Written by Tony Millett.
Newbury Racecourse paid tribute to one of their key jockeys on Saturday (March 21.) It was the last time Tony McCoy's would ride at one of his 'local' racecourse's popular Saturday meetings. To mark the occasion, the Racecourse made a presentation to him after the first race.
Brian Stewart-Brown, a member of the racecourse's board of directors, presented AP McCoy with a photographic montage showing some of his greatest Newbury rides.
Among them was a photograph of his victory on Mr Mole in the Betfair Price Rush Steeple Chase on February 7. It was while walking to the winner's stand after that race McCoy told Channel 4 Racing he was retiring at the end of the season.
Following the presentation on Saturday he told the parade ring announcer that he would be back to watch racing at Newbury: "It's just fifteen minutes down the road from home."
While he is always in demand for an autograph, McCoy did not have too good a day in the saddle on Saturday. He rode in five of the seven races and took one third place.
He did tell Channel 4 Racing that he did not yet know which horse he would be riding in next month's Crabbie's Grand National - Shutthefrontdoor or Cause of Causes. But he did say that if he won the race, he would probably retire immediately.
Local trainer Neil King had no winners on the Newbury card - the second day of the racecourse's Spring Jumps Meeting - though Lil Rockerfeller came home fourth in the Doom Bar Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
However, King had sent eight year-old Milansbar and stable jockey Trevor Whelan the 680-mile trip from Barbury to Kelso. And Milansbar won the £25,000 three miles and three furlong Thakeham handicap hurdle. One to watch when he turns to fences next season.
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Written by Tony Millett.
Tiggy Wiggy - with Richard Hughes - wins the Cheveley Park Stakes (September 2014) (photograph by Steven Cargill)Richard Hughes is looking forward eagerly to see how two of Richard Hannon's great successes of the 2014 flat season will shape up now they have graduated from two- year-old to three-year-old status: Tiggy Wiggy and Ivawood.
The bay filly Tiggy Wiggy won five of her seven starts on turf - with Hughes riding her in four of those races.
Marlborough News Online asked Richard Hughes whether, now she's a three-year-old, she can have similar successes this season? "Don't know. Only she knows that. Before she raced, she was a menace in the yard - used to take off a bit. When she won her first outing by seven lengths we were amazed - she was never meant to be this good."
The day before her appearance at Ascot last June, she got loose and was out for about half-an-hour. Hughes thinks she may have calmed down: "She's not as small a horse as some people think, and she got bigger over the winter."
She is set to make her first appearance in mid-April at Newbury's Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials meeting: "She'll go for seven furlongs - and if she gets that, she'll go for a mile. She's a bit of freak - we'll have to give her the benefit and try the distance - if not she'll go for sprints."
She is already entered for the 1000 Guineas at the beginning of May.
Richard Hughes believes the bay colt Ivawood is a different matter altogether: "He's the real deal. We have huge belief in him - I've no doubt he'll stay."
Ivawood won three out of his four races as a two-year-old - all partnered with Richard Hughes. For a two-year-old Ivawood was a very big horse. After his Goodwood victory last year Richard Hannon was also optimistic about his future: “Physically he looks streets ahead of a lot of two-year-olds, and I don’t think he will become ‘just a two-year-old’."
Ivawood came second at Newmarket in October - and Hughes believes that at that time he was having some growing pains in his bones. Over six furlongs he came home second to Charming Thought.
He is entered for Newbury's mid-April Greenham Stakes - seen as a trial for the 2,000 Guineas. The Richard Hughes-Richard Hannon Senior combination last won this seven furlong race in 2013 with Olympic Glory.
And he is entered for May's Qipco 2,000 Guineas over a mile at Newmarket.
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Written by Tony Millett.
AP's winning salute (Photo from Channel 4 Racing)It might have been just another Grade One victory for AP McCoy - the nineteen times jump champion jockey who retires at the end of this season. But his victory in the Ryanair Chase on the Alan King trained Uxizandre was all the sweeter as it put McCoy on the winners' board for his last ever Cheltenham Festival.
McCoy gave the 16-1 shot a perfect ride from the front and the pair had plenty left in the tank to fend off of the challenge of runner-up Ma Filleule on Cheltenham's famous home-run hill. The seven year-old gelding won by five lengths.
With another huge crowd for the third day of the Cheltenham Festival, McCoy was cheered into the winner's enclosure and was quick to praise Alan King:
"All credit to the trainer - he got him back spot on for the day that mattered. Uxizandre gave me such a thrilling ride. I'll miss days like this."
Uxizandre is owned by JP McManus who McCoy calls 'my boss': "It's great for JP and Noreen MacManus - they are brilliant and it's been marvellous to work for them for ten years. The thrill this horse gave me - I'll miss riding horses like this that run away with you all the way and jump like stags."
![AP with his Ryanair Chase trophy - his wife Chanelle is on the right [Photo: Channel 4 Racing]](/images/images/Equestrian_-_Horsebox/McCOY__CHELT_TROPHY_120315_C4_RACING_.jpg)
AP with his Ryanair Chase trophy - his wife Chanelle is on the right [Photo: Channel 4 Racing]Alan King was full of smiles after this important win: "That was grand...AP has given him a wonderful ride, the visor has probably helped as well. It all felt right. When he's on song, he can go a right gallop...he got into a great rhythm today."
And King paid tribute to McCoy: "AP has been just phenomenal - we'll never see his like again. The winners, the dedication, the commitment - he's quite remarkable. I'm just please to be a very, very small part of it."
The prize money for the race was £300,000 of which the winning owner received £178,538.25.
Smad Place gets a pre-race gallop at Newbury (November 2014)Tomorrow (Friday, March 13) is Gold Cup day and Alan King's yard will be represented by the 7 year-old grey gelding Smad Place.
King says of him: "Smad Place has a good record at the Festival and this is his time of the year, besides which the better ground will also help. We gave him time to recover after the Hennessy [at Newbury on 29 November 2014] , and he showed plenty of enthusiasm on [Cheltenham] Trials day."
French-bred Smad Place will be ridden by King's stable jockey Wayne Hutchinson. And AP McCoy will be on Carlingford Lough - and again he will be wearing the McManus colours.
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Written by Tony Millett.
Marlborough-based Haddon Training were announced winners at the Apprenticeship 4 England Training Provider of the Year Awards 2015 last week. The awards were presented at the Apprenticeship 4 England gala dinner at the Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London.
Haddon Training were shortlisted to the final four in the Prime Small 275-500 apprentices in learning category in January, with the winner to be announced at the awards ceremony. This is the first awards of its kind that Haddon Training has entered and the result has been welcomed by Haddon staff as both rewarding and gratifying.
Apprenticeships enable members of staff at equestrian yards and stables to work full time and gain a nationally recognised qualification.
Since 1997, managing director Chris Hewlett has been the driving force behind Haddon Training, striving to raise the standards of training and good practice throughout the equine industry: “I am delighted that Haddon Training has been recognised for this national award. Making the finals recognises the hard work and dedication of every member staff within the company. We are proud to be at the forefront of raising the standards and profile of the equine industry within the education sector.”
The Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony was described by a member of the Haddon team as "Fantastic, with first class entertainment throughout the evening."
Haddon Training is a Grade One ‘Outstanding’ Training Provider which supports qualifications in Horse Care, Animal Care and Business. Haddon Training work with over 400 employers all over England and Wales supporting them to deliver high quality training to their staff.
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Wiltshire police have issued a photograph of a man they want to interview following the serious assault as a meet of the Tedworth Hunt was ending at about 4.00 pm on January 24 in Everleigh.
