Tea For Free chasing five-timer in Sky Bet heat

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Tea For Free will look to continue a superb run of form when he lines up in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season, winning four consecutive handicap chases and seeing his mark rise from 105 to a current figure of 138.

That mark leaves him to carry 11st 2lb on Town Moor, but conditional rider Lilly Pinchin will claim 3lb as Tea For Free bids to make it five on the spin for trainer Charlie Longsdon.

“He’s well and in good form, we’re looking forward to seeing him go,” said Longsdon.

“It’s a step up in class but we’ll see what happens. He’s progressed, he’s massively progressed and he’s gone up nearly 30lb in the handicap but it’s a big step forward, so we’ll see.

Tea For Free and Lilly Pinchin
Tea For Free and Lilly Pinchin (Nigel French/PA)

“He’s proven at the trip, if he can cope with a quicker pace and a step up in class then that’s great, but if not we’ll just think again.

“Lilly is taking weight off and we couldn’t be happier, we’ll just keep our fingers crossed.”

Top weight is Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law, winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and stepping up in trip for the first time.

“He’s only a young horse with very few miles on the clock and you’d like to think there’s a degree of improvement in him, and hopefully part of that improvement comes from going up in trip as well,” said Snowden.

“He’s in the Ryanair this year and we’ll certainly think along those lines depending on how he gets on.”

Kerry Lee’s Demachine will line up under Caoilin Quinn for his first run since finishing mid-division in a Cheltenham handicap chase on New Year’s Day.

Prior to that the nine-year-old was second on better ground in the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase at Newbury in November.

“He’s in good form, he was due to run at Ascot last weekend but obviously that didn’t happen,” said Lee.

Kerry Lee's Demachine
Kerry Lee’s Demachine (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“I’m not entirely sure he was suited to the track at Cheltenham, so we’re trying a flat track.

“I think he’ll like the better ground, it was May when he last won and the ground was good officially, it was that time of year when the ground is a bit drier than winter good.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Undersupervision landed the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster last term and returns to the same track to step down two furlongs in trip under the trainer’s son Sam.

Last seen pulled up at Newbury, the chestnut should benefit from better ground this time around.

“He didn’t really cope with the soft ground at Newbury, but we’re going back to Doncaster where he’s got form, so hopefully he’ll run really well,” Nigel Twiston-Davies told Sky Sports Racing.

Undersupervision during his hurdling career
Undersupervision during his hurdling career (Tim Goode/PA)

“He is a stayer and we’ll want a nice, strong pace hopefully. He’s definitely got an each-way chance.

“So many horses haven’t run, so they’re all there.”

Elsewhere in the race is Jonjo O’Neill’s former Coral Gold Cup winner Cloth Cap, with Nicky Henderson represented by last season’s Scilly Isles second, Mister Coffey.

The reigning champion in the race is Brian Ellison’s Windsor Avenue, who defends his title under Ross Chapman.

Christian Williams’ Cap Du Nord, third in the past two runnings, competes again, with Tom George’s Java Point, the Stuart Coltherd-trained Cooper’s Cross, Nick Alexander’s Elvis Mail and Shanty Alley from Ben Case’s yard completing the field.

Cheltenham call morning inspection ahead of Saturday card

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Saturday’s high-profile meeting at Cheltenham is subject to a further precautionary inspection at 7.30am, with contingency plans to restage the fixture on Sunday no longer in place.

The track is due to stage a bumper nine-race card, with annual highlights of the Cotswold Chase and Cleeve Hurdle this year supplemented by the Grade One Clarence House Chase, which has been switched from Ascot’s cancelled card last week.

But with parts of the track still frozen on Thursday afternoon, officials announced an initial inspection for noon on Friday, while discussions took place with the British Horseracing Authority about the possibility of restaging racing on Sunday.

However, following “significant improvements” overnight, that potential plan has been scrapped and clerk of the course Jon Pullin will instead check on conditions again on raceday morning before making a final call on whether the meeting can go ahead.

Pullin said: “Temperatures remained positive overnight, and the ground has continued to thaw with the racing line now free from frost.

“The going is currently soft, good to soft in places on the New Course and good to soft, soft in places on the cross country course.

“Frost covers will be deployed today on the New Course in order to protect the ground from tonight’s forecast, where temperatures could drop to minus 2C, therefore there will be a further precautionary inspection at 7.30am.

“Due to significant improvements on course, the contingency plans to restage the raceday on Sunday are no longer in place.”

Cheltenham to inspect on Friday for Trials Day

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Officials at Cheltenham have called a noon inspection on Friday ahead of Saturday’s card, with discussions under way to have a contingency plan of transferring the fixture to Sunday.

The track is due to stage a bumper nine-race card, with annual highlights of the Cotswold Chase and Cleeve Hurdle this year supplemented by the Grade One Clarence House Chase, which has been switched from Ascot’s cancelled card last week.

However, the Prestbury Park course is not yet totally recovered from the recent cold snap, although conditions are reported to have improved throughout Thursday.

Clerk of the course Jon Pullin has duly called an inspection for Friday, with plans to put down the covers should the ground be suitably defrosted.

Cheltenham will be deploying frost sheets on Friday
Cheltenham will be deploying frost sheets on Friday (David Davies/PA)

Pullin said: “Following significant improvement today, we continue to remain optimistic for Saturday’s racing. However, we will be holding an inspection at 12pm tomorrow.

“Even with yesterday’s daytime temperature of up to 7C, parts of the track are currently unraceable. However, today’s temperature has again reached 7C and the ground is continuing to thaw from the frost.

“There is only a slight risk of a mild frost this evening and therefor the plan is for the frost covers to be deployed tomorrow to protect the course from Friday’s overnight forecast, which could drop to minus 2C.”

Should the meeting be lost on Saturday, the Prestbury Park team would be eager to run the meeting 24 hours later, given the importance of the Festival Trials Day fixture.

The statement added: “As a contingency plan only in the event that we have to abandon racing on Saturday, we are currently working with the British Horseracing Authority to explore the option of restaging the raceday on Sunday, January 29.

“We will update everyone as soon as we can tomorrow.”

Sir Gerhard enters Cheltenham reckoning after victorious return

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Dual Cheltenham Festival winner Sir Gerhard made a successful transition to the larger obstacles on his belated reappearance at Gowran Park.

Winner of the Champion Bumper in 2021 and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle last term, the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old’s seasonal return was delayed by a pre-Christmas injury.

Faced with just two rivals, Sir Gerhard was the 1-6 favourite for his comeback in the Daly Farrell Chartered Accountants Beginners Chase – and while he ultimately got the job done with ease, his first start over fences since his point-to-point days was not without the odd scare.

Largy Debut cut out much of the running at a sound gallop under Rachael Blackmore, with Paul Townend happy to take a lead aboard the market leader.

His supporters would have had their hearts in their mouths when he made a mess of the fence in front of the stands with a circuit to go, but he improved in the jumping department from there on and mastered Largy Debut from the home turn.

Sir Gerhard brushed through the second fence from the finish, but was safe at the last and passed the post with 38 lengths in hand.

Paddy Power left the winner’s Arkle odds unchanged at 10-1, while he is a 6-1 shot with Coral for the two-and-a-half-mile Turners Novices’ Chase and 10-1 for the even longer Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Sir Gerhard after winning at Gowran Park
Sir Gerhard after winning at Gowran Park (Thomas Weekes/PA)

Of Sir Gerhard’s shuddering mistake, Mullins said: “My heart jumped and he stood so far back at it. I hope his back is all right in the morning as he caught it and did well to stand up and Paul did well to stay on him. That is what novices do and it is great to make that mistake early in the race as it puts manners on the horse and he jumped fine after that.

“Paul thought he wasn’t racing, so after the fourth-last sent him up and he was in his hands. He had just been a bit lazy and maybe cantering around on his own on our gallop, he probably thought he was having a quiet day. We teach them, especially the staying chasers, to settle on the mornings they’re not working but we were probably overdoing it.

“I imagine he will go to Cheltenham with very little experience and maybe just that run as I don’t see anything else in the calendar for him. We might take our chance and go straight there, maybe for the Turners or the Brown Advisory – they’ll be going that bit slower and it’ll give him a chance.

“We’re not that well represented in the three-mile race (Brown Advisory) yet, but who knows what’ll happen between now and then?”

Carefully Selected edges out Dunboyne in Thyestes thriller

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Carefully Selected gave further evidence of the remarkable training talents of Willie Mullins with a pulsating victory in the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.

While successful in six of his first 10 starts under Rules, the Well Chosen gelding unseated the trainer’s son Patrick as an odds-on favourite for the 2020 National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and was subsequently sidelined for the best part of three years.

But having shaped with some promise on his long-awaited return in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown last month, the 11-year-old was the 9-2 favourite to provide Mullins with a ninth victory in the €100,000 feature at his local track.

Ridden by Paul Townend, previously successful in the Thyestes aboard On His Own in 2014, Carefully Selected charted a wide course for much of the three-mile-one-furlong journey.

After losing his position with a circuit to race, he made ground onto the heels of the leaders before the home turn and landed in front at the second fence from home.

Dunboyne, one of nine runners for Mullins’ great rival Gordon Elliott, emerged as a major threat on the run-in and the pair flashed by the line almost as one – but the judge confirmed Carefully Selected the winner by a short head.

Mullins said: “It is always a great thrill to win the Thyestes, but I think that was Paul Townend’s victory. The ride he gave him – he had two horses behind him with a circuit to race and kept wide out of trouble – puts huge pressure on a jockey but he loves pressure and rides better with pressure.

“He has been off sick the past two days, but to come back and give a ride like that is a tremendous achievement and he rushed off to get a drink just now. It was as fine a ride as I ever saw around here to win a Thyestes with that sort of weight.

“I thought after the third-last that his winning chance had gone but he sat and sat, gave him a breather, got a good jump at the last and I thought it was fantastic riding. He was obviously very sick the last two days so to come back and ride a race like that was huge in my mind.”

Willie Mullins was fulsome in his praise of Paul Townend following Carefully Selected's victory
Willie Mullins was fulsome in his praise of Paul Townend following Carefully Selected’s victory (Brian Lawless/PA)

Of Carefully Selected, he added: “He gave a huge performance as well.

“He had been off for 33 months before his last run and sometimes a horse can bounce. He was coming back quick enough after his last run, as sometimes a horse can need longer to recover in these longer distance races.

“But Paul had ridden him work the other day and knew what he had under the bonnet. He has come back from a long lay-off and you could look at any of those staying chases now, an Irish National or an English National, but today we will celebrate the Thyestes.”

Teahupoo advertises Stayers’ claims with Galmoy glory

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Teahupoo shot to ante-post favouritism for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following a facile victory in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Gordon Elliott’s charge finished last behind Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham and Punchestown last season, but turned the tables when inflicting a first career defeat on the superstar mare in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse last month.

Stepping up to three miles for the first time, Teahupoo was a 4-11 chance to give weight and a beating to five rivals at Grade Two level and could hardly have been more impressive.

Ridden by Davy Russell, enjoying his first Graded success since coming out of retirement to deputise for the injured Jack Kennedy, Teahupoo travelled like the class horse in the field before being asked to extend in the home straight.

He swiftly put any stamina doubts to bed as he powered 15 lengths clear of the veteran Summerville Boy, seeing Paddy Power slash his Stayers’ Hurdle odds to 11-4 from 7-1.

Elliott said: “He was good and is a good horse. He is going the right way and the plan is to go straight to Cheltenham for the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott saddled Teahupoo to win the Galmoy Hurdle
Gordon Elliott saddled Teahupoo to win the Galmoy Hurdle (Brian Lawless/PA)

“It was two miles in Cheltenham last year and I’d say this distance is the key to him – over two miles the gun is to your head the whole time. I know he was well beaten in Punchestown after that, but he wasn’t actually beaten that far.

“At the moment we have no worries ground-wise, although it (Stayers Hurdle) is an open race too.

“Davy (Russell) said he panicked and got there a bit soon, as he is so laid-back early but when he gave a squeeze, he leapt back on the bridle. You’d love the way he quickened from the second-last to the line.”

Altior ‘more comfortable’ as recovery from colic continues

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Nicky Henderson has issued a positive bulletin on Altior, who is recovering after a severe bout of colic.

The Seven Barrows handler announced on Wednesday that his former two-mile stable star had to undergo two operations over the weekend, including a four-hour surgery on Saturday due to the issue.

While Henderson is a little more upbeat on the 13-year-old’s health, he acknowledges Altior still has “a very long way to go”.

Nico de Boinville and Altior enjoyed multiple Grade One victories
Nico de Boinville and Altior enjoyed multiple Grade One victories (Paul Harding/PA)

He told his Unibet blog: “I am pleased to report this morning that Altior had a good night and is more comfortable than he has been so far.

“There is still a very long way to go and the next stage is try to wean him off the artificial feeding system towards more natural, normal feed which will test his internal organs and if they can cope.

“It will be a big change and the question, to put it very simply, will be if his gut will still work, so it’s another big day with plenty of risks involved; with each step comes another big test.”

A true jump racing great, Altior won 19 races in a row for Henderson, including the 2018 and 2019 Champion Chase, on his way to becoming the highest-rated horse in training, with a peak mark of 175.

He was retired in 2021 aged 11, bowing out having won 21 of his 26 career starts, including 10 Grade One races and four victories at the Cheltenham Festival.

Altior has since spent his retirement with former jockey Mick Fitzgerald, who visited on Wednesday, with Henderson planning to make his own trip later on Thursday.

He added: “Mick and Chloe (Fitzgerald, wife) saw him last night and said he was definitely much brighter and perkier in himself, which is a good sign. I was unable to visit yesterday but will be seeing him later today and (owner) Pat Pugh has barely left his side.

“A lot of people say he was a fighter on course and he’s now having to prove it off it as well, but we’re keeping fingers and toes crossed that he pulls through and we’ll keep everyone posted with any further news.”

Altior is one of the most popular runners of recent years
Altior is one of the most popular runners of recent years (Julian Herbert/PA)

Henderson also expressed his gratitude for the support from racing fans for Altior, who had an army of admirers during his racing days.

He said: “I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ from all of us and everyone at the surgery who have sent so many kind messages about Altior. We are very touched and I only wish Altior could read. It means a lot.

“I’d also like to give special mention to Kate McGovern who heads up the team in charge of Altior at Donnington Grove, and while he is still in intensive care, they are doing the most wonderful job and we cannot thank them enough.”

Sean Bowen handed 18-day ban for whip breaches

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Leading jump jockey Sean Bowen has received an 18-day ban, with six days deferred for two months, for misuse of the whip after a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing.

The pivotal incident in question was his ride aboard Mackelduff in a Wetherby handicap chase on January 14, where he was deemed to have struck the horse without giving him time to respond approaching the last fence.

The offence warranted a suspension ranging from two to six days, but as the penalty would have been Bowen’s fifth within the prior six months, he was referred to the panel.

The panel dismissed Bowen’s claim that his whip use aboard Mackelduff was corrective, agreeing upon a suspension of two days, but the overarching matter was the longer-term penalty for successive breaches of the whip rules.

Three of Bowen’s previous suspensions were incurred because he was not striking the horse on the correct part of the hindquarters, an issue that had arisen because the rider was attempting to learn the backhand technique when using the whip.

Noble Yeats and Sean Bowen winning the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree Racecourse – Saturday December 3rd
Noble Yeats and Sean Bowen winning the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree (Nigel French/PA)

The BHA had proposed to outlaw using the whip in the forehand position under revised rules – which have subsequently been amended to scrap that directive – prompting Bowen to try the method, although the rider’s solicitor Rory Mac Neice said his physical stature made the use of the backhand difficult, resulting in him striking the wrong area of the horse.

The panel included Alison Royston and Jodie Mogford and James O’Mahoney, the latter of whom was the chair and said whilst delivering the penalty: “Mr Bowen is a busy rider, his use of whip is in fact sparing with long periods without infringements.

“Regard has been given to his previous offences, described as technical offences, and the coaching that he has had to, in simple terms, change the golf swing in the context of the state of play regarding the rules as to use of the whip.

“We do accept the argument about his comparatively small size compared to other jockeys in the context of the use of the whip in the backhand.

Bowen at Leicester
Bowen at Leicester (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Our conclusion, taking into account all of those matters, and the matrix to which I have referred, is one of 18 days of suspension of licence.

“One third of that period of suspension will be deferred for a period of two months.”

Bowen is also required to attend a jockey coaching session with Richard Perham during his suspension, owing to the fact that his breaches in the main were deemed ‘technical’ and it was therefore considered that work on his technique would be beneficial.

Naval Power kicks off Classic season at Meydan

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Potential Classic contender Naval Power makes his three-year-old debut in the Jumeirah Classic at Meydan on Friday.

The Teofilo colt won his first four juvenile starts for Charlie Appleby last season, including impressive Listed victories in the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot and the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock.

He finished a well-beaten sixth on his final start of 2022 in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, but will be a hot favourite to make a successful return to action in Dubai.

“Naval Power showed a progressive profile as a two-year-old before disappointing in the Dewhurst Stakes, when he produced an unsatisfactory scope afterwards,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.

“I have been pleased with his preparation but there will be improvement to come for the run. We are looking at giving him the one start in Dubai before looking at some of the Classic trials in the UK.”

Naval Power is one of three Appleby-trained runners in the Jumeriah Classic, with Highbank and One Nation also declared.

Highbank made a promising Dubai debut when beaten half a length into third in the Jumeirah Classic Trial three weeks ago, while One Nation was last seen finishing third in an October Newmarket nursery.

Appleby added: “We were very pleased with Highbank’s run in the trial, when he settled well and did everything the right way round. He has come on for that run and we are hoping that he can progress into a Jumeirah Derby contender.

“One Nation showed solid form as a juvenile and has done well from two to three. He has a bit to find with a couple of his rivals on ratings but his preparation has gone well and he won’t look out of place in the field.”

Charlie Appleby is well represented at Meydan on Friday
Charlie Appleby is well represented at Meydan on Friday (Mike Egerton/PA)

It promises to be another profitable afternoon for the Appleby team, with Man Of Promise bidding for back-to-back wins in the Dubai Sprint.

Last season the six-year-old claimed this Listed prize before following up in the Group Three Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, after which he placed third behind A Case Of You in the Al Quoz on World Cup night.

This time around Man Of Promise has had a prep run for the Dubai Sprint, having filled the runner-up spot behind stablemate Lazuli in the Dubai Dash early in the new year.

“Man Of Promise has definitely come forward for his first start of the year and has a good draw in 14,” said Appleby.

“Stepping back up to six furlongs will play to his strengths and I feel he is the one they all have to beat.”

Energumene and Edwardstone clash highlights bumper Cheltenham card

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Energumene and Edwardstone are belatedly set to lock horns at Cheltenham on Saturday after the pair featured among six runners declared for the rescheduled Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase.

Winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Arkle Trophy respectively at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, Energumene and Edwardstone were due to clash at Ascot last weekend.

But with that meeting lost to frost, their Grade One tussle will instead take place as part of a bumper nine-race card at Prestbury Park.

Joe Tizzard’s Amarillo Sky was the only other runner declared for Ascot – and he will also take his chance on Saturday, along with three other contenders for the extended two-mile contest.

Gary Moore supplemented dual course winner Editeur De Gite earlier this week, with the Venetia Williams-trained Funambule Sivola and Sizing Pottsie from David Pipe’s yard the other hopefuls.

The Paddy Power Cotswold Chase also throws up an intriguing Anglo-Irish clash, with Dan Skelton’s Protektorat opposed by the Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats.

Last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup third Protektorat is the marginal favourite following his brilliant display in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, but Grand National hero Noble Yeats should not be underestimated judged on his impressive victory in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree in December.

Lucinda Russell’s stable star Ahoy Senor bids to get his season back on track, having failed to fire in either the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby or the King George at Kempton either side of finishing third behind Noble Yeats on Merseyside.

Harry Skelton celebrates winning the Betfair Chase with Protektorat
Harry Skelton celebrates winning the Betfair Chase with Protektorat (Nigel Frech/PA)

The admirable Frodon (Paul Nicholls), Dusart (Nicky Henderson) and Sounds Russian (Ruth Jefferson) complete the six-strong field.

The roof could come off the grandstand if Paisley Park can land a secure a fourth successive victory in the Dahlbury Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle.

Emma Lavelle’s pride and joy may be getting on in years at the age of 11, but proved the fire still burns bright by landing a third Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The veteran faces six rivals on his return to the Cotswolds, including Jeremy Scott’s Dashel Drasher and the Nicholls-trained Gelino Bello.

Scriptwriter bids to complete his hat-trick for Milton Harris in the opening JBC Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, while Cheltenham Festival hero Delta Work heads a 15-strong field for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase.

Pembroke (Skelton) and Henri The Second (Nicholls), meanwhile, are two of the leading contenders for the Grade Two Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.