Today’s racing
Gowran Park’s seven-race card today features the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (3m) with star mares Benie Des Dieux and Apple’s Jade set to clash.
Apple’s Jade comes into this race after a 17-length victory over Unowhatimeanharry in the Grade 1 Frank Ward Memorial Hurdle last month while Benie Des Dieux has a good record when running fresh.
Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are both six-handed in the Thyestes Chase (3m1f) though Smoking Gun, successful last time out at Punchestown, looks to hold sound claims for young trainer Joseph O’Brien.
There are jumps meetings from Fakenham and Wetherby today while Southwell and Newcastle race on the all-weather.
Pinatubo highest-rated juvenile in 25 years
Godolphin’s unbeaten prospect Pinatubo was awarded a mark of 128 by the BHA on Wednesday for his performances during his two-year-old season in 2019.
That figure sees Pinatubo become the highest-rated juvenile in 25 years and receive the highest rating since Celtic Swing was awarded the mark of 130.
Graeme Smith, lead handicapper for the BHA, said: “Pinatubo looked a potentially outstanding two-year-old when thrashing a competitive field in the Vintage Stakes and his next performance in the National Stakes was breathtaking – the kind you rarely see in top company – as he powered nine lengths clear of Armory and Arizona in a top-class time.
“This was one of the great two-year-old performances, and the best by any two-year-old in the last 25 years.”
Knight strikes at Goffs UK
Having made a splash at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale when purchasing Gallyhill for £450,000 on behalf of an undisclosed owner, Henrietta Knight stretched to £370,000 for Keskonrisk during day two of the Goffs UK January Sale on Wednesday.
As with last month’s purchase, Knight did not disclose for whom she had bought the impressive bumper winner, who was offered by Timmy Hyde’s Camas Park Stud.
