Today’s racing
There’s plenty of action for National Hunt enthusiasts today with meetings staged at Fontwell, Uttoxeter and Tramore in Ireland.
At Fontwell, the JP McManus-owned, Philip Hobbs-trained Gelboe De Chanay catches the eye in the juvenile hurdle (2m1f). The three-year-old daughter of Rail Link was previously trained by David Cottin in France, posting an impressive 14-length victory in the Listed Prix Wild Monarch at Auteuil in April.
Bloomsbury Stud’s With Discretion, last seen finishing fourth behind Benie Des Dieux in Grade 1 company at the Punchestown Festival in May, makes her chasing debut at Uttoxeter today in the 2m4f beginners’ contest. Trained by Nicky Henderson, With Discretion faces three rivals on ground described as heavy.
Wolverhampton also race today, staging a twilight all-weather fixture.
O’Keeffe takes wrong horse to Lingfield
Trainer Jedd O’Keeffe’s Aegeus, who was set to contest the 1m2f handicap at Lingfield yesterday, was declared a non-runner after the incorrect horse arrived at the racecourse.
The horse was scanned by officials on arrival, where it was discovered that another runner had travelled from O’Keeffe’s North Yorkshire yard by mistake.
Speaking to the Racing Post, he said: “We bought the owners a number of horses at the horses in training sales. Two came back together and they’ve been mixed up ever since. It’s completely and utterly my fault and my fault alone that I didn’t check.
“I’m embarrassed to say that we do have our own scanner and it’s just slipped through the net and something I forgot to do. It hasn’t happened before and I can guarantee it won’t happen again.”
Death of blue hen Wurftaube
German champion racemare Wurftaube, the great-grandam of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Waldgeist, died on Sunday at the age of 26.
Trained by Harro Remmert for owner-breeder Gestut Ravensberg, Wurftaube won both the Group 2 German St Leger and the Group 2 Gerling Preis as well as finishing second behind Luso in the Group 1 Deutschlandpreis.
Retired to stud, she produced seven winners including Deutsches Derby winner Waldpark and Waldmark, the dam of St Leger winner Masked Marvel, Prix Penelope heroine Waldlerche and Listed scorer Waldnah.
Waldlerche is of course the dam of four-time Group 1 winner Waldgeist, who begins his stallion career at Ballylinch Stud next year.
Remmert told Galopp Online: “My wife Gisela and I are mourning for Wurftaube, who gave us so many beautiful and unforgettable memories.”
