British Horseracing Authority News Headlines

Big Newbury card abandoned

Saturday's big card at Newbury has been abandoned due to snow.

There had been optimism that the meeting would beat the weather, and frost covers have been down for nearly two weeks. However, following 4cm of snow overnight, course officials were left with no choice.

"We've had to abandon. There's snow on the covers and there is no predicted rise in temperatures or rain which would help shift it," said clerk of the course Richard Osgood.

With the likes of Long Rung, Sprinter Sacre and Zarkandar all due to have a run before Cheltenham, there is the possibility of the meeting being rearranged.

Osgood added: "There have been preliminary discussions about restaging the fixture and we are looking to hold it next week but at this stage I know nothing more than that."

The British Horseracing Authority later tweeted: "Work is underway with the racecourse, sponsors, BHA, Levy Board & broadcasters to re-schedule entire Newbury card or at v.least key races."

Kempton fit to race

This afternoon's 'jumpers' bumpers' card at Kempton has been given the green light after an 8am inspection.

A National Hunt fixture had been scheduled, but the prospect of snow earlier in the week forced officials into a change of plan. Despite rearranging to an all-weather card, snow was still an issue and 4cm fell on Thursday night.

Thankfully, clerk of the course Barney Clifford said: "We had 4cm of snow but we've been power harrowing the track and so far we are raceable. We will continue to do that and, at this stage, there is nothing to worry us."

Exeter forced to inspect

The meeting at Exeter on Sunday is subject to a precautionary 8am inspection on raceday due to the threat of frost.

The track is perfectly raceable today but sub-zero temperatures are forecast for the next two nights.

"We had no frost last night and we had rain rather than snow. We've called an 8am precautionary inspection to keep everyone ahead of the game," said clerk of the course Barry Johnson.

"It could be minus 4C tonight and Saturday night but the daytime temperatures give us a chance. It depends how quick the temperature rises."

Owing to unprecedented demand for tickets to its Valentine's raceday, the course has decided to close sales on the day.

There will still be a limited number of advance tickets for sale right up until midnight on Saturday, but Alice Everitt, Exeter's general manager, said: "Obviously we are extremely sorry that we will not be able to offer tickets for sale on the raceday.

"The decision has been made on the grounds of health and safety and we are naturally committed to providing the very best experience for all our racegoers on the day.

"We very much hope that racegoers still wishing to come racing will seize the opportunity to book their tickets over the next couple of days in order to avoid disappointment."

Hereford look again

Sunday's meeting at Hereford is subject to a further inspection at 11.30am on Saturday.

Following rain and a mild night, clerk of the course Keith Ottesen is prepared to give the fixture every chance, although the forecast is not favourable.

"It didn't drop below zero all night and we had rain, not snow, which helped shift most of the frozen areas, although there are still a few frozen patches," said Ottesen.

"It could be a false dawn as it is supposed to be very cold tonight but we couldn't call it off now.

"It rests on how cold it gets tonight really."

National icon Gifford dies, aged 70

Josh Gifford, one of racing's best known and most loved figures, died in the early hours of this morning at the age of 70.

Gifford was intrinsically linked to the Grand National after the exploits of Aldaniti and Bob Champion in 1981.

Aldaniti was an incredibly hard horse to keep sound and Champion had only recently recovered from cancer, but the pair powered to victory and their exploits were immortalised in the film 'Champions'.

Gifford had been treated in hospital for a severe case of septicaemia and had only recently returned home.

His son, Nick, who had taken over as his father's successor at Findon, in West Sussex, said: "I'm afraid he passed away in the early hours. He'd been back home for about three weeks, but he took a turn for the worse yesterday evening. By the early hours he was in a really bad way and in the end it was a heart attack."

Champion and Aldaniti were awarded the BBC's Sports Personality Team of the Year title in their National year.

But Gifford was far more than just a one-horse man, and before he turned his hand to training he was one of the best jockeys of his era and was crowned champion on four occasions.

He had four Cheltenham Festival successes in the saddle and finished second in the 1967 Grand National on Honey End behind the legendary 100-1 winner Foinavon.

He retired from the saddle before he turned 30 to start a training career that saw him win most of the major races on the calendar, although his biggest regret was that he was never champion trainer. In all he trained 1,587 winners before he handed over his licence to his son in 2003.

Arguably Gifford's best horse was Kybo, who won the 1978 Christmas Hurdle but injury prevented him from reaching his full potential. Horses like Queen Mother winner Deep Sensation, Bradbury Star, who won the Mackeson Gold Cup two years running, and Katabatic were among the best he trained.

King states UAE Derby case

Kinglet could bid for the UAE Derby after winning the UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan.

On a card dominated by trainers Mahmood Al Zarooni and Saeed bin Suroor, it was Kinglet who emerged with most credit.

The Godolphin-owned colt appreciated the step back up to a mile to give Al Zarooni and jockey Mickael Barzalona back-to-back victories in the Group Three after Splash Point 12 months ago.

The 2-1 favourite made smooth progress from the rear to head the Brian Meehan-trained Mehdi inside the final furlong, and went on to win snugly by a quarter of a length from Mickdaam, who just pipped Mehdi in a close thing for third.

Al Zarooni said: "The horse benefited from Mickael. He rode him before and he understands the horse. He loves the surface and one furlong further than last time he loved it. That's why I think he won the race. The plan is to go to the UAE Derby. I'm not sure if he will stay or not because after the race he looked very tired. We'll go home and see how he is, but I think we'll try him in that race."

Round Two of the Al Maktoum Challenge went the way of Bin Suroor's Mendip.

Ridden by Kieren Fallon, the five-year-old was winning at Meydan for the fifth time to go with a victory at Kempton on his debut.

Barzalona had earlier displayed his talent when delivering Spring Of Fame (8-1), another for Bin Suroor, with a perfectly-timed run to head Jamr close home and land the Dubal Casthouse Trophy.

Bin Suroor also struck with 3-1 favourite Songcraft, who got up in the last stride under a strong drive from Silvestre de Sousa to snatch the Dubal Potlines Trophy.

Songcraft maintained his 100% record when mugging Laajooj, ridden by Frankie Dettori, in the final stride to give Godolphin a one-two, while Bin Suroor and De Sousa also won with Sandagiyr, who provided a 20-1 surprise in the Group Three Firebreak Stakes.

Binocular in Morebattle entry

Nicky Henderson has entered Binocular, Oscar Whisky and Simonsig in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Wednesday.

Henderson has made no secret of the fact that he is running out of options for his star two-mile hurdlers and Binocular was due to run at Sandown last week before it was abandoned.

Oscar Whisky is declared to run in a 'jumpers' bumper' at Kempton on Friday while the novice Simonsig has an option at Newbury on Saturday.

The Seven Barrows handler may be wary of a trip to the Borders track, however, as he sent Zaynar up for the same race in 2010 only for him to come up short at odds of 1-14 against Quwetwo.

Zaynar did finish third in the Champion Hurdle the following month.

The three Henderson entries are among 16 with Brian Ellison's Marsh Warbler and Donald McCain's Desert Cry given the option, although both have been declared in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle.

Cape Tribulation, Local Hero and Nicky Richards' Simply Ned, on a four-timer, are other interesting possibles.

Pete weight poser for Jefferson

Malcolm Jefferson is hoping According To Pete will be allotted less than 11st when the weights for the John Smith's Grand National are announced on Tuesday.

The North Yorkshire trainer is waiting for the handicapper's assessment of his in-form chaser before targeting the 11-year-old at the Aintree marathon on April 14.

According To Pete has been under consideration for the National thanks to wins in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby and Haydock's Peter Marsh Chase this winter.

"According To Pete is in great form at the moment," said Jefferson.

"We are just waiting to see what weight he receives on Tuesday before committing him, but the Grand National is very high on his agenda because I think that the race will suit him. You would be hopeful that he will be allotted less than 11st, but it's very hard to tell what mark you will get. We might give him one more start beforehand in the Premier Chase at Kelso.

"It's a long time between now and the National, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if he went straight to Aintree. It would be nice to give him a pipe-opener beforehand. He won his two most recent starts this term but he didn't really do a lot wrong last season. He was only just beaten at Catterick and made a mistake at the last and nearly fell when going down by a head to Skippers Brig in a decent race at Haydock.

"He's won on all types of ground and he goes on anything and everything. The Peter Marsh Chase was a bit of a slog through heavy ground but he has won on good going as well. I would think that the ground will be on softer side of good this year for the Grand National."

Jefferson saddled King Fontaine to finish 11th to Ballabriggs last year but he does not believe he will make the cut this time.

"I can't see my other entry King Fontaine getting into the race, which is a pity because he ran quite well in the race last year," he went on.

"Things have just gone wrong for him this year and I don't really know why. I thought that he was just coming back to himself at Wetherby but then he fell at the second in the Peter Marsh Chase. He's come down a fair bit in the weights and, all being well, he will go back to Haydock for the Grand National Trial before probably heading to Ayr for the Scottish Grand National."

Harry going for Gold

Diamond Harry is on course for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after recovering from a successful wind operation.

The problem was dealt with last week after jockey Noel Fehily reported he felt the Nick Williams-trained nine-year-old had a breathing difficulty when fifth behind Midnight Chase in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham.

"The operation went OK and he's recovered well. It was just a minor wind op on his soft palette," said owner Paul Duffy.

"He's back doing a bit of walking. I know he's had his preparation interrupted but he wouldn't have been doing that much at that stage.

"Obviously we won't know for sure if it's worked but we're going to have a go at the Gold Cup."

Thornton set for Folkestone return

Robert Thornton will return to the saddle at Folkestone on Tuesday.

Alan King's stable jockey has been out of action since December 11 with a fractured arm, but been given the all-clear to resume his season.

He tweeted: "It's official cleared to ride from Tuesday 14th."

King was delighted at the news and was amazed at the speed of Thornton's healing capabilities.

"The good thing is that the horses seem to be still in top order, and we received some more encouraging news this week when 'Choc' (Thornton) got the all-clear to return to race-riding at Folkestone next Tuesday," King told his website.

"That would be just nine weeks to the day since his surgery, which is quite remarkable. They were initially talking three months, and, while 'Choc' is renowned for being a quick healer, it is quite extraordinary that he has got back so fast."