Go Racing in Yorkshire
February 2012
Leading novice chasers take centre-stage at Wetherby on Saturday, 4th, when they face the starter in The totesport.com Towton Novices' Chase, a Grade 2 contest for up-and-coming chasers. Worcestershire trainer, Ian Williams has supplied the last two winners of this race in Wayward Prince (last year) and Weird Al. Now under the care of Cheshire trainer, Donald McCain, Weird Al made a triumphant return to Wetherby at the end of October when winning the course's other Grade 2 contest of the season, The Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase. Previous top-notch winners of this race include Mr. Mulligan (successful in the first running in 1996, who went on to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup just over a year later); Halcon Genelardais (the 2006 winner) and Miko De Beauchene (runner-up in 2007) both went on to win the Welsh Grand National in those respective years. This meeting at Wetherby is the course's annual ‘totesport Irish Day' programme, and there's further action at the track on Tuesday, 21st.
There's a trio of midweek fixtures this month at Catterick, in the north of the county on Friday, 3rd, Monday, 13th and Tuesday, 28th. These meetings are sure to attract a host of runners, producing competitive racing.
Doncaster is in action on Thursday, 9th, and ‘Golden Oldies' have their opportunity at the South Yorkshire track on Wednesday, 22nd when horses aged ten or more face the starter in the main race on Town Moor, The Doncaster Veterans' Handicap Chase over three miles. The then 13-year-old, Rambling Minster, trained near Saltburn by Keith Reveley and ridden by his son James ended his long career in a blaze of glory when he won last year's race.
The new Yorkshire Racing Season Ticket for 2012/13 begins on March 1st; anyone interested in obtaining one can obtain details at Go Racing click here or call (01937)580051. Costs are £315 (single) and £530 (joint).
March 2012
Doncaster hosts the traditional start to the new British Flat season on turf, as the national 2012 campaign is launched on Town Moor with a full weekend of racing on Saturday and Sunday, 31st & April 1st. The William Hill Lincoln (a Heritage Handicap) is the principal on the opening day. This highly-competitive cavalry charge over the straight mile is a much sought-after prize as owners, trainers and jockeys attempt to begin the new season in the best possible way, competing for a slice of the £100,000 prize fund.
Last year's winner, Sweet Lightning was trained in County Durham by Michael Dods and ridden by top Irish-based jockey, Johnny Murtagh, who had won the race the previous year on Penitent.
This famous race had its origins in 1853 at the now-defunct Lincoln racecourse and was transferred to Doncaster racecourse in 1965 following the demise of racing on the Carrholme the previous year.
The other highlights on a quality Saturday card on the Saturday are The William Hill Spring Mile (a valuable ‘consolation' race for those horses entered for, but balloted out of the ‘Lincoln'), The Cammidge Trophy (a Listed race for sprinters), while racegoers have the chance of assessing precocious two-year-olds in The Brocklesby Conditions Stakes.
On Sunday, the feature race is The William Hill Doncaster Shield, a Conditions race over one mile and a half, won last year by Cracking Lass - trained at Malton by Richard Fahey and ridden by Malton-based Paul Hanagan - the UK's champion jockey for the past two years.
At the start of this month, Doncaster's final Jumping fixture, a two-day affair takes place on Friday and Saturday, 2nd & 3rd. Saturday's attractive card includes The Grimthorpe Chase (three and a quarter miles), a race which could attract some Grand National contenders, while The DBS Spring Sales Bumper is a race on the flat for young horses about to begin their careers over Jumps, as they race over the extended two miles.
Catterick's Jumps season concludes on Wednesday, 7th with a meeting in aid of The Hunt Staff Benefit Society, while there's Friday action at Wetherby on the 30th.
For Jump racing fans, this month's Cheltenham Festival represents the pinnacle of the sport - four days of top-class action beginning on Tuesday, 13th. Some of the biggest and most sought-after prizes in Jumping will provide entertaining and enthralling racing at the famous Gloucestershire venue - a natural amphitheatre. West Witton trainer, Ferdy Murphy provided the only Yorkshire success at last year's Festival, when Divers took the Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase on the opening day.
The Stan James Champion Hurdle takes pride of place on the first day of the Festival. Last year's winner, the Irish-trained Hurricane Fly tops the ante-post lists to prevail again, while the Emerald Isle have a strong hand in Wednesday's sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase, with the first two in last year's contest, Sizing Europe and Big Zeb ready to do battle again. On Thursday, Big Buck's is odds-on to win The Ladbrokes World Hurdle for a fourth consecutive year for the champion trainer over Jumps, Paul Nicholls.
On the final day of the Festival - Friday - the ‘Blue Riband' of Jump racing, The Cheltenham Gold Cup is very much the centre of attention. The old warrior, Kauto Star - trained by the aforementioned Paul Nicholls - will attempt to regain the Gold Cup after his magnificent victories in 2007 and 2009. His main rival is last year's hero, Long Run, ridden by amateur jockey, Sam Waley-Cohen. So far this season, Kauto Star has got the better of Long Run in two major races, including the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day; the latest instalment promises drama and excitement of the highest order.