feature | the november meeting
feature | the november meeting
FRIDAY
The November Meeting began with Countryside Day, which raises funds for charity, and this season will not only be helping the Countryside Alliance but also World Horse Welfare. Last year the event supported the Injured Jockeys Fund and among the highlights were the parades of local hunts, while plenty of riders offered their muscle for a good cause with the Injured Jockeys Fund rehabilitation centres Jack Berry House in Yorkshire and Oaksey House in Lambourn battling it out in a tug-of-war. Roger Loughran, one of the mainstays of the Irish weighing room, finally ticked off a Cheltenham winner after giving a patient ride to his compatriot Peter Fahey’s Peregrine Run in the Neptune Investment Management Hyde Novices’ Hurdle. Loughran, who had a long association with the late trainer Dessie Hughes, was almost in tears afterwards. “Dessie would be proud of me, I know he was looking down on me,” he said. “I’ve ridden some good ones like Schindlers Hunt and Central House “We’ve had a few runners here before but we’ve never got into the winners’ enclosure,” he said. “To have a winner is brilliant.” The most anticipated race of the day was the Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase and the debut over fences of the top-class novice hurdler Barters Hill. Unfortunately, Ben Pauling’s stable star made it through just seven obstacles before being pulled up. Taking advantage, albeit by wandering around on the run-in when losing concentration, was Nicky Henderson’s O O Seven. Several outsiders provided a welcome moment in the spotlight for smaller handlers. Paul Henderson was not surprised by Un Beau Roman lifting the BetVictor Handicap Chase at 25-1, but Robin Dickin clearly had his hands full with Wildmoor Boy, who scrapped out the Opus Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at 16-1. “This horse is a battler and a bit of a monkey,” said Dickin, who trains the winner for his nonagenarian yard sponsor Cliff Beech. “He travels OK but once you take him off the lorry at the races he goes a bit fruit and nut.” and this is another one.” Fahey shared the feeling.
f o r t h r e e d a y s o f n o n - s t o p e x h i l a r a t i n g a c t i o n y o u c a n ’ t b e a t t h e n o v e m b e r m e e t i n g a t c h e lt e n h a m
T SATURDAY
here was a new name for the feature event of The November Meeting and a familiar look to the outcome of the BetVictor Gold Cup. Taquin Du Seuil has been a regular visitor to his local course, having won the 2014 JLT
lives with me, that I would win the BetVictor Gold Cup,” said Coleman. “He wouldn’t have a bar of it! It wasn’t Taquin Du Seuil’s class that won it, it was his heart.” The crowd of more than 30,000 gasped in unison at the most dramatic moment of the afternoon in the mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase. Thistlecrack, the king of the staying hurdling division the previous season, was in the formative stages of his career over fences and looked too eager to
Novices’ Chase, but he had mustered only a solitary success prior to his appearance in this first serious prize of the jumps season proper. It looked as if his largely lacklustre form was going to continue for the majority
of the two and a half miles as he lost his place and needed early reminders by jockey Aidan Coleman. Gradually, though, the pair gathered momentum and eventually got past the enthusiastic long-time leader Village Vic just before the post. This was a mighty effort under 11st 11lb – the last horse to carry such a weight to victory
Nicky Henderson on Sprinter Sacre “ He became that hugely popular show-off, charismatic, crazy horse Sprinter Sacre says farewell with trainer Nicky Henderson Picture: Mikal Ludlow
please at the first open ditch, taking off far too early and only just getting away with it. He remained nail-biting viewing throughout the race, but still proved a class apart. “When he was in first or second gear he seemed to be thinking ‘I’ll have a go at this one’, but he’s good when he gets
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SUNDAY
The horse who left racegoers at Sunday’s family meeting with the fondest memories wasn’t even competing. Nicky Henderson announced that Sprinter Sacre was to retire due to a minor leg issue and had brought the National Hunt legend to parade as part of a farewell tour. “We’re here to say thank you to everybody in National Hunt racing,” the trainer said. “They have made him as he became that hugely popular show-off, charismatic, crazy horse. We have just been the lucky people to look after him. We are the curators of this beautiful, very special racehorse.” Sprinter would be back and so would Fox Norton, his successor in the Schloer after making a nine-length winning debut in the colours of Alan and Ann Potts for trainer Colin Tizzard. “This is all down to Neil Mulholland. We just put him in the system for a fortnight and have done nothing with him,” said Tizzard. “That’s what we were hoping we were buying and we can see that already.”
The main event was the £100,000 StanJames. com Greatwood Handicap Hurdle and Dan Skelton was thrilled that rain had eased the ground to suit North Hill Harvey down to a tee. The young hurdler evaded all his rivals under a bold ride from Skelton’s brother Harry, holding off Modus for the trainer’s mentor Paul Nicholls by half a length. “I thought Modus had come to beat us in the straight but North Hill Harvey really wanted it,” said Dan Skelton. “It’s just a magical day.” The meeting always provides glimpses of future stars and it was no different in the latest renewal of the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle. In a tactical battle between two previous winners of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at The Festival it was the David Pipe-trained Moon Racer who impressed most ahead of Ballyandy. Nicholls was on song once again in the Racing Post Arkle Trial Novices’ Chase as Le Prezien gave him a 10th success.
in deep. He had his head in his chest, as he should,” said trainer Colin Tizzard. Tizzard continued an excellent day when Viconte Du Noyer made an instant impression in the BetVictor Handicap Chase while Prestbury Park visitors were given a first sight of Defi Du Seuil, who looked a star in the making when winning the JCB Triumph Trial.
here was Bradbury Star in 1994 – and it was the third victory in the race for trainer Jonjo O’Neill. “Turning for home, I thought we were in trouble,” admitted O’Neill. “He kept galloping, though, and it helps that he really likes this place.” Coleman, who had not ridden a winner for three weeks and had also received a horrible kick in the face a few days earlier, was consolidating his new partnership with the Cotswold-based O’Neill. “A few months ago I told Alain Cawley, who
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diary dates The November Meeting, November 17-19
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Kalendar 27
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