‘I feel great’ – Jessica Harrington has much to be thankful for

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Jessica Harrington is remaining positive in the face of adversity as she continues to receive treatment for breast cancer.

The dual-purpose trainer, both a Classic and Cheltenham Festival winner, was diagnosed in October last year and spoke publicly about her health for the first time earlier this year.

Harrington, 76, is currently undergoing chemotherapy but has the bulk of the treatment behind her and is looking ahead to the new Flat season now the side-effects are beginning to subside.

“They got the medication to make me feel well right, whereas the three weeks before that I thought I’d died,” she said.

“This time it’s been absolutely great and I feel great, last night I went to bed and I was actually physically tired instead of sick tired and that was fantastic.

Jessica Harrington with Viareggio at the Curragh
Jessica Harrington with Viareggio at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

“It’s a big fright. It all happened really quickly. I said ‘all right, fine’, I didn’t really think about it, I just got on with it.

“Now I look back at it, when I’ve managed the last treatment on Monday I will have had 16 goes at chemo. Looking back I think, ‘how did I do that?’. My worst thing has been feeling sick.”

The racing community and the team at Harrington’s Kildare stable have rallied around the trainer, with daughters Emma and Kate stepping up to ensure the yard continues to run smoothly.

“Everyone’s been so kind, it is unbelievable how kind people are,” Harrington said.

“No one really knew until after Christmas, it was the beginning of February when I finally put it out there that I was on the sick list. People have been so kind, everyone round here has been so kind and are looking after me, it’s been fantastic.

Jessica and Kate Harrington
Jessica and Kate Harrington (PA)

“Kate’s been amazing, she hasn’t taken a day off since she went to Australia before Christmas. She’s taking two weeks off in the second week of May, as soon as she thinks I’m all right.

“Emma and Richie (Galway, Emma’s husband) and all the staff here, they’ve been fantastic, they’ve all co-operated and got on with their jobs and never complained. ”

Harrington has had some hospital stays throughout the course of her treatment but has never considered stepping back from the business more permanently during the illness.

She said: “I was in hospital for four days after Christmas and six days in February, then I didn’t know what the hell was going on. I came back and thought ‘oh, that one looks a bit better. That one looks all right!’.

“That’s a great thing, when you aren’t there and then you see a difference in them.”

Jessica and Kate Harrington with jockey Shane Foley
Jessica and Kate Harrington with jockey Shane Foley (Brian Lawless/PA)

Harrington’s approach to her diagnosis and treatment has been one of persistent positivity, helped by the solace of her yard and her love of horses.

“I wasn’t going to let it get the better of me, at times I felt it was but no, never,” she said.

“If you get up in a positive mood in the morning, you’re grand. I’m lucky, I live in a lovely place. I look at these horses every day and when I get up and look at that view towards the mountains, what have I got to complain about?”

Willie Mullins raring to go for Punchestown next week

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Having been conspicuous in his absence at both Fairyhouse and Aintree, Willie Mullins is in line for a return to the spotlight at his beloved Punchestown Festival.

The Closutton handler was forced to watch both the Irish and English Grand National Festivals from home as he recovers from a hip operation, but has declared himself fighting fit ahead of the five-day meeting which brings the Irish jumps season to a close.

“I was in Tramore the other day and I’m on the gallops every morning,” said Mullins.

Willie Mullins on the gallops ahead of the Cheltenham Festival
Willie Mullins on the gallops ahead of the Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

“I’ve missed very little time. It’s fantastic what surgeons can do nowadays and I was amazed. Three weeks ago (Monday) I went in, and they kicked me out of the hospital on Wednesday morning.

“I was back on the gallop the next morning. I missed a few mornings – I did a little too much early on and when I came off the painkillers it soon settled me back! But it’s coming along nicely so hopefully I’ll be well able for Punchestown.”

At the end of the Punchestown Festival Mullins will be crowned Irish champion trainer for the 17th time and he looks to cap a fine season that has seen him pass the 4,000 career winners mark, dominate at the Cheltenham Festival and also pick up a third Cheltenham Gold Cup, by showcasing his vast array of Closutton talent at the meeting.

Cheltenham heroes Galopin Des Champs and Energumene will spearhead Mullins’ squad, while Impaire Et Passe, El Fabiolo and Lossiemouth are other Cheltenham scorers bidding to follow up there Prestbury Park exploits in Kildare.

All the big names will all be partnered by Paul Townend, whose tactics on Facile Vega and Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival were questioned by his long-time boss but has since earnt glowing adulation for his performance aboard Galopin Des Champs in the blue riband and for the way he nursed I Am Maximus to Irish National glory on Easter Monday.

“I didn’t call it criticism at the time,” reflected Mullins.

“I just thought it was a tactic that didn’t go right. Put it the other way around. What I asked him to do on I Am Maximus in the Irish National, I had tied him down to instructions because he’s a particularly awkward horse that doesn’t like going right-handed. I’d asked him to go down the inside so he could keep horses on his outside the whole time but after a circuit, Paul changed his mind. He did the exact opposite and went down the outside and it worked.

“In Cheltenham, Paul was a jockey in the Gold Cup. In Fairyhouse, Paul was a horseman in the Irish Grand National. All he’d gleaned from pony racing, from hunting, from just riding, he put into use on I Am Maximus. I thought it was a fantastic ride. Whatever we thought about Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup, I thought his riding in Fairyhouse was excellent, something top drawer.

“I always think a good jockey is a guy that can pull a race out of the fire and win on horses that he shouldn’t win on. That’s the difference between great jockeys and good jockeys, I think. And he pulled that one out of the fire. That was an absolutely extraordinary ride.”

Nashwa set to return at York next month

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York’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes is the likely starting point for Nashwa when she returns to the track for her four-year-old campaign.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Frankel proved to be a high-class filly last season, winning the French Oaks at Chantilly before securing more Group One honours at a mile and a quarter in the Nassau Stakes.

She finished her Classic season by going down on her shield in both the Prix de l’Opera and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but will bid to regain the winning thread on the Knavesmire on May 18 providing conditions are suitable.

Nashwa, jockey Hollie Doyle and owner Imad Al Sagar after winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood
Nashwa, jockey Hollie Doyle and owner Imad Al Sagar after winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood (Matt Alexander/PA)

“She stays in training and has wintered well,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Nashwa’s owner Imad Al Sagar.

“She hasn’t done much and probably at this stage we’re aiming at the Middleton at York and then we would see how we go from there.

“The mile and a quarter races would be her initial targets anyway I would imagine, but I suppose if the ground came up very soft for some reason at York and if the ground was all right at Newbury she might divert to the Lockinge (May 20). At the moment though, the plan is to look at the Middleton and Imad is happy with that plan.”

Plans will remain fluid for Nashwa throughout the campaign where she has the option of taking on the colts and geldings in some of the top-level 10 furlong contests, but also has plenty of possibilities amongst her own sex including the Prix Jean Romanet and a return to Goodwood to defend her Nassau crown.

“There’s the Prince Of Wales’s, Eclipse and Juddmonte if you are being really brave,” Grimthorpe continued.

“Otherwise there are nice races in Deauville and all those nice fillies races all around the Nassau which she won last year as well, so there is a good programme for her.”

Slipofthepen team in no rush to make Classic call

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Whether Slipofthepen bids for Classic glory in the colours of the King and Queen Consort on Coronation day has still to be decided.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt is as low as 12-1 in places for the Qipco 2000 Guineas, which takes place on May 6, the same day as King Charles’ Coronation to the throne.

Slipofthepen was bred by the Queen, who died in September, and is from the eighth generation of a family bred by the royal stud.

A debut winner by over five lengths at Kempton in November, he returned to the Sunbury venue to defy a penalty earlier this month.

In the aftermath of his recent victory, John Gosden mooted the St James’s Palace Stakes as a potential target.

“There are no exact plans at the moment,” said Gosden snr.

“There are two or three routes we could go but we are just going to sit on it until next week and then make decisions.”

Theatre Man aiming to post winning performance

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Richard Bandey’s Theatre Man could try to sign off for the campaign on a high note in the Citipost Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, provided the ground is not too fast.

The bay has not been out of the first two all term, starting off with a second-placed run behind subsequent Grade One winner Hermes Allen at Stratford.

He then won a Hereford novice by 12 lengths in November before being beaten just half a length in a similar contest at Doncaster at the end of the year.

After a break he was back in action at Kempton in March and once again demonstrated his promise with an impressive success, defeating Nicky Henderson’s Issuing Authority by five and a half lengths under a penalty.

Aintree had been considered but was ultimately vetoed and Bandey is hopeful conditions will allow him to get a final run into the gelding before the season ends and connections begin to weigh up a graduation to chasing.

“He’s in really good form, he’s been tipping away at home and this is his last opportunity,” he said.

“We’d planned to go to Aintree but those races just looked a bit more competitive than we’d have liked, so we missed that and went to Cheltenham.

“I think it could be good ground and his best form is on soft. I don’t think it will be too much of an inconvenience for him but we’ll take a view on the day.

“He looks a nice horse, doesn’t he? It’d be nice to try that out and have one last run for the season before putting him away but if we don’t run, we’ll look forward to trying him over fences next season.

“He is seven so there’s no need to hang about too much with him, we’ll look forward to that if that’s the route we take.”

Henderson’s The Carpenter is a leading contender after an 11-length success last time out at Newbury, with Olly Murphy’s Chasing Fire looking to return to the winners’ enclosure after a 12th-placed run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last time out.

The Carpenter ridden by Nico de Boinville
The Carpenter ridden by Nico de Boinville (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Bandey also has an entry in the Weatherite Air Conditioning Handicap Chase as the veteran campaigner Mister Malarky is set to run.

The chestnut runs off joint top weight of 12st and was second in this contest last year off the same mark.

Bandey said: “Dear old Mister Malarky, I just wish he was off 135 and not 145!

“He’s been consistent and run some good races for us, the ground will suit him and he’ll just take his chance.

“I think he prefers smaller fields and an opportunity to dominate, so it’s probably not the ideal race but it’s a last opportunity for him for this season.

Richard Bandey's Mister Malarky
Richard Bandey’s Mister Malarky (Julian Herbert/PA)

“He’s in great form, he’s in the best form he’s been in all season and it’s just got to fall right for him.”

Richard Hobson’s Lord Du Mesnil is the other runner shouldering 12st, though conditional rider Lilly Pinchin takes 3lb from that with her claim.

Elsewhere on the card is the Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle, with Homme Public the runner for the Oliver Greenall amd Josh Guerriero stable.

A six-year-old last seen finishing second in a class two Bangor handicap, the gelding’s mark has risen incrementally throughout the season and as a result only one rival will carry more weight at Cheltenham.

Greenall said: “It could be quite tough for him, he’s gone up quite a lot for running in some lower grade races and he’s probably carrying enough weight.

“He is improving though and I think he’ll like the ground, that is it important to him.”

Henderson’s Bold Endeavour is the top weight, a versatile sort who has mixed hurdles with fences this season and was fifth in the Coral Cup when last seen.

Dettori back with a bang as he embarks on final British campaign

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Frankie Dettori insists he will not start crying just yet, as he began his final season riding in the UK in the best possible fashion when partnering Covey to an easy victory at Newmarket on Tuesday.

Dettori announced in December that 2023 would be his last year in the saddle and the 52-year-old has just returned from a fruitful spell in America.

While there is no denying Dettori’s Italian roots, Newmarket has been his home since 1985 when he arrived in the UK as a teenager and it was fitting that his swansong season began on his doorstep.

The afternoon began in less than auspicious circumstances for him when the fancied Unforgotten trailed home in last in the Close Brothers Handicap.

Then he teamed up with an old pal in Reach For The Moon, who this time last year was intended to be Dettori’s Derby mount before he failed to recover from an injury in time for a Classic bid.

The 2021 Solario Stakes winner now appears to be going in the wrong direction as having made the running early in first-time blinkers, the King’s runner tamely dropped away to also be last.

It was not going well for Dettori – two rides, both last. But then Covey stepped up to the plate in the Alex Scott Maiden Stakes.

Sent off the 5-6 favourite having chased home the potentially smart Zoology at Southwell on debut two weeks ago, Dettori decided to take matters into his own hands.

Dettori has won many a big race from the front and those tactics suited this Juddmonte-owned son of Frankel down to the ground, with the race all but over with two furlongs to run. He ended up an easy four-length winner.

He may be in his 50s and he may have been deprived of sleep, but Dettori is still the biggest draw in racing and the three-times champion jockey received a generous reception on his return to unsaddle.

“I arrived this morning, I slept two hours on the plane and two hours in my bed this morning!” he said.

“I had to start somewhere and I thought this was a good favourite. Reach For The Moon was a bit disappointing, but that’s the game and it’s good to get a win on the board.

“I was counting it this morning, I’ve got exactly six months left. It is six months until October 21 on Champions Day, but I’ve still got plenty to do and I’m not going to start crying yet, I’m going to enjoy it.

“He seemed a nice horse, he did it all on his own and he’s learning still but he felt nice.”

Covey ran out an easy winner
Covey ran out an easy winner (Tim Goode/PA)

Covey is trained by John and Thady Gosden and after their rather public fallout last season, brief as it was, Gosden senior and his jockey appear back on the best of terms.

John Gosden said: “He only landed at 6am so it’s good to put him on a winner.”

Of Covey, he added: “He ran a great race first time, he’s come here, grabbed the rail and did everything nicely, he’ll probably step up to a mile.

“There are no plans, he was a bit sicky last year so he missed last year, but he made rapid progress this year which is the main thing.

“It was only two weeks since his debut and the horse who beat him is entered in the Greenham.”

Ottoman Fleet powers home in Sefton heat

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Ottoman Fleet came from last to first to make an impressive start to his season in the bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Sea The Stars won twice at Listed level on the Rowley Mile last season and returned as the 6-4 favourite to strike Group Three gold after finishing third three times at the Dubai Carnival.

With one-time Derby hope Reach For The Moon lit up by first-time blinkers in the colours of the King and the Queen Consort, the pace was solid from flag-fall and William Buick was happy to take his time aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained market leader.

He made smooth inroads to move onto the heels of the pacesetters inside the last couple of furlongs, though, and quickened up smartly on meeting the rising ground to to win comfortably by two lengths.

Poker Face, unbeaten in three previous starts, beat Raadobarg to the runner-up spot. Reach For The Moon weakened quickly following his early exertions and finished last of seven under Frankie Dettori.

Appleby said: “I’ve just had a chat with William and the race was set up for him. This place suits him and for some reason he always brings his A game here. He’s been kept busy during the winter, ran three solid races and just kept bumping into one.

“But we came here confident that he was fit and well, track conditions suited him with a bit of ease in the ground and from halfway I was pretty confident. I know Poker Face is a nice horse and he travelled into it well and I’m sure with experience he’ll progress nicely but once they hit the rising ground, I knew he’d come home strong.

“As for the future, he’ll probably have a break now as he’s been on the go through the winter. He returned from Dubai when we had that warm week here, so it was easier for him to acclimatise.”

Coole Cody out to bolster fine Cheltenham record

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Evan Williams’ Coole Cody will head back to his second home as he takes on the Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

The 12-year-old is a firm favourite at Prestbury Park thanks to an impressive record that has seen him come home in the money nine times when running at Cheltenham.

He is a Cheltenham Festival winner having taken the Plate last season and returned to the same race when last seen, coming home eighth in a creditable run as the oldest horse in the field.

Coole Cody has run in this particular Grade Two event before, finishing fourth in 2021 and third last season but now running off a mark 12lb lower than his most recent tilt at the contest.

“He ran a good race at the Festival, he’s older now and it’s obviously very tough but we’ll give it a go,” said Williams.

Coole Cody winning at the Cheltenham Festival last season
Coole Cody winning at the Cheltenham Festival last season (Tim Goode/PA)

“It will help him massively (the lower handicap mark), he’s not the same boy as he was last season but there’s no doubting he ran a very solid race last time.

“We’ve been very, very lucky, if you’re going to like anywhere then it’s a good place to like!

“I think it’s the only major two-and-a-half-mile handicap around Cheltenham that he hasn’t won, he seems to have won all of the others so it’d be really nice if he could go well.”

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero are represented by Herbiers, a French-bred six-year-old who runs off a career-high mark after taking a Newbury contest by two lengths last time out.

Prior to that he was beaten just a neck in a Kempton novice handicap and so comes to Cheltenham in form having run well at the track over hurdles at the same meeting last year.

Herbiers at Ascot
Herbiers at Ascot (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“He was beaten a neck there last year and it seemed to suit him,” said Greenall.

“He’ll like the ground as it is drying out and his jumping seems to be improving with every run so we have our fingers crossed.”

The market is led by Dan Skelton’s Heltenham, a highly consistent six-year-old who has won his last three races.

His latest success, a two-mile-four-furlong Newbury handicap chase, was a particular step forward as he moved from class four to class two company and won neatly by five and a half lengths.

Venetia Williams’ Gemirande has alternated winning with coming home in second place all season and heads to Cheltenham off the back of a good run in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury where he was beaten just a head.

Venetia Williams' Gemirande
Venetia Williams’ Gemirande (Steven Paston/PA)

Dr Richard Newland runs Captain Tom Cat, with Nigel Twiston-Davies saddling Super Six and Chris Gordon represented by Unanswered Prayers.

Alan King’s Deyrann De Carjac, Nicky Henderson’s Caribean Boy, Donald McCain’s Presentandcounting, Gary Moore’s Zhiguli and Sophie Leech’s Cilaos Emery complete the field of 12.

Classic ticket in Coppice’s sights at Newmarket

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Frankie Dettori gets the leg-up on Coppice when she puts her Qipco 1000 Guineas aspirations to the test in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, she is a full -sister to Clarehaven’s Coventry winner Calyx and created a taking impression when scoring on debut at Kempton last October.

A general 7-1 chance for the fillies’ Classic on May 7, connections are now keen to see if she can make the leap from maiden company to Group level in this seven-furlong assignment.

“She’s a lovely filly and won her maiden very well at the back-end of last year on the all-weather,” said Barry Mahon of owners Juddmonte.

“She’s wintered well and the team at Clarehaven are happy with her. She’s a full-sister to Calyx and it’s a good family – there’s plenty of speed in the family.

“She has the double-edged sword of stepping out of maiden company and her first time on grass, which is never ideal. But she is a nice filly and hopefully she can run a good race that might lead us to a Classic somewhere if she runs well.

“We’re on a learning mission with her to see where her ability lies and with it being her first start on grass, it will be interesting.”

Coppice is joined by stablemate and Kempton scorer Inner Space – who is the mount of Robert Havlin – while Charlie Appleby’s Fairy Cross completed a fine two-year-old campaign by beating a useful cast to claim the Prestige Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.

Fairy Cross (centre) ridden by jockey William Buick on their way to winning the William Hill Prestige Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood
Fairy Cross (centre) ridden by jockey William Buick on their way to winning the William Hill Prestige Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood (Steven Paston/PA)

The daughter of Dubawi had to settle for second behind Mawj in Dubai most recently, but the Moulton Paddocks handler is confident of a bold show on the Rowley Mile.

“I’m pleased with her,” he told www.godolphin.com. “She’s come forward for that last run and she has done well at home. She should be a key player in the Nell Gwyn.”

Girl Racer won on her only start to date and looks an exciting prospect for William Haggas and owners Barnane Stud, while Clive Cox’s Karsavina holds a similar profile having won a soft ground maiden over track and trip at the back-end of last term.

“She really impressed with her maiden success over course and distance last autumn,” said Cox.

“She’s a filly that has strengthened over the winter and we’re pleased that she has done well and given us every indication she has taken a step forwards, so we’re looking forward to coming back to Newmarket.

“She coped well with conditions last autumn and course and distance form is quite valuable. We like her and it’s a wonderful starting point for the season.”

George Boughey won this last year with Cachet en route to picking up the first Classic of his career with the filly in the 1000 Guineas and will be hoping lightning strikes twice for himself and owners Highclere with Believing.

The Mehmas filly was last seen finishing third in the Bosra Sham over six furlongs last October and is one of two in this Group Three contest for the Saffron House handler alongside stable newcomer Queen Olly – who was a place ahead of Believing in second last time and represents Amo Racing.

“She won well on debut at York last year and then ran well at Ascot. She never really ran a bad race last year, barring Goodwood, and finished off her season well in the Bosra Sham over six furlongs,” explained Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for Amo.

“George is happy with her and the soft seven furlongs should suit – she likes cut in the ground so it looks ideal for her.”

Queen Olly returns to the winner's enclosure at York (
Queen Olly returns to the winner’s enclosure at York (Nick Robson/PA)

Amo Racing are also represented by Richard Hannon’s Mammas Girl, who is as big as 50-1 for the the 1000 Guineas, but produced an eye-catching display when romping home in a Newmarket maiden on debut.

“It makes sense to come here. She won over course and distance very impressively at the back end of last year,” continued Pennington.

“She was visually good. She was keen early, got into a bit of trouble in running – the others got first run and Sean (Levey) had to pull her wide – but the turn of foot she showed was pretty special and as Richard always says, for one of his to win first time they have to be quite good.

“The form of that race hasn’t really been tested yet but Richard is happy with her and she is showing all the right signs. She may come on for the run though I would say.”

Style set to skip Greenham date due to Newbury ground

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Noble Style is set to miss Saturday’s Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes, with trainer Charlie Appleby favouring a racecourse gallop at Newmarket over a run in soft ground at Newbury.

The Kingman colt won each of his three juvenile starts, completing his hat-trick in the Gimcrack Stakes at York before a bout of colic ruled him out of the Middle Park in the autumn.

Appleby considers Noble Style as a likely contender for the Qipco 2000 Guineas and had hoped to give him a trial run at Newbury this weekend.

However, with testing conditions forecast in Berkshire, the three-year-old looks set for a more low-key workout on the Rowley Mile, just as Coroebus did before providing Appleby with his first 2000 Guineas success last season.

“Noble Style is in great form. I made the entry for Newbury, but I might be giving that a swerve because of the conditions,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“It’s two weeks to the day from that race to the Guineas and the question mark over him is the trip. We saw the speed he showed when he won the Gimcrack and that form has held up. Pace is not a worry, it’s whether he will see out a mile and that is why I would have liked to have gone to the Greenham and stepped up to seven.

“But if the forecasts are right and it is going to be soft, I’ll give it a swerve and give him a racecourse gallop here and go straight into the Guineas.”