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Ante-post favourite Eton Forever heads a maximum field of 22 runners for the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster (1515 BST) on Saturday.
Roger Varian’s five-year-old missed the cut last season but has been strongly backed for the feature race on the first day of the British Flat season.
“He’s a horse that can go well fresh and he doesn’t mind good, good to firm ground,” said Varian.
Former winners Sweet Lightning and Penitent were withdrawn in the week.
Penitent’s trainer David O’Meara said 2010 winner Penitent would instead contest the Prix Edmond Blanc at Saint-Cloud in France on Sunday.
“We just thought it would be a big ask to run with top weight in the Lincoln,” said O’Meara.
The North Yorkshire handler is still represented in the Lincoln by Smarty Socks and he added: “Smarty is in good shape and we’re looking forward to seeing him run.”
Last year’s winner Sweet Lightning was also taken out of the race, while Eton Forever – who won the Spring Mile consolation race 12 months ago – is near the head of the weights for this year’s main event.
“He put up a few solid performances throughout last season,” said Newmarket trainer Varian.
“I’m not sure if he’s a better horse (this season).
“He’s a horse that holds a good amount of ability, but he’s five now and has only run eight times, so he’s not got many miles on the clock.”
Lincoln specialist William Haggas has saddled three previous winners and has a major contender in Fury, who finished fifth in the 2000 Guineas last season.
Former John Oxx inmate Cocozza makes his debut for Italian Marco Botti, while top-weight Edinburgh Knight is another leading contender for Paul d’Arcy.
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is represented by Man Of Action and Start Right.
The BBC has TV, radio and website coverage from the Grand National, Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot meetings during 2012.
You can follow updates from the BBC correspondent
and website racing expert
on Twitter.
Times and channels are subject to change.
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2012
12-14 April – Grand National meeting, Aintree
Thursday 12 April
Racing from Aintree
1340-1635, BBC Two
Friday 13 April
Racing from Aintree
1345-1635, BBC Two
Saturday 14 April
The Grand National
1300-1710, BBC One
The Grand National – highlights
0000-0030, BBC One
1-2 June – Derby meeting, Epsom
Including coverage of the Oaks on Friday 1 June and the Derby on Saturday 2 June. The meeting is part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
19-23 June – Royal Ascot
Including the Gold Cup on Thursday 21 June.
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BBC Sport website: Live video for UK users of televised races, reports and results.
If you have any questions about the BBC’s horse racing coverage please first consult
our main FAQs page.
The 2004 Grand National winner Graham Lee has cited weight issues as his reason for switching to Flat racing.
Lee,
admitted he struggles to put enough weight on to ride the jumps.
“I’ve always had to work very hard keeping weight on me with training and it’s just fallen off me since the fall at Southwell,” he said.
“I can’t really face the gym to get a stone back on me, so I’m going to go Flat racing.”
The 36-year-old also rode five Cheltenham Festival winners
Inglis Drever, No Refuge and Arcalis. He is currently sidelined after a heavy fall in Southwell in February which has been key to his decision.
“I got home from the hospital and I was 9st 12lb, and I got on the scales this morning and I was 8st 12lb, so I’ve taken a stone off in just over five weeks,” he added.
“I love riding over jumps and I always have done.
“I got a fall at Huntingdon in 2008 and suffered quite a bad head injury. I actually thought about it then, because I had to work so hard at being a stone above my fighting weight.”
Montjeu, who sired three Epsom Derby winners, has died at the age of 16.
The winner of six Group One races on the track, he went on to become one of the world’s leading stallions for the Coolmore Stud.
A statement from Coolmore said he died on Thursday morning after a short illness “which was due to complications from an overwhelming septicaemia”.
The son of Sadler’s Wells sired Derby winners Motivator (2005), Authorized (2007) and Pour Moi (2011).
Montjeu retired to stud at the end of 2000 after a racing career that saw him win the 1999 French and Irish Derbies, as well as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the same year.
Continue reading the main story
He’s going to leave a big hole in racing
Mick Kinane, who rode Montjeu to five victories
Trained by John Hammond to win 11 of his 16 starts, he was also a brilliant winner of the 2000 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
During his breeding career, Montjeu provided a succession of winners for the Coolmore team of John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, in whose colours he raced.
Other Group One-winning progeny in Europe include 2005 Irish Derby winner Hurricane Run, Ascot Gold Cup victor Fame And Glory, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf hero St Nicholas Abbey and St Leger winner Masked Marvel.
He also sired the 2011 Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly, along with Camelot, who is ante-post favourite for the 2012 Derby.
DID YOU KNOW?
Montjeu’s stud fee was as high as 125,000 euros (105,000 today) in 2008
Mick Kinane, who rode Montjeu to five of his victories, said: “He was a really outstanding racehorse – one of the few outstanding racehorses I’ve ridden.
“That King George win was pretty good all right. He treated them with contempt that day and it was just a privilege to be on board.
“He had an aura about him and a few issues, and the great horses he’s sired have all had that as well – that’s what’s made them great.”
Top jockey Richard Hughes will miss the first month of the new Flat racing season after he failed to overturn a 50-day ban incurred in India.
Hughes was suspended in February for reportedly not riding to instructions in a race in Mumbai, an offence that is not punishable under British rules.
However, the British Horseracing Authority chose to reciprocate the ban.
The Irishman will not be able to compete in Britain until 30 April, when the Mumbai season finishes.
Continue reading the main story
I won’t be going back [to India]. What can you do apart from riding out and getting them ready for everyone else?
Richard Hughes
The ban puts a huge dent in Hughes’ hopes of winning a first jockeys’ championship, although he feels the ban will only cost him a maximum of 10 winners.
Hughes, 39, said: “I’ve been denied. I’m a bit disappointed, but I don’t have any reasons for the decision yet.”
Hughes has been spending winters in India for much of his career and has enjoyed huge success recently, winning all four Classics on the filly Jacqueline in 2009 and 2010.
However, his recent stay in India has been troubled. In January he was given a lengthy suspension in ‘foul riding’, but was partially successful in an appeal as the ban was changed to a fine.
Hughes added: “I won’t be going back. What can you do apart from riding out and getting them ready for everyone else?”
Hughes has never won the British title but pushed Paul Hanagan all the way to the last day of the season in 2010.
BHA media spokesman Robin Mounsey said: “Until we have seen the reasons provided by the disciplinary panel following their decision to uphold the suspension imposed by the Royal Western India Turf Club on Richard Hughes, it not is possible for the BHA to comment any further.
“The BHA is one of about 50 authorities who are signatories to the International Racing Agreement, and as such the BHA is committed to reciprocating penalties imposed on licensees by recognised Racing authorities, providing always that the disciplinary process is procedurally fair.”
Premio Loco came through in the home straight to take victory in the Winter Derby at Lingfield Park.
The 5-1 shot, with George Baker on board, held off 4-1 joint favourite Cai Shen, with Circumvent in third.
More to follow.
20 March 2012
Last updated at 14:19
Former jockey Luke Harvey said jockeys were among the fittest sportsmen
Heading to a sauna before a race is a common ritual for many jockeys – not to relax, but to lose those few extra pounds before racing.
Racing legends including Frankie Dettori have spoken in interviews of their battles to stay under their “natural weight”.
Tony McCoy, who stands at 5ft 10in tall, has been known in the past to slim down for some rides to 10 stone, a stone-and-a-half below his natural weight, with a punishing diet of saunas and snatched snacks.
A recent academic study found 82% of the 99 jockeys surveyed took “extreme measures” when dieting, ranging from exercising with “sweat suits” to fasting, skipping meals or vomiting before a race.
The Berkshire-based Professional Jockeys Association is now employing three extra members of staff to help stop jockeys using dangerous methods to lose weight.
Anna-Louise MacKinnon, medical advisor at the association, based in Newbury, said they had recruited three new members to their nutrition team to bring new ideas and approaches to diet.
She said there was no “hard evidence” that rapid weight loss methods were dangerous, but said anecdotally she had been told by jockeys that head injuries and concussions were harder to recover from when the rider was dehydrated.
‘Sweating in bath’
She said there were also concerns about dehydration weight-loss methods leading to a lack of concentration which might lead to more accidents while riding.
Susan Lennie, a lecturer in nutrition at Robert Gordon University, warned that jockeys could damage their health by losing too much too quickly.
However, retired jockey Luke Harvey said he did not know of any jockey who had suffered ill health through rapid weight loss.
Mr Harvey, now a BBC racing correspondent living in Lambourn, said: “When I was riding I spent quite a bit of time sweating in the bath before I went to the races and often had a sauna at the races as well, and quite often went running with a sweatshirt on to lose a couple of extra pounds.
Tony McCoy weighs in a stone-and-a-half below his natural weight
“It’s standard procedure really.
“In actual fact, there are few fitter sportsmen than jockeys. If you were drastically dehydrated you wouldn’t be able to perform at your optimum level.”
Ms Lennie said there was “convincing research” that rapid weight loss impacted health and performance, with dehydration methods the most risky.
She said: “The dehydration can cause changes in blood flow, body temperature and cardiovascular function.
“But the effects are not just physical; psychological consequences from rapid weight loss methods have also been observed such as mood swings, poor decision-making and fatigue.”
However, Mr Harvey said there were just as many dangers posed by obesity, as there were through sportsmen such as jockeys being underweight.
Ms Lennie published her findings from the survey with Oxford Brookes postgraduate student Nora Ni Fhlannagain.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/news/uk-england-berkshire-17364234
A championship for female jockeys is to be launched in the new flat racing season.
The overall winner, based on the number of victories and strike rate, will earn a 5,000 prize.
It will run in conjunction with the main jockeys’ championship, which carries no financial reward.
Leading female jockey Hayley Turner told BBC Sport: “It’s another interest for the followers of the sport and should be good fun.”
The race for the new title begins on the opening day of the new turf season at Doncaster on 31 March and is due to conclude at the same course on 10 November.
It is divided into three sections – with the gold award going to jockeys riding over 30 winners, silver to those partnering 10 to 29 winners and bronze to those clocking up nine or less victories.
The prizes will be 5,000, 3,000 and 1,000 for each respective level and the winners will be decided by the best winners-to-rides ratio in each section.
Turner, who rode two Group One winners last year, denied that she was a certainty to win the inaugural prize.
“It’s not going to be that easy,” she said. “There’s lots of girls around at the moment, and more competition than there used to be.”
Turner rode 48 winners last season before she was sidelined for four months with a broken ankle, while main rival Cathy Gannon, whose campaign was cut short in October by a broken leg, won 46 times.
“I think I would have won it last year but me and Cathy both got injured,” added Turner. “We are pretty competitive anyway and there’s plenty of banter between us.
“If the girls are good enough and have the ambition, there is no reason why they can’t get on.”
Other leading female riders include Amy Ryan and Sophie Doyle.
Paul Hanagan was champion jockey, for the second time, in 2011 with 165 victories.
He just beat Silvestre de Sousa (161) with both men taking rides across the country as they battled for the title, which carries no financial prize.
Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys’ Association, said a sponsor had yet to be found for the main title.
“This new championship reflects the growing influence of female jockeys in racing,” he said.
Sponsors Prolinx released statistics which demonstrate the most profitable lady riders to follow at particular courses, with Swedish jockey Nicole Nordblad showing a 59 profit to a 1 level stake in 20 races at Kempton in 2011.
Meanwhile, Turner is hoping for an injury-free campaign after her 2011 season, where she rode her first two Group One winners on
and
at York’s Ebor Festival, ended prematurely in September.
“My ambition for the year is to stay in one piece,” she said.
Turner, who hails from Nottinghamshire, spent some of her time off going to watch other sports, including her beloved Notts County, the Masters snooker final and boxer Carl Froch’s defeat by Andre Ward in Atlantic City.
“I had a really good time – it was good mentally to step out of the racing bubble for a while,” she said.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised has taken a step towards a rare double by remaining among the 59 entries for the Grand National on 14 April.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained horse could become the first in 78 years to capture British steeplechasing’s two biggest races in the same season.
O’Neill said: “If he comes back to the form at Cheltenham, why wouldn’t you?”
Continue reading the main story
We’ll make a decision nearer the time whether we go or not, but there’s no reason why not at the moment
Jonjo O’Neill
Golden Miller is the only horse to have achieved the Gold Cup-Grand National double in the same season, in 1934.
The only other horse to triumph in both was L’Escargot, winner of the Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971, who went on to beat the great Red Rum into second in the 1975 National.
O’Neill, who celebrated his first Gold Cup as a trainer on Friday, 26 years on from riding Dawn Run to victory, added: “Synchronised has come out of Cheltenham fine.
“He seems OK and we’ll make a decision nearer the time whether we go or not, but there’s no reason why not at the moment.”
Champion jockey
Tony McCoy
rode the 8-1 shot to victory at Cheltenham on Friday ahead of 50-1 outsider
The Giant Bolster
and the defending champion
Long Run
, the 7-4 favourite.
Synchronised is already joint second favourite at 10-1 with some British bookmakers for the four-and-a-half-mile race at Aintree, with
Prince De Beauchene
(9-1) the early market leader.
Eighteen horses were taken out of the race at Tuesday’s scratchings stage – Quantitativeeasing, Scotsirish, Tartak, Hector’s Choice, Massini’s Maguire, Hold On Julio, Crescent Island, Niche Market, Stewarts House, Uncle Junior, Fair Along, Shakervilz, Wymott, Backstage, Some Target, Schindler’s Gold, King Fontaine and Minella Theatre.
A maximum field of 40 horses will line up for the big race.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised has taken a step towards a rare double by being named among the 59 entries for the Grand National on 14 April.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained horse could become the first in 78 years to capture British steeplechasing’s two biggest races in the same season.
O’Neill said: “If he comes back to the form at Cheltenham, why wouldn’t you?”
Continue reading the main story
We’ll make a decision nearer the time whether we go or not, but there’s no reason why not at the moment
Jonjo O’Neill
Golden Miller is the only horse to have achieved the Gold Cup-Grand National double in the same season, in 1934.
The only other horse to triumph in both was L’Escargot, winner of the Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971, who went on to beat the great Red Rum into second in the 1976 National.
O’Neill, who celebrated his first Gold Cup as a trainer on Friday, 26 years on from riding Dawn Run to victory, added: “Synchronised has come out of Cheltenham fine.
“He seems OK and we’ll make a decision nearer the time whether we go or not, but there’s no reason why not at the moment.”
Champion jockey
Tony McCoy
rode the 8-1 shot to victory at Cheltenham on Friday by coming through to deny 50-1 outsider
The Giant Bolster
and the defending champion
Long Run
, the 7-4 favourite.
And Synchronised is already joint-second favourite at 10-1 with some British bookmakers for the four-and-a-half-mile race at Aintree, with
Prince De Beauchene
(9-1) the early market leader.
