Subjectivist progressing towards possible return at Saudi Cup meeting

Not seen since claiming Royal Ascot glory two years ago, Subjectivist could return to action on the Saudi Cup undercard in Riyadh next month.

The six-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Gold Cup in 2021, having previously landed the Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp and the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan.

However, it later emerged he had suffered what was potentially a career-threatening leg injury in winning at the Royal meeting and while there were initially hopes he would be back in 2022, he was ultimately unable to defend his Gold Cup crown.

Subjectivist is now back in full work, though, and while trainer Charlie Johnston is taking a day by day approach, he is pleased with what he has seen so far.

Johnston, who this week took over the training licence fully from his record-breaking father Mark, said: “Entries closed yesterday morning for the Saudi Cup meeting and Subjectivist has been entered in the Red Sea Turf Handicap – the one-mile-seven-furlong race.

“He’s been back in work since early October and has been cantering all the way through December and into January now.

“There’s still a long way to go – we haven’t started to turn the screw just yet with any faster work.

“Every day the fingers are crossed watching him, but so far so good.”

Business as usual – Charlie Johnston off the mark as he aims high in first season

Charlie Johnston has ambitious plans for a double century in 2023 after saddling his first winner in his own name at Kempton.

Following a year with a joint-licence alongside his record-breaking father Mark, it was confirmed last week that Charlie would hold the licence outright from the new year.

And while Johnston jnr insists it is very much business as usual at his Middleham base, he admits it was a relief to see Asdaa get the job done as only his second runner on Wednesday.

Mark and Charlie Johnston at Goodwood
Mark and Charlie Johnston at Goodwood (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“As we’ve said all along, we’re not treating it as a huge change, but at the same time there was always going to be more eyes on those early runners than there would be ordinarily at this time of year, so it was good to get off the mark at just the second time of asking,” he said.

“With the change will come a greater scrutiny of results for the season ahead, so in that sense there is a bit of added pressure.

“Any dip in form or standards and people will attribute that to the change in control.”

Mark Johnston is the most successful trainer in the history of British racing in terms of numbers, having gone through the 5,000-winner barrier in the summer.

He also became the first trainer to saddle 200 winners in a calendar year in 2009, a feat a repeated on a further nine occasions, with his tally of 249 victories in 2019 his best.

With a joint-licence the Johnstons enjoyed 176 winners in Britain last year, as well as three on foreign soil, and Charlie is keen to ensure there is no slipping of standards.

He added: “As I jokingly said yesterday, one down, 4,999 to go – at least he hasn’t set the the bar too high!

“We’ll be setting out to better last year if at all possible and we’ve got one on the board. There’s a few to go still, though.

“As people probably know, we like to set targets. We set targets for each of our individual yard managers and then a target overall for the yard as a whole.

“It’s ambitious to beat the 179 winners from last year, but we’ll be targeting 200 winners again this year. That is the standard that we like to set ourselves and that’s what we’ll be aiming towards.

“We’re not all doing vastly different roles this week to what we were last week. A lot of the day-to-day management of things here at Kingsley Park in terms of what the horses are doing and what horses are galloping and such like, I’ve been planning the majority of that for a few years now, so in that sense no one’s role has really changed.

“No one is taking any feet off the pedal, that’s for sure – we’re all still full gas to achieve as much as we can in 2023.”

As far as Asdaa is concerned, there will be no chance to bask in the glory of becoming Charlie Johnston’s first winner, having been declared to run again at Kempton on Saturday.

Charlie Johnston has a lot to live up to
Charlie Johnston has a lot to live up to (Mike Egerton/PA)

Having also struck gold Newcastle on December 28, the seven-year-old will be bidding to complete a hat-trick in the space of 10 days, while Johnston also has high hopes for Star Mood on the same Kempton card.

He said: “Asdaa goes again over the same course and distance on Saturday. I think he’s effectively running off 71, but it will be his last chance to run in a 0-65 handicap so it seemed too good an opportunity to pass by when he’s obviously in very good fettle in himself.

“It will be a big ask for three wins in 10 days, but you’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot.

“Star Mood made a lovely debut at Kempton a few weeks ago and hopefully he’ll be able to go one better on Saturday.”

Tolworth success with Authorised Speed would mean so much

Victory for Authorised Speed in the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle would be the perfect way to repay owner Pat Gallagher, according to trainer Gary Moore.

It was earlier in the year that Gallagher came to the Moore family’s rescue during the time Josh Moore was recuperating in a Liverpool hospital from numerous serious injuries sustained in a bad fall at Haydock.

The Champion Bumper fifth’s owner provided the family with the use of his helicopter for the duration of Josh’s long stay in hospital, which came as a huge help for the Sussex-based Moores in making the regular 250-mile plus journey to Merseyside.

With Josh now home and assisting his father at their Lower Beeding base, Moore believes success for Authorised Speed in the Grade One at Sandown on Saturday – which often serves as a key Supreme Novices’ Hurdle trial and was won last year by Constitution Hill – would be the “icing on the cake” in terms of showing his gratitude to Gallagher.

Moore said: “Pat is an unbelievable man and he was so helpful when Josh was in hospital. He is such a kind and generous man.

“I don’t know how many times I went to Liverpool in the helicopter to see Josh, it must have been six or seven times and that is not cheap to do that.

“It saved a lot of time and headaches on the road to fly me and Phoebe, Josh’s partner, up there. It was a massive help and he couldn’t have done any more.

“I could never do enough for him and to get him a Grade One winner would be fantastic.

“He has had a few flat horses with me before and he is very grateful for everything you give him, but a Grade One winner really would put the icing on the cake as a way of thanks.”

With Luccia an expected absentee, Authorised Speed is set to face seven rivals this weekend – all bar two of which are last-time-out winners.

Market opposition to Authorised Speed comes from Tahmuras, who runs for Paul Nicholls, and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Arctic Bresil who makes the journey from Ireland and will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore.

Fugitif camp weighing up Lingfield and Ascot possibilities

Richard Hobson’s Fugitif has a Grade One Ascot option after his taking Chepstow success.

The eight-year-old was an impressive winner of the Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase on December 27, scoring on soft ground by a ready five lengths.

The performance followed a good earlier run at Cheltenham in November, where the gelding was second behind Amarillo Sky in a two-mile handicap chase.

“He’s flying, it was a very good race, very competitive,” Hobson said of the Chepstow win.

“There were good horses in there and the way he did it was just awesome.

Fugitif at Chepstow
Fugitif at Chepstow (David Davies/PA)

“I was really pleased with him. He loved those conditions and they are key to him – he has a big action that eats up that ground and that did go in his favour.”

Lifted 10lb in the handicap after the Chepstow victory, Fugitif is now rated 143 and is likely to head to either the Lingfield Winter Million meeting for the racehorselotto.com Handicap Chase or to Ascot for the Clarence House – a Grade One contest.

“He has Lingfield on January 20 and he’s in the Clarence House as well on the 21st, that could be a possibility if it came up really soft,” said Hobson.

“The long-term plan, if he were to go to Cheltenham, would be something like the Plate over two and a half (miles) – that’d be right up his street.”

Hobson also has a few dates in the diary for Lord Du Mesnil, who was last seen finishing second behind subsequent Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos in a Bangor handicap chase in November.

The Classic Chase at Warwick is next on his agenda, with the Eider at Newcastle the following month also a definite target for the gelding, who won the Grade Three Grand National Trial at Haydock in 2021.

“He runs in the Warwick chase a week on Saturday,” said Hobson.

“He’s in good order, he’ll run there but his main objective this year will be going to the Eider Chase.

“He might just get run off his feet in that chase at Warwick over three-mile-five (furlongs), they go pretty quick, but he’ll definitely run in the Eider.”

Ryan Moore satisfied by BHA’s revision on whip rules

Ryan Moore has welcomed the British Horseracing Authority’s decision to allow jockeys to continue using the whip in the forehand position under new riding rules.

The BHA announced a series of alterations to the regulations in the summer, with jockeys only allowed to use the whip in the backhand position and serious breaches to result in disqualification from races and possible 28-day bans for riders in major races.

However, further revisions were made to those plans after a number of riders registered their disquiet, with the implementation of the backhand-only rule proving a particularly unpopular prospect.

The BHA reversed its decision on banning the forehand position on Wednesday, but overall permitted use of the whip in races will be reduced and penalties will be made much stiffer, with 40-day suspensions a possibility for the worst offences in class one and two races.

Ryan Moore supports the new regulations
Ryan Moore supports the new regulations (Niall Carson/PA)

Three-times Flat champion Moore is pleased to see the BHA and riders agree on a revised outcome.

In a statement issued by the Professional Jockeys Association, he said: “We thank the many well-intentioned individuals who have spent time on this issue. Horseracing must be competitive, have integrity and aim for the highest possible standards from all participants.

“I welcome the fact that the backhand-only rule has been discarded and that the BHA will continue to discuss and work with us in the future and hope that British racing and other jurisdictions will work together to find long-term solutions.”

Tom Scudamore was part of the consultation steering group
Tom Scudamore was part of the consultation steering group (Mike Egerton/PA)

National Hunt jockey Tom Scudamore was part of the Whip Consultation Steering Group which drew up the new rules.

He added: “After the recent issues raised and consultations with the BHA board, through the PJA, I welcome the changes made.

“I hope that we can continue dialogue between both PJA and BHA to monitor the situation in order to maintain the highest standards that is expected every day in British racing.”

Fellow jockey Tom Cannon believes the new regulations should be “fairly black and white now”.

Tom Cannon feels the new rules are clear
Tom Cannon feels the new rules are clear (Simon Marper/PA)

Flat riders will be allowed to strike their mounts six times in a race, with jump jockeys allowed seven uses of the whip – a compromise which Cannon feels is satisfactory when combined with tougher penalties.

He said: “They were pushing for us to use the backhand and it is what it is now. The forehand position looks better, it looks better to ride with, better for the horses, so hopefully common sense has prevailed. So, hopefully we can just get on with it now and concentrate on the racing.

“I was involved later on (with discussions) but not to begin with, like a lot of us were. A lot of us were not in the initial discussions, but it got a lot more serious and as time went on and we realised that they were coming in and a lot of us got involved.

“I think common sense has prevailed and while there will be a few bans dotted about, that is going to be the case whatever. We just have to concentrate on the racing now, which won’t be affected.

“We said that using it in the backhand position was not great for the horses, as a lot of jockeys can’t use it properly in that position and you are hitting them down the ribs a lot. That opens up a can of worms in itself.

“Losing one hit and getting stronger penalties takes the grey area out of it and it is fairly black and white now. Hopefully, it is something everyone can abide by and it is definitely an improvement on what they suggested first time around.”

Charlie Deutsch reported the “majority” of riders to be happy with the changes and believes it should benefit their equine partners too.

Charlie Deutsch is satisfied with the BHA's decision
Charlie Deutsch is satisfied with the BHA’s decision (Tim Goode./PA)

He said: “I think it is a better way forward – just the technique is better, basically. And that makes it easier for jockeys to land the whip in the right place.

“With the backhand, you are more likely to get their ribs, instead of their rump. You want to be going for the fleshy backend, which is very important.

“It would have been a big old problem for a few years (if the proposed rules had not been changed), so all credit to the BHA for changing their minds so quickly, so we can get it done, move on and get some good publicity.

“If they have to do something, then they have to be harsh with the way it is going. The majority of the weighing room are happy. I just spoke to the lads towards the latter stages, but left it to the senior jockeys.”

Sean Bowen incurred a ban on Noble Yeats at Aintree last month
Sean Bowen incurred a ban on Noble Yeats at Aintree last month (Nigel French/PA)

Sean Bowen incurred a four-day ban for his winning ride aboard Noble Yeats in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree last month, when the stewards found he had hit his mount in the wrong place as he practiced his backhand whip use in the finish.

He said: “It is massive for me more than a lot of people, because I have always had a backhand issue, trying to get it all the way back you do find sometimes you are hitting the horse in the wrong place in the backhand, I’ve been trying to adapt myself – then the new rules came out last night. I got myself a ban for no reason whatsoever.

“Hitting them in the forehand is the correct way and the penalties go up at the same time, which is also correct.”

Chester Williams unlikely to ride again as rehabilitation continues

Chester Williams, who suffered a head injury in a schooling accident on the gallops in September, is unlikely to ride again.

Williams was taken to intensive care in Plymouth after suffering the injury when riding work for his mother and trainer, Jane, at her South Molton yard in Devon.

He was later moved to North Devon District Hospital and is back at home, with regular visits to the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Oaksey House facility for his rehabilitation programme.

Jane Williams confirmed the conditional jockey, who rode 64 domestic jumps winners and last season enjoyed his best campaign with 23 successes, will likely not return to race-riding.

Speaking after Saint Segal had landed the Vickers.Bet Novices’ Chase in impressive fashion under David Noonan at Hereford for the yard on Wednesday, Williams said: “When he came out of his coma, this was the first horse he talked about – Saint Segal.

“This was the one he was looking forward to most this season. David is doing a fabulous job and we love him very much and he is very much part of the family now.

“We are building for the future for when Chester comes back – maybe as a trainer or assistant, whatever, rather than as a jockey.

“This is a horse we think highly of, especially. He will be thrilled – mostly, he will be saying, ‘Mum, I told you two miles over fences’.

“He is telling me what to do, he’s doing the race planning, he is very much involved. He does previews and reviews. He is absolutely brilliant at form.”

O’Regan’s wait for Hereford winner continues

Denis O’Regan will have to wait at least another two weeks before having a chance at making a little history, after his three mounts at Hereford were beaten on Wednesday.

The veteran jockey has ridden a winner at every other track in Britain and Ireland and needs just a win at the venue, which briefly closed between the end of 2012 and 2016, to complete the set.

O’Regan has had a great career on both sides of the Irish Sea and has raised his profile since Ansar won the Galway Plate 17 years ago, but the wait to make it a full house will have to continue for a while yet.

Before Christmas, Gordon Elliott sent horses to Hereford in a bid to get the elusive winner for his good friend, but is was not to be.

Denis O’Regan has
Denis O’Regan has “unfinished business” at Hereford (David Davies/PA)

O’Regan’s quest to complete the feat by the end of 2022 was then scuppered by the frost, when he flew over form Ireland, only to see the meeting called off at the last minute.

And on Wednesday, despite having a decent book of rides on paper, he was again out of luck.

Diego’s Way, trained by Cain Collins, had to play second fiddle to Post Chaise in the Jackson Property Handicap Chase, Presenting Doyen (Lucy Wadham) was fourth to Fairy Gem in the Follow Vickers.Bet On Facebook Mares’ Maiden Hurdle, and his final mount, Skinflint (Henry Oliver), was third to Not Sure in the Black Mountain Botanicals Handicap Chase.

Despite the setback, O’Regan was all smiles afterwards.

He said: “Second, third and fourth I suppose, but it was not what I was hoping.

“All three horses ran well. Diego’s Way definitely comes back again. The filly in the maiden hurdle (Presenting Doyen), it actually looked a better race than we probably thought than it looked on paper. It rode like an OK sort of race and I’d expect improvement from her.

“And the last one, Skinflint, he ran a blinder off top weight. He’s an 11-year-old who hasn’t run in while.

“We were hoping, but it didn’t quite come off. This is just my second meeting of the season at Hereford. I was here for two rides and then flew over when the meeting was called off.

“There is now unfinished business. I will have to keep going now. The pressure is on. The Irish trainers are going to run out of horses to bring over for me!”

Newcastle shocks as 125-1 and 100-1 shots prevail

It is not often you see a winner at triple-figure odds, but there was two in the space of half an hour at Newcastle on Wednesday.

With the first two races going with the market and won by the favourites, David Griffiths struck a blow for the outsiders when Endofastorm went in at 125-1 in the Spreadex Sports £300 Spread Betting Cashback Handicap.

Then just 30 minutes later Keith Dalgleish’s Notimeforanother got the better of the even-money favourite Regal Rambler by a neck to take the Spreadex Sports Best Odds On Sunderland Novice Stakes at 100-1.

The four-year-old Endofastorm was opening her account at the seventh attempt, but Gosforth Park seems to suit the daughter of Galileo Gold whose previous best came when second in a course-and-distance novice contest in November.

Her trainer was keen to praise the ride given by Phil Dennis, while the galloping nature of the Newcastle all-weather track will see the Bawtry-based handler now look for further opportunities over a mile in the north-east having seen his charge break her duck.

“It was a big surprise but she ran well up at Newcastle before when she was second and was obviously well handicapped,” said Griffiths. “She’s had some average runs in between then but I’m chuffed to bits.

“There was a headwind and we were drawn one which was not ideal anyway, so the plan was to squeeze her back a little bit, come across to the stands side and hope for a bit of luck. And in fairness it worked out perfectly and Phil has given her a brilliant ride. It worked out really well, I’m delighted.

“Newcastle is a nice, galloping track. Her run at Wolverhampton wasn’t rubbish but it was not good either and I think she likes a nice, galloping track and will be where she’s at her best. I think her trip will be a stiff mile as well – with it riding slow it suited her as it took all of a mile to get there.

“She’s nicely bred on the dam’s side, so a win is great for her page and hopefully she can go in again with a bit of luck.”

Jockeys voice support for changes to whip regulations

Tom Cannon believes whip rules should be “fairly black and white now” after the British Horseracing Authority revised the proposed changes to the current regulations.

The BHA announced a series of alterations to the rules in the summer, with jockeys only allowed to use the whip in the backhand position and serious breaches of the regulations to result in disqualification from races and possible 28-day bans for riders in major races.

However, further revisions were made to those plans after a number of riders registered their disquiet, with the implementation of the backhand-only position proving a particularly unpopular prospect.

The BHA announced on Wednesday that the forehand position would be allowed, but overall permitted use of the whip in races would be reduced while penalties will be made much stiffer, with 40-day bans a possibility for the worst offences in class one and two races.

Tom Cannon was pleased with the changes
Tom Cannon was pleased with the changes (Simon Marper/PA)

Flat riders will be allowed to strike their mounts six times in a race, with jump jockeys allowed seven uses of the whip – a compromise which Cannon feels is satisfactory when combined with tougher penalties.

He said: “They were pushing for us to use the backhand and it is what it is now. The forehand position looks better, it looks better to ride with, better for the horses, so hopefully common sense has prevailed. So, hopefully we can just get on with it now and concentrate on the racing.

“I was involved later on (with discussions) but not to begin with, like a lot of us were. A lot of us were not in the initial discussions, but it got a lot more serious and as time went on and we realised that they were coming in and a lot of us got involved.

“I think common sense has prevailed and while there will be a few bans dotted about, that is going to be the case whatever. We just have to concentrate on the racing now, which won’t be affected.

“We said that using it in the backhand position was not great for the horses, as a lot of jockeys can’t use it properly in that position and you are hitting them down the ribs a lot. That opens up a can of worms in itself.

“Losing one hit and getting stronger penalties takes the grey area out of it and it is fairly black and white now. Hopefully, it is something everyone can abide by and it is definitely an improvement on what they suggested first time around.”

Charlie Deutsch reported the “majority” of riders to be happy with the changes and believes it should benefit their equine partners too.

Charlie Deutsch is satisfied with the BHA's decision
Charlie Deutsch is satisfied with the BHA’s decision (Tim Goode./PA)

He said: “I think it is a better way forward – just the technique is better, basically. And that makes it easier for jockeys to land the whip in the right place.

“With the backhand, you are more likely to get their ribs, instead of their rump. You want to be going for the fleshy backend, which is very important.

“It would have been a big old problem for a few years (if the proposed rules had not been changed), so all credit to the BHA for changing their minds so quickly, so we can get it done, move on and get some good publicity.

“If they have to do something, then they have to be harsh with the way it is going. The majority of the weighing room are happy. I just spoke to the lads towards the latter stages, but left it to the senior jockeys.”

Sean Bowen incurred a ban on Noble Yeats at Aintree last month
Sean Bowen incurred a ban on Noble Yeats at Aintree last month (Nigel French/PA)

Sean Bowen incurred a four-day ban for his winning ride aboard Noble Yeats in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree last month, when the stewards found he had hit his mount in the wrong place as he practiced his backhand whip use in the finish.

He said: “It is massive for me more than a lot of people, because I have always had a backhand issue, trying to get it all the way back you do find sometimes you are hitting the horse in the wrong place in the backhand, I’ve been trying to adapt myself – then the new rules came out last night. I got myself a ban for no reason whatsoever.

“Hitting them in the forehand is the correct way and the penalties go up at the same time, which is also correct.”

Bowen welcomed the BHA’s stronger penalty structure, with a minimum ban of four days for exceeding the permitted limit once, rising to 20 days and disqualification for five hits in standard races – a ban that will be doubled for the major contests.

Sean Bowen thinks he will benefit from the BHA's change in position
Sean Bowen thinks he will benefit from the BHA’s change in position (Mike Egerton/PA)

He added: “It needs to happen. There were too many jockeys trying to use their backhand, using it above shoulder height and hitting them in the wrong place and it wasn’t going to work. The penalties have gone up and (that) needed to be done and it will stop anyone ever thinking one more will do.

“The boys are delighted. I’ve picked up two or three bans in the last month, trying to use my backhand and trying to get used to it. I’ve done it all for no reason, but the correct decision has been made.

“I think the stewards and also us, when we were trying to do it, we thought at the time it might not be great. But when were were really trying, it wasn’t working whatsoever and everyone realised it was going to be a disaster, especially before Cheltenham and it was going to ruin our sport.”

Cleeve date for Lord Accord before chasing return

Neil Mulholland will send Lord Accord to the Dahlbury Stallions at Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham before he goes back over fences.

The lightly-raced eight-year-old has won three of his nine starts over fences and triumphed in six of 17 races under rules, with three runner-up efforts to his name.

The consistent Yeats gelding won at Cheltenham in October, before chasing home previous King George VI Chase winner Frodon in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton.

His last run saw him finish ninth to Le Milos in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

Lord Accord (nearside) has a hurdles date
Lord Accord (nearside) has a hurdles date (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Mulholland is keen to give him a tune-up before going back over fences and said: “It wasn’t the worst run in the world in the Hennessy (Coral Gold Cup) and we have put him away for the winter now.

“Obviously, he won at Cheltenham and finished second in the Badger Ale.

“He will probably run in the Ultima Handicap Chase, but he will probably run in the Cleeve Hurdle in between.”

Milkwood will wait for suitable ground
Milkwood will wait for suitable ground (Jeff Holmes/PA)

Meanwhile, Milkwood, who finished runner-up in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las before getting stuck in the mud when last of four to Knappers Hill in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, will be kept on the sidelines until the ground is better.

Mulholland added: “Milkwood got a little bit jarred up after Wincanton. We will just wait for a bit of nicer ground and to be fair, he will run more when the ground is right.

“He is in good order and we are happy with him.

“We have had minus 10Cs, minus 8Cs and I do feel that it has knocked the horses a little bit. It is hard to keep them on the go when it gets like that.”