Christian Williams looking to a familiar friend to kick-start 2023

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Christian Williams is ready to ramp up the pace after a quiet start to 2023, and hopes staying chaser Kitty’s Light can take one of the big prizes over the coming months.

The Glamorgan handler may have lost last season’s Eider and Scottish National winner Win My Wings to injury and subsequent retirement, but in Kitty’s Light he has a horse who can help to fill the void.

The seven-year-old, who was runner-up to his stablemate at Ayr in April, will tread a familiar path, starting with Saturday’s three-mile Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase at Kempton, in which he was sent off favourite last year.

He was then placed in the Coral Trophy at Kempton, Scottish National and Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

“We’ve been a bit quiet, as the six-monthly flu jabs came in and knocked a few,” said Williams.

“We have Kitty’s Light on Saturday, then we have plenty to enter up.

“He seems well, obviously he wants a bit better ground, but it drains quick at Kempton.

“Kitty’s is rated 135 now. His last win was in March, two years ago, and he’s back to that (mark), so he’s got a chance, anyway.”

Though a consistent stayer, he will need to improve a few pounds to get into the Grand National at Aintree, and Williams added: “I wouldn’t have thought he was a National-type horse, but there are plenty of races outside of that.

“We’ll look at the Scottish National, the bet365 and the Coral Trophy again – they are valuable races.”

Last season’s Coral Trophy hero, Cap Du Nord, will head to Doncaster for his next start in a race where he is a standing dish.

“Cap Du Nord seems to click in at that time of year and he runs well in the Sky Bet Chase most years. He’s in that and he usually goes to the Coral Trophy  after that,” added the Ogmore-By-Sea handler.

Williams is also eyeing the valuable Cazoo Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield’s Winter Million meeting on Friday week for Warwick winner Lord Snootie.

The six-year-old benefited from a step up to three-and-a-quarter miles to win by four and a half lengths on New Year’s Eve.

Cap Du Nord has a Doncaster date
Cap Du Nord has a Doncaster date (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“Lord Snootie might go to Lingfield. There is a also big open race at Sandown the week after. He might need a bit of luck in getting in, but he might go for one of them,” added the trainer.

“It was a nice win at Warwick. It makes things a bit easier when you run in handicaps. He previously ran in a couple of Chepstow maidens which looked very strong.

“Ideally, the two-mile seven (furlong) race at Lingfield is where he will go, but that £100,000 handicap at Sandown a week after could be on the agenda. We’ll have a look.”

Iwilldoit all set for Classic Chase return at Warwick

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Stan Sheppard will take the reins when Iwilldoit makes a long-awaited comeback in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick on Saturday.

The Sam Thomas-trained gelding was last seen winning the Welsh Grand National in late 2021, a nine-length success with Sheppard in the saddle.

At Warwick the 10-year-old will return from a lengthy absence to tackle the three-mile five-furlong trip of the Classic Chase.

“He has had 383 days off the track but I believe Sam will get him there in the best order he can. We go there with a lively chance I would like to think,” said Sheppard.

“I’ve not sat him in the run up to the race. I leave it to Sam and his team with what they do with him at home but everything I’ve heard has been good and positive.

Iwilldoit and Stan Sheppard in the Welsh Grand National
Iwilldoit and Stan Sheppard in the Welsh Grand National (David Davies/PA)

“Three-miles-five around a galloping track should suit him. There is nothing in there where you think ‘crikey that might take a bit of stopping’ and if anything it could be that Iwilldoit could be the one to take some stopping.”

Declarations for the race also include Paul Nicholls’ Threeunderthrufive, who will carry a top weight of 12 stone, and Sandy Thomson’s veteran Dingo Dollar.

Richard Hobson has Lord Du Mesnil on the list, with Henry Daly’s Fortescue and Chris Honour’s Grumpy Charley also declared.

There is a sole Irish entrant in the shape of Willie Mullins’ Mr Incredible, while Venetia Williams is represented by Commodore and Ben Pauling will saddle Nestor Park.

Charlie Longsdon has a key contender in Guetapan Collonges while Alan King’s Notachance, Emma Lavelle’s Wouldubewell, Gail Haywood’s Grand Mogul and Sheila Lewis’ Volcano complete the field.

Geraghty not shocked by Russell’s decision to call temporary halt on retirement

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Davy Russell has the opportunity to find closure after coming out of retirement that lasted barely a month.

That is the view of two-time Irish champion jockey and the second winning-most rider at the Cheltenham Festival, Barry Geraghty.

Russell confirmed in a statement on Wednesday evening that he will return this weekend to fill the void left at Gordon Elliott’s powerful Cullentra House operation with Jack Kennedy sidelined.

Kennedy broke his leg when falling from Top Bandit at Naas on Sunday, leaving Elliott without his number one rider, with Russell having retired on the spot following a winner at Thurles on December 18.

And Geraghty, whose own retirement from the saddle came in July 2020 after a glittering career that saw him win all the major Cheltenham Festival races at least twice, was not shocked by Russell’s about-turn, even if it is a temporary one.

“I wasn’t surprised,” said Geraghty. “My wife said to me when I told her last night that Davy was coming back, she said it was the first thing I’d said after I got a text on Sunday evening saying what Jack had done. That is a reflection of knowing the beast, if you like.

“When you have a chance to ride those good horses at Cheltenham, it is worth doing if you are Davy.

“He is 43 and has been through the wars, but he did catch a lot of people by surprise retiring when he did, mid-season, because it is a bit like a footballer retiring mid-season. It would be as if Ronaldo retired and then a position became available.

“At least there’s closure at the end of the season and there is a certain level of time before the good racing gets back, and you get to detox a little bit.

“I thought it was a very good chance it would happen and I’m not surprised at all. Davy is very driven and there is still ambition there, and it probably wasn’t being fulfilled.

“That was possibly why he retired more than anything else.”

Had Geraghty, who also won the Grand National aboard Monty’s Pass and partnered Kicking King to two King George VI Chase wins, any such thoughts of returning to the saddle once he had announced his retirement?

“No is the simple answer. I had prepared for it,” he said. “Davy’s was mid-season, so I don’t know where his thoughts were. But I was preparing for it.

“I was at the start of the King George in 2019, my last year. Sam Twiston-Davies and myself were scrimmaging down at the start for the position of second, down the rail, behind the pace.

Solwhit and Davy Russell (left) beat Punjabi and Barry Geraghty in the Garde One Rabobank Hurdle at Punchestown in 2009
Solwhit and Davy Russell (left) beat Punjabi and Barry Geraghty in the Garde One Rabobank Hurdle at Punchestown in 2009 (Damien Eagers/PA)

“Sam was pleading with me to give him the spot, and I said, ‘No Sam, I can’t, this could be my last one’. So I knew where I was, and I wasn’t just playing games with him.

“We are all different. I knew. I didn’t announce my retirement at Cheltenham, I came away from Cheltenham a week later and I’m thinking, ‘This is too easy, I’ve not had a great Cheltenham’.

“Two weeks later, I knew this was the right time.”

Barry Geraghty rode 43 Cheltenham Festival winners
Barry Geraghty rode 43 Cheltenham Festival winners (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Unlike some riders, Geraghty is thankful that he went out on his own terms and cited Richard Dunwoody, who was forced to retire though a long-term neck injury when at the peak of his powers in 1999.

“Everyone needs a certain level of closure,” said Geraghty. “I don’t think Woody got it when he had his injury and I don’t think Davy has necessarily got what he wants.

“He has gone back again and the opportunity arose. I’m not saying it is the right thing to do. It is a personal choice.

“But if he didn’t, with all those good horses, how would he feel Cheltenham week watching on?”

Surprise riding return does not represent retirement U-turn, insists Russell

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Davy Russell insists he has not made a “U-turn” on his retirement and is only stepping into the breach while Jack Kennedy recovers from a broken leg.

Russell announced his retirement on December 18 having ridden Liberty Dance to victory at Thurles – but has been tempted back into action by Gordon Elliott.

Russell and Kennedy rode the majority of Elliott’s horses prior to his retirement and with Kennedy now on the sidelines, Russell will don his riding boots once more, starting at Fairyhouse and Punchestown this weekend. However, he has stressed that as soon as Kennedy returns to action, he will head back into retirement.

Expanding on his decision in his blog for Star Sports, Russell said: “How’s the retirement going? It was going great until last weekend when Jack’s spill changed everything. It was terrible to lose a lovely horse in Top Bandit and then for Jack to have broken his leg made things even worse for the yard.

“He’s hasn’t half had some rotten luck and that’s the fifth time he’s broken his leg – crazy for one so young.

“As I said in my announcement yesterday, we are a close team in Cullentra so when Gordon asked me the question if I’d come back and help ride a few as they needed me, there was only ever going to be one answer.

“You see I’ve only been finished a matter of weeks and have done plenty in Gordon’s. As I joked in my statement, I actually sat on more on Wednesday than I’ve done in years.

Joyous scenes for Davy Russell at Thurles last month
Joyous scenes for Davy Russell at Thurles last month (Thomas Weekes/PA)

“The timing of Jack’s accident is bad. These things are never good, but if it had happened let’s say two or three months later, there would have been no decision to make. There are so many young talented pilots in Gordon’s and their days will come for sure. It’s just a bit early for some of the more high-profile horses and that’s where I am happy to help.

“Plenty have asked whether I’ll be at Cheltenham, will I go to Aintree? How long will this come back last? Listen, this is no comeback or U-turn. I’m simply filling in for Jack and when he’s ready to return, I’ll step away again. That may be before Cheltenham, that may be after Cheltenham. The key is I’m there to help a team that has always had my back. That’s why I’ve made the decision to return.”

Conflated ‘more likely’ to go straight to Cheltenham for Gold Cup tilt

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Conflated is likely to head straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup where he will be given the chance to become Gigginstown House Stud’s third winner of the blue riband.

The Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old announced himself as a player in the staying division when causing a shock in last year’s Irish Gold Cup but instead of taking part in the Friday feature when running at Prestbury Park a month later, he dropped back in trip for the Ryanair Chase where he was a late faller in pursuit of the winner Allaho.

Returned to staying trips he was second to Clan Des Obeaux in the Bowl at Aintree and built on his Down Royal reappearance behind Envoi Allen to once again rule the roost at Leopardstown when brushing aside Kemboy by five lengths in the Savills Chase over the Christmas period.

That looked to tee up a defence of his Irish Gold Cup crown at next month’s Dublin Racing Festival, and although set to be given the option of that Grade One contest, connections appear to be siding towards heading to the Cheltenham Festival fresh – where he is a best price of 14-1 with Sky Bet to taste Gold Cup success.

“We’re probably veering towards heading straight to Cheltenham,” said Eddie O’Leary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud.

“It will be down to Gordon, but I imagine we’ll be going straight there.

“He will get the entry for Leopardstown and we will see how he is. I imagine it is more likely we will go straight to Cheltenham than run at Leopardstown, but we will see what the ground and everything else is like and make a decision then.”

Leopardstown Christmas Festival – Day Three – Leopardstown Racecourse
Jockey Jack Kennedy celebrates with trainer Gordon Elliott and owner Michael O’Leary and his wife Anita Farrell after winning the Savills Chase on Conflated during day three of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival (Niall Carson/PA)

On his Cheltenham chances, O’Leary continued: “Is he good enough to win a Gold Cup? I do not know. Will he get the chance to prove it? He definitely will.

“I suppose it’s quite hard to believe it (he is good enough), like he won very well (in the Savills Chase) but is the second good enough to feature in a Gold Cup? You would doubt it.

“There’s a horse called Galopin Des Champs in the way, who looks to be very good.”

Country Grammer among star-studded Saudi Cup entries

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Country Grammer is on course to give Frankie Dettori a landmark winner in the Saudi Cup, in what is the jockey’s final year in the saddle.

The Bob Baffert-trained six-year-old was partnered by the Italian to glory in the Dubai World Cup in March last year, and Dettori was reunited with the son of Tonalist when he kicked off his spell riding in Santa Anita on Boxing Day.

Country Grammer could hardly have looked better in landing short odds in the Grade Two San Antonio Stakes, on a night where Dettori struck three times from five rides.

Baffert – whose Charlatan was upset by Mishriff in the inaugural running of the world’s most valuable race – can also call on the high-class Taiba, a Grade One winner on the same Santa Anita card courtesy of the Malibu Stakes.

Further strength to the American challenge could come in the shape of Kentucky Derby hero Rich Strike, while last year saw a shock success for the locally-owned and trained Emblem Road who may well return to defend his crown.

A second victory would make the son of Quality Road the highest-earning thoroughbred in history with $20.2million to his name, ahead of Australian wondermare Winx who totalled $18.3m by the end of her record-breaking career.

George Boughey’s Missed The Cut is engaged for Britain, as is John and Thady Gosden’s Mostahdaf, the Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel’s Romance, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Saffron Beach, William Knight’s Sir Busker and Simon and Ed Crisford’s hugely impressive Dubai winner Algiers.

Longsdon contemplates cross-country mission with Leopardess

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Charlie Longsdon’s popular chaser Snow Leopardess will be taken for a Cheltenham schooling session to see how she takes to the cross-country course.

The mare enjoyed a superb run of form last season, which included a brilliant round of jumping to land the Becher Chase at Aintree in December.

She found the ground too quick in the National itself and was pulled up on her return at Warwick before shaping well for a long way back over the National fences in the Becher once more.

Well fancied for the Veterans’ Final at Sandown on Saturday, she finished seventh.

Snow Leopardess (right) winning the Becher Chase last season
Snow Leopardess (right) winning the Becher Chase last season (Tim Goode/PA)

Longsdon is now considering taking her to Cheltenham for a cross-country schooling session to see what she makes of the banks and rails.

“She’s fine, she ran a funny old race and just didn’t go at all in that first circuit,” he said.

“She just didn’t show much enthusiasm in that first lap, and was then absolutely fine in the second lap when she was pulled out and got a bit of space.

“She flew along in the second circuit, she is going to go cross-country schooling at Cheltenham and we’re going to see how she takes to that, that might be a route we can think about taking with her.

“They went very quick and she looked a bit cold that first lap, she might have just taken a while to warm up, though she doesn’t normally.

“It can happen, she’s a bit older and it might have just been the way it went that day.”

Davy Russell making riding return to cover for injured Kennedy

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Davy Russell is to come out of retirement to cover for Jack Kennedy while the current Irish championship leader is on the sidelines with a broken leg.

Russell only retired last month, after riding a winner at Thurles on December 18.

The 43-year-old – who won the Grand National twice on Tiger Roll and the Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Lord Windermere – had been a key part of the riding team at Gordon Elliott’s along with Kennedy.

Davy Russell celebrates winning the Grand National with Tiger Roll
Davy Russell celebrates winning the Grand National with Tiger Roll (Mike Egerton/PA)

However, with Kennedy now out of action in the lead up to the big spring festivals, Russell has reversed his decision and will resume his career at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

In a statement issued on his behalf, Russell said: “After meeting with Gordon today, I have decided to come out of retirement and ride for the short period while Jack is on the sidelines.

“It’s only been a matter of weeks since I retired, and I actually rode more out this morning than I have in many years.

“We are a close team in Cullentra and after what happened last weekend, I want to help the team through a difficult few weeks.

“The plan is to resume riding in Fairyhouse on Saturday and Punchestown on Sunday.”

Hanlon ‘couldn’t be happier’ with stable star Hewick

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Shark Hanlon is dreaming of huge prizes in the spring with his stable star Hewick.

Hewick was one of the sport’s most popular success stories last year, winning the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and the Galway Plate before exiting at the final fence when looking poised to land the Kerry National.

He then headed out to Far Hills in New Jersey to win the American Grand National.

The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in March has long been booked in as the target for his seasonal return – but Hanlon also explained of equal importance will be a bid for the Randox Grand National at Aintree.

“Without a doubt he’ll go for the National, that’s my plan,” Hanlon said.

“I’m going to give him no run before the Gold Cup and the Gold Cup will put him right for the National.

Shark Hanlon's Hewick
Shark Hanlon’s Hewick (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m not saying he’s not going to be trained for the Gold Cup, but he’s a summer horse and he had a busy enough year last year and he wants good ground.

“He’ll go straight for the Gold Cup and the National then.”

Hewick is likely to find himself near the top of the weights at Aintree, but Hanlon notes that his weight-carrying Kerry National run was scuppered by a fall rather than by the horse folding under the 11st 12lbs burden he was allocated.

He said: “I don’t think weight bothers the horse, you go back to the Kerry National and everyone said he had no chance because he was giving a stone, a stone and a half to everything.

“He was unlucky, he fell and if it wasn’t for that he would have won. I’m not worried about weight.”

Hewick winning the Galway Plate
Hewick winning the Galway Plate (Niall Carson/PA)

Hanlon is similarly unconcerned by the step up in trip that the National represents as he feels the horse will only improve when tasked with running over a longer distance.

“The best run he had last year was the bet365 and that’s three and a half miles,” he said.

“The further he goes, the better, he’s a great cruising speed and he doesn’t stop.”

Hewick has done little other than improve throughout his career so far, but Hanlon – who will also run recent acquisition Cape Gentleman in the National – believes there is more to come and that the gelding returned from America in better condition than ever.

“We left him in America for 17 or 18 days because the weather over there was beautiful, he was out in the field every day and back in at night,” he said.

Hewick with connections at Sandown
Hewick with connections at Sandown (Nigel French/PA)

“When he came home to me he was 40 kilos heavier than he was going over there, he’s definitely come back the strongest he’s ever been.

“I couldn’t be happier, he’s been ridden out the last 10 days at home and I think he’s after improving.

“If he improves seven or eight pounds, he’s entitled to be in the Gold Cup and he’s entitled to be in the Grand National – that’s the way I’m looking at it.”

Clonmel meeting on Thursday rescheduled to Tuesday

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Clonmel’s meeting on Thursday has been cancelled due to a waterlogged track and rearranged for Tuesday.

An inspection had been called for 7.30am on race day, however following further heavy rain on Wednesday an early decision was taken at 4pm.

The meeting – due to feature the exciting Gaelic Warrior – will now take place on January 17 with entries reopened until noon on January 12.

“Following 14mm of rain since our update this morning, Clonmel is now unfit for racing due to the track being waterlogged,” said clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer.

“There is a further 10mm of rain forecast between now and race time tomorrow.

“We have had more rain than we expected at this stage and with such an unfavourable forecast, we felt it was prudent to cancel the fixture at this point rather than wait until the time of the planned inspection with no real hope of prospects improving.”

Heavily backed for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, Gaelic Warrior just missed out on what was his debut for Willie Mullins but returned at Tramore last month where he finished miles clear at long odds on.