Bartlett), but I don’t think he’ll take it.

“I think he falls in the category of not quite being good enough for Cheltenham and having a rating of 133. It’s a prime case of these early closing races where you make the entry on behalf the owners and it ends up probably being a complete waste of money.

“For a horse like him, he probably has to be in there and given the entry, but I don’t think we’ll be going there and he will end up running in a handicap off 133 somewhere instead.

“He will run at some point in February, but if he does that he won’t be going to Cheltenham as it takes him around six weeks to get over his races.”

He went on: “Now they have brought in the qualification rule where novices have to have four runs, races like the Coral Cup which would have been a potential option are now out of the question.

“This year with the dry autumn and then losing so much racing, it has been very hard to try to get four runs into a novice with the view of going to Cheltenham.”

McConnell mapping Cheltenham Mission for Mahler

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John McConnell’s Mahler Mission has the Cheltenham Festival in his sights after an impressive Navan success.

The seven-year-old was a high-quality hurdler and made the transition to chasing this season, starting off at Cheltenham before finishing third in a Punchestown contest on New Year’s Eve.

At Navan on Saturday he lined up for a three-mile beginners’ chase and demonstrated his potential when jumping fluently and sauntering to an unchallenged 10-length victory under Ben Harvey.

“We were delighted but we weren’t surprised. We thought he’d come forward from his run at Punchestown last time and we rode him a bit more confidently this time and it paid off,” said McConnell.

“I suppose it was only a beginners’ chase at the end of the day, so we can’t get too excited or carried away, but it was a good performance.

“He jumped very well, he picked up from the back of the third last and he won well. He didn’t have a hard race and we were really happy with him.”

The National Hunt Chase, a three-mile-six-furlong affair at the Cheltenham Festival in March, is the likely target now, with McConnell undecided as to whether the gelding will have another outing in the meantime.

“I would say we’ll go for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, I think he’s entitled to go,” he said.

“I don’t know what mark he’s got yet in the UK, but I’m sure it’ll be high enough. Whether he’ll have a run beforehand, I’m not sure, I’d say that’s it’s probably less than a 50 per cent chance.

“He stays very well, the trip won’t be an issue at all. He jumps well, he’s jumped around Cheltenham before so that box is ticked there. He could go for a Grade Two in a couple of weeks here but we’ll see, we’ll bask in the victory a bit longer!”

Noble Yeats team anticipating ‘proper race’ in Cotswold heat

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Sean Bowen believes the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase will inform connections of exactly where they stand with Noble Yeats.

Bowen, second in the championship standings behind Brian Hughes, picked up the ride one Emmet Mullins’ stable star after Sam Waley-Cohen quit in fairytale circumstances following his Grand National last April.

Unbeaten in two races together, a Listed event at Wexford and the Grade Two Many Clouds at Aintree, Noble Yeats and Bowen face genuine Gold Cup quality opposition this weekend with Betfair Chase winner Protektorat and a previous King George winner in Frodon in opposition.

“It will be the first time I’ve sat on him since Aintree and I’m looking forward to it,” said Bowen.

“I’ve not heard too much from Emmet as he likes to keep himself to himself, but if he is going for a race like this, I put full faith in Emmet getting him right for the day.

“I think he is one of those horses that never overdoes anything. I suppose at Wexford he did what he needed to, and with a horse like that, you never really know how much they have got left in the locker until they have a proper fight on their hands.

“I suppose Saturday will show us how good he really is as he will be having a proper race there. To be honest he probably does need to take another step forward, but again I think he is capable of that given how he never overdoes things.

“He is a very straightforward ride and he doesn’t do much until you ask him. Hopefully there is plenty left in the locker when I need it on Saturday.”

Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen (left), his father Robert Waley-Cohen (right) and trainer Emmet Mullins
Ex-Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen (left), his father Robert Waley-Cohen (right) and trainer Emmet Mullins (Brian Lawless/PA)

Speaking of the circumstances regarding getting the ride, Bowen added: “I’m in a very lucky position. It’s hard when you are freelance to find a horse that takes you to the next level.

“I’m very grateful to Robert (Waley-Cohen, owner), Sam and Emmet for giving me this chance.”

Into Overdrive ruled out of Sky Bet Chase date

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Into Overdrive will miss his intended run in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday after scoping dirty and now looks set to be saved for the Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Mark Walford was primed to run in the valuable three-mile event after Into Overdrive defeated Sounds Russian in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

Prior to that, the highly-progressive Court Cave gelding had chased home L’Homme Presse in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.

However, hopes of a third success of the season will have to wait a while after Wendy Hamilton’s eight-year-old was found to be under the weather.

“It is disappointing, but it is nothing serious,” said Walford. “You’ve got to be at the top of your game to be running in those sort of races.

“There was just a little bit of mucus – nothing I’m overly concerned about, It is just bad timing.”

Walford added: “We will probably just wait for the Ultima at Cheltenham. There is nothing really in between.

“There is only a race at Kempton before Cheltenham that is suitable for him (Coral Trophy Handicap Chase, February 25), and I think we will probably prefer to go to Cheltenham over that.

“I’d expect we’ll have him cleared up in a week or so, but there are just not that many opportunities for him.

“It is gutting. These types of races don’t come along very often, but you get used to it when you deal with horses. You get problems and it is far from a major one, so he’ll be back and fine and there will be plenty of other nice races for him to run in.”

Clarke sets out Midlands assignment for The Galloping Bear

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Ben Clarke feels The Galloping Bear still has a big victory in him and has his eye on the Boulton Group Midlands Grand National for his mud-loving stayer.

A faller when last seen in the Welsh Grand National, the Shantou gelding is reported to be none the worse for his efforts at Chepstow and is now being prepared for a veterans’ chase at Exeter next month, which Clarke hopes will tee up a tilt at the Uttoxeter marathon later in the campaign.

The 10-year-old’s finest hour came at Haydock when landing the Grand National Trial last season – a victory that was later rescinded after suspected cross-contamination in the yard saw him test positive for a trace of a muscle treatment that contained a prohibited raceday substance.

Ben Jones riding The Galloping Bear (right) on their way to winning the racehorselotto.com Surrey National Handicap Chase during day three of The Winter Million Festival at Lingfield Park in 2022
Ben Jones riding The Galloping Bear (right) on their way to winning the racehorselotto.com Surrey National Handicap Chase during day three of The Winter Million Festival at Lingfield Park in 2022 (Steven Paston/PA)

However, that performance on Merseyside is the perfect advertisement of The Galloping Bear’s strengths and Clarke believes the stamina-sapping test of a soft-ground Uttoxeter could be just what the doctor ordered on March 18.

“He’s absolutely fine,” said the handler. “He’s going to run in a veterans’ chase at Exeter on February 12 and from there he will go to Uttoxeter for the Midlands National in mid-March.

“He just wants a bit of a war. He hasn’t quite gone up to four miles yet, but if they had a drop of rain, four-miles-two round Uttoxeter with a bit of good to soft, soft ground, you would like to think he definitely wouldn’t be too far away.

“He’s been a good horse for us and he will win another big handicap for sure.”

Russell considering Rambler’s route to Aintree

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Lucinda Russell is still to decide which route Corach Rambler will take to the Randox Grand National on April 15.

Given a peach of a ride from Derek Fox when swooping late to snatch the Ultima Handicap Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, the son of Jeremy was again doing his best work late when finishing fourth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November – and Russell believes his running style makes him the perfect candidate for the Merseyside marathon she won in 2017 with One For Arthur.

The nine-year-old featured amongst the list of entries for the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Prestbury Park on Saturday and although still a possible for that race if the stable’s Gold Cup hope Ahoy Senor is rerouted to Newbury, the Kinross handler is tempted to wait until the weights for the Aintree showpiece are finalised before breaking cover.

Options include Haydock’s Grand National Trial on February 18 and closer to home in the bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso on March 4 – a race used in the past by the likes of Ballabriggs, Cloth Cap and Many Clouds en route to Aintree.

“Corach Rambler is in fantastic form, said Russell. “You know that Scu (Peter Scudamore) rides him all the time and he gets off and says how tired he is.

“He’s a lovely horse and he wins through his personality as much as his ability. He’s a horse that loves coming from off the pace in a big handicap as we saw in the Ultima and for that reason we’re quite keen to go to Aintree for the Grand National.

“We have to decide how we get there and we have the option of the Grand National Trial at Haydock, we have the option of the Premier Chase at Kelso.

“We were going to go to the Fleur De Lys (at Lingfield) but as soon as I saw all the inspections, I pulled the plug on that.

“I don’t want him to go up too much in the handicap as I think he’s off quite a nice weight for Aintree, so it’s just a question of how we get him there.”

Derek Fox and connections of Corach Rambler celebrate winning the Ultima Handicap Chase during day one of the Cheltenham Festival last year
Derek Fox and connections of Corach Rambler celebrate winning the Ultima Handicap Chase during day one of the Cheltenham Festival last year (Nigel French/PA)

She continued: “He’s in at Cheltenham and there’s probably a question mark on him running there. That said, if the race cut up and Ahoy Senor went to Newbury, it leaves the way open for Corach and although he’s only run there twice, he’s unbeaten round Cheltenham and we know he likes the track.

“It could be that we do Cheltenham then Kelso. I would quite like to support the Kelso race and the timing is quite nice with it being five weeks before the Grand National.”

Frost claims Warwick and Wincanton cards

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Wednesday’s meeting at Warwick and Thursday’s card at Wincanton have both been called off due to frozen tracks.

Officials at Warwick were due to inspect at noon on Tuesday ahead of the planned six-race card, but that check was brought forward after a seventh consecutive night of frost.

The track is frozen and will not recover in time for racing to go ahead.

It is a similar story at Wincanton, with their planned 4pm inspection on Wednesday brought forward more than 24 hours.

The Somerset track is frozen after temperatures dropped to minus 4C overnight.

Ffos Las staged the first turf action in six days on Monday, with 17 fixtures lost over the last week through the cold weather.

Slipway handed Edinburgh National task

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Slipway is set to head to Musselburgh for the Edinburgh National in February, where victory could signal a tilt at the Randox Grand National in April.

The eight-year-old struck a decisive verdict in the Southern National at Fontwell earlier in the season and was due to contest the Somerset National at Wincanton last week before the meeting was lost to the recent cold snap.

He will now be rerouted north of the border where he will have the chance to put his unique blend of speed and stamina to good use around the tight turns of Musselburgh.

Victory in that contest would put him on a mark that could secure one of the 40 slots in the Grand National on April 15, with Pauling admitting he would have to give him an entry if he continues on his upwards curve.

“He will go up to Musselburgh for their nearly four-mile race – the Edinburgh National,” he said.

Slipway in action at Southwell
Slipway in action at Southwell (Tim Goode/PA)

“He’s a lovely horse and he’s not slow as well – I’m determined to run him over three miles again at some point because he’s got lots of gears. He just stays really well and it just seems to fit that those races are the ones that are available for him.

“We are looking forward to getting him out again because it has been a long time between races now.

“If he won the Edinburgh National and got a mark that would get him in then I’m sure he would have an entry (for the Grand National), but everything would have to be right on the day because he’s still a young horse and Aintree is not the be all and end all this year.”

Tributes flow following death of Milton Bradley at the age of 88

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Darryll Holland has paid tribute to former trainer Milton Bradley after his death at the age of 88.

The two combined to enjoy great successes with The Tatling, a sprinter claimed for £15,000 after a Catterick victory in 2002.

From that humble triumph he developed through the ranks before winning the Group Three King George Stakes at Goodwood in 2003 with Holland in the saddle.

Subsequently second in the Nunthorpe, the horse returned the following season to land the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot and finish runner up in the Nunthorpe again and the Prix de l’Abbaye.

The Tatling claimed a final career win at the ripe age of 14, mirroring the longevity of his trainer as Bradley held a licence for over half a century and was still training in 2021 – well into his octogenarian years.

Darryll Holland and The Tatling at Royal Ascot
Darryll Holland and The Tatling at Royal Ascot (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

His Gloucestershire stable operated under both codes and produced more than 1000 winners, with horses such as Brevity, Grey Dolphin, Sooty Tern and Offa’s Mead flying the flag for the yard.

“What can you say about Milton? He was a great trainer and he could revive those sprinters that weren’t enjoying it,” Holland said.

“He brought them back with a new lease of like and I am indebted to him, he and The Tatling gave me some great times.

“I won on him at Glorious Goodwood and in the King’s Stand, he also won a nice race in Scotland.

“He just turned him around, he went on for a very long time just like Milton!

“He worked with animals all his life and he obviously had a very good affinity with them, he was training, he was driving the horsebox, collecting the saddle, tacking up – he was very much hands on and a real all-rounder.

“He kept going and he kept busy and it’s a real shame, a very sad day.”

TV presenter Matt Chapman was Holland’s agent during The Tatling’s best year’s and took to Twitter to pay his tribute, saying: “Just the nicest bloke was Milton Bradley. We had lovely chats over The Tatling when @HarratonCourt
maestro Darryll Holland used to ride him and the King’s Stand success was magical. #rip you thoroughly decent guy.”

Chepstow racecourse tweeted: “The condolences of everyone at Chepstow Racecourse go to the family and friends of trainer Milton Bradley. We were pleased to honour Milton’s career with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Welsh Horseracing Awards here at Chepstow in 2019.”